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Shell drivers keep up fuel strike Shell drivers keep up fuel strike
(40 minutes later)
A strike by hundreds of tanker drivers working for Shell is continuing to disrupt the delivery of fuel to petrol stations across Britain.A strike by hundreds of tanker drivers working for Shell is continuing to disrupt the delivery of fuel to petrol stations across Britain.
The fuel industry reported higher than usual demand on the second day of the four-day stoppage over pay, but said there were few signs of panic buying.The fuel industry reported higher than usual demand on the second day of the four-day stoppage over pay, but said there were few signs of panic buying.
Shell said its contingency plans had so far worked well, but warned that the situation may change over the weekend.Shell said its contingency plans had so far worked well, but warned that the situation may change over the weekend.
About 100 vehicles on the M6 and 50 on the M56 have begun a go-slow protest.About 100 vehicles on the M6 and 50 on the M56 have begun a go-slow protest.
The protesters set off under police escort from Lymm Services at Warrington, Cheshire, to Carnforth, 60 miles north in Lancashire, and from north Wales along the A55 and the M56 towards Shell's Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire.
Outside of Merseyside, mid-Berkshire and some places on the south coast and south-west of England...it's actually been busy but not anywhere near what we'll call panic buying Ray HollowayPetrol Retailers' Association Lorry convoy in M6 fuel protestTractors in fuel protest go-slowSend us your commentsOutside of Merseyside, mid-Berkshire and some places on the south coast and south-west of England...it's actually been busy but not anywhere near what we'll call panic buying Ray HollowayPetrol Retailers' Association Lorry convoy in M6 fuel protestTractors in fuel protest go-slowSend us your comments
Police have advised motorists to only travel on the M6 if necessary, and said the M56 and M62 may also become congested. The protesters set off under police escort from Lymm Services at Warrington, Cheshire, to Carnforth, 60 miles north in Lancashire, and from north Wales along the A55 and the M56 towards Shell's Stanlow oil refinery in Cheshire.
In the south of the country, a convoy of farmers and lorry drivers at Stoney Cross in Hampshire were also crawling towards junction 1 of the M27.
Drivers have warned their employers they may strike again next weekend.Drivers have warned their employers they may strike again next weekend.
Shell said its sales remained high but were not at extreme levels. It also said there was no evidence of panic buying, only a "handful" of stations have actually run out and that they were continuing to monitor the situation.Shell said its sales remained high but were not at extreme levels. It also said there was no evidence of panic buying, only a "handful" of stations have actually run out and that they were continuing to monitor the situation.
In the south of the country, a convoy of farmers and lorry drivers at Stoney Cross in Hampshire will crawl towards junction 1 of the M27.
Deliveries continuingDeliveries continuing
A number of tanker drivers working for other petrol retailers have refused to cross the picket lines at oil depots. A spokesman for the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said demand for fuel at forecourts was up 30% on Friday and that supply was tightest in south west and north west England and central Scotland.
But the major retailers have told the BBC that their deliveries have so far been largely unaffected:
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  • Sainsbury's said its Friday morning deliveries had not been disrupted and confirmed it had a good supply of fuel.
  • Texaco said it had seen a slight increase in fuel sales but that none of its forecourts had reported running out of supplies.
  • BP said it still had good stocks of fuel and that most of its drivers were working as normal.
  • Esso said its terminals were open and drivers were leaving to deliver fuel "as normal". It also said that its customers were currently buying fuel in normal amounts.
 South east England appeared to be running normally, he added.
A number of petrol stations in the Strathspey area of Scotland, along the A9, are reporting that they have run out of diesel. Major retailers have told the BBC that their deliveries have so far been largely unaffected:
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  • Sainsbury's said its Friday morning deliveries had not been disrupted and confirmed it had a good supply of fuel.
  • Texaco said it had seen a slight increase in fuel sales but that none of its forecourts had reported running out of supplies.
  • BP said it still had good stocks of fuel and that most of its drivers were working as normal.
  • Esso said its terminals were open and drivers were leaving to deliver fuel "as normal". It also said that its customers were currently buying fuel in normal amounts.
In particular, garages in Aviemore and Newtonmore have run out of diesel and one site has started rationing. A number of sites in Glasgow report that trade is brisk - and so far shortages are limited. However, a number of petrol stations in the Strathspey area of Scotland, along the A9, are reporting that they have run out of diesel.
