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| Hauliers protest over fuel prices | Hauliers protest over fuel prices |
| (2 days later) | |
| Hundreds of hauliers have demonstrated in London against rising fuel prices. | Hundreds of hauliers have demonstrated in London against rising fuel prices. |
| Up to 230 lorries parked in a specially closed section of the A40, while others, escorted by police, drove into the heart of the city. | Up to 230 lorries parked in a specially closed section of the A40, while others, escorted by police, drove into the heart of the city. |
| The drivers want a fuel tax rebate of about 25p in the pound, claiming many are being driven out of business. | The drivers want a fuel tax rebate of about 25p in the pound, claiming many are being driven out of business. |
| The government says it might postpone future fuel tax rises, but warns that a cut in current duty will hit spending in other areas of the economy. | The government says it might postpone future fuel tax rises, but warns that a cut in current duty will hit spending in other areas of the economy. |
| More demonstrations | More demonstrations |
| The Road Haulage Association (RHA), which backed Wednesday's protest, said that the demonstrations would be repeated if the government refused to listen to its demands. | The Road Haulage Association (RHA), which backed Wednesday's protest, said that the demonstrations would be repeated if the government refused to listen to its demands. |
| The UK road haulage industry is not in trouble, it is facing a catastrophe Peter CarollTransAction 2007 MPs gear up for car tax challengeIn pictures: Hauliers' fuel demoHauliers take case to Westminster | The UK road haulage industry is not in trouble, it is facing a catastrophe Peter CarollTransAction 2007 MPs gear up for car tax challengeIn pictures: Hauliers' fuel demoHauliers take case to Westminster |
| A spokeswoman played down charges that fewer drivers than expected had responded to the protest call, saying "times were hard" and many drivers could not afford to take the day off. | A spokeswoman played down charges that fewer drivers than expected had responded to the protest call, saying "times were hard" and many drivers could not afford to take the day off. |
| Other drivers warned of future "wildcat" actions - like the haulage protests in 2000 which closed petrol stations throughout the UK. | Other drivers warned of future "wildcat" actions - like the haulage protests in 2000 which closed petrol stations throughout the UK. |
| Meanwhile the government defeated a challenge to its plans to raise vehicle excise duty on the most polluting cars. | Meanwhile the government defeated a challenge to its plans to raise vehicle excise duty on the most polluting cars. |
| Driven out | Driven out |
| With the average price of diesel calculated at £1.32 per litre, hauliers say this leaves them with fuel bills of up to £1,000 per week for a typical articulated lorry. | With the average price of diesel calculated at £1.32 per litre, hauliers say this leaves them with fuel bills of up to £1,000 per week for a typical articulated lorry. |
| Many complain that they are being driven out of business because of competition from drivers from other European countries, where fuel is around 25p a litre cheaper. | Many complain that they are being driven out of business because of competition from drivers from other European countries, where fuel is around 25p a litre cheaper. |
| The RHA says the entire UK economy is at risk from rising fuel costs. | The RHA says the entire UK economy is at risk from rising fuel costs. |
| National RHA chairman Andy Boyle said: "If ever there was positive proof that ours is an industry in crisis, then this surely must be it. | National RHA chairman Andy Boyle said: "If ever there was positive proof that ours is an industry in crisis, then this surely must be it. |
| "For many, today will represent a last-ditch attempt at making their voice heard." | "For many, today will represent a last-ditch attempt at making their voice heard." |
| The government looks likely to reject outright calls from hauliers for an "essential user rebate" of between 20 and 25p. | The government looks likely to reject outright calls from hauliers for an "essential user rebate" of between 20 and 25p. |
| One trucker explains why he is protesting | One trucker explains why he is protesting |
| It blames the rising international cost of oil for the fuel rises, but says it may postpone future plans to raise duty by 2p a litre. | It blames the rising international cost of oil for the fuel rises, but says it may postpone future plans to raise duty by 2p a litre. |
| A Treasury spokesman said: "The chancellor postponed the planned increase in fuel duty in April because of concern about high fuel prices. | A Treasury spokesman said: "The chancellor postponed the planned increase in fuel duty in April because of concern about high fuel prices. |
| "He has said he is willing to postpone it again in October if he judges it to be right." | "He has said he is willing to postpone it again in October if he judges it to be right." |
| He added: "There is no tax windfall from higher fuel prices. | He added: "There is no tax windfall from higher fuel prices. |
| "Any additional tax revenue is offset by a reduction in spending in other areas of the economy and reduced consumption of fuel due to higher prices." | "Any additional tax revenue is offset by a reduction in spending in other areas of the economy and reduced consumption of fuel due to higher prices." |
| Convoys | Convoys |
| Wednesday's protests began with a gathering of lorry drivers at Medway Services in Kent. The drivers then set off for the capital along the M2 motorway. | Wednesday's protests began with a gathering of lorry drivers at Medway Services in Kent. The drivers then set off for the capital along the M2 motorway. |
| A second convoy set off from Gateway Services on the M1. | A second convoy set off from Gateway Services on the M1. |
| With part of the London-bound A40 closed during the demonstration, police estimated about 230 lorries had arrived by 1330 BST - fewer than the 300-plus vehicles expected. | With part of the London-bound A40 closed during the demonstration, police estimated about 230 lorries had arrived by 1330 BST - fewer than the 300-plus vehicles expected. |
| Traffic in and out of the city remained relatively unaffected, with no serious instances of disruption reported. | Traffic in and out of the city remained relatively unaffected, with no serious instances of disruption reported. |
| During the morning, police on motorcycles escorted groups of 20 lorries into the centre of London, where drivers and their supporters had gathered for a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament. | During the morning, police on motorcycles escorted groups of 20 lorries into the centre of London, where drivers and their supporters had gathered for a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament. |
| Peter Caroll, owner of Seymour Transport and member of lobby group TransAction 2007, told the BBC that British hauliers could not compete with foreign rivals. | Peter Caroll, owner of Seymour Transport and member of lobby group TransAction 2007, told the BBC that British hauliers could not compete with foreign rivals. |
| He said: "We are under mortal threat. The UK road haulage industry is not in trouble, it is facing a catastrophe." | He said: "We are under mortal threat. The UK road haulage industry is not in trouble, it is facing a catastrophe." |
| Driver Mike Wright, 61, from