In particular, garages in Aviemore and Newtonmore have run out and one site has started rationing. A number of sites in Glasgow report that trade is brisk - and so far shortages are limited.
The scene at Kingsbury oil depotThe scene at Kingsbury oil depot
Members of the public have e-mailed the BBC News website to report fuel queues and some stations running out, in such areas as Leicester, Cambridge and the Wirral.Members of the public have e-mailed the BBC News website to report fuel queues and some stations running out, in such areas as Leicester, Cambridge and the Wirral.
Many filling stations in Wales appear to have enough stocks to last them through the weekend. There were also shortages reported in St Austell, Cornwall, and in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Tesco station in Gowerton, near Swansea, has run out, but many stations in the south Wales area say they are currently well stocked.The Tesco station in Gowerton, near Swansea, has run out, but many stations in the south Wales area say they are currently well stocked.
'Patchy situation''Patchy situation'
BBC correspondent Mark Simpson said there was no sign of panic buying in the north of the country.BBC correspondent Mark Simpson said there was no sign of panic buying in the north of the country.
People were buying fuel, but not in particularly large quantities in Cheshire or in Yorkshire, he added.People were buying fuel, but not in particularly large quantities in Cheshire or in Yorkshire, he added.
There have been reports of some motorists using Shell's V-Power fuel, intended for high performance cars, instead of unleaded petrol, wherever there have been shortages at filling stations.There have been reports of some motorists using Shell's V-Power fuel, intended for high performance cars, instead of unleaded petrol, wherever there have been shortages at filling stations.
Fuel protesters have organised a go-slow on the M6 motorwayFuel protesters have organised a go-slow on the M6 motorway
Nick Vandervell, from the UK Petroleum Industry Association which represents Shell and the other major petrol suppliers, told BBC Five Live that some service stations had run out of fuel, but the situation was patchy.Nick Vandervell, from the UK Petroleum Industry Association which represents Shell and the other major petrol suppliers, told BBC Five Live that some service stations had run out of fuel, but the situation was patchy.
"We have had reports that locally there are some problems, but essentially what our members' companies will be doing is working over the weekend to try and make sure that those sites are re-supplied and in some cases that may well involve re-supply from terminals or depots where there isn't picketing action.""We have had reports that locally there are some problems, but essentially what our members' companies will be doing is working over the weekend to try and make sure that those sites are re-supplied and in some cases that may well involve re-supply from terminals or depots where there isn't picketing action."
But Ray Holloway, of the Petrol Retailers' Association, told the BBC the situation was under control.But Ray Holloway, of the Petrol Retailers' Association, told the BBC the situation was under control.
"Outside of Merseyside, mid-Berkshire and some places on the south coast and south-west of England, generally speaking it's actually been busy but not anywhere near what we'll call panic buying," he said."Outside of Merseyside, mid-Berkshire and some places on the south coast and south-west of England, generally speaking it's actually been busy but not anywhere near what we'll call panic buying," he said.
Pay talksPay talks
Shell runs one in 10 of the country's fuel stations, but industry sources suggest its market share could be up to 17%.Shell runs one in 10 of the country's fuel stations, but industry sources suggest its market share could be up to 17%.
The striking drivers work for two companies, Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, who are contracted to deliver fuel to those Shell forecourts.The striking drivers work for two companies, Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, who are contracted to deliver fuel to those Shell forecourts.
Shell UK boss James Smith on the strikeShell UK boss James Smith on the strike
The industrial action began when pay talks broke down earlier this week.The industrial action began when pay talks broke down earlier this week.
Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, say unions rejected a pay offer which would take the drivers' average salary to £41,500 by January 2009.Hoyer UK and Suckling Transport, say unions rejected a pay offer which would take the drivers' average salary to £41,500 by January 2009.
But a Unite union spokesman argued that the company's offer would have increased salaries from just under £32,000 to £36,000. He said the companies' £41,500 figure could only be reached if possible overtime was included.But a Unite union spokesman argued that the company's offer would have increased salaries from just under £32,000 to £36,000. He said the companies' £41,500 figure could only be reached if possible overtime was included.
The union representing them has renewed its calls for Shell, who outsourced tanker deliveries to external firms, to get involved in the negotiations to try and resolve the dispute.The union representing them has renewed its calls for Shell, who outsourced tanker deliveries to external firms, to get involved in the negotiations to try and resolve the dispute.
A number of tanker drivers working for other petrol retailers have refused to cross the picket lines at oil depots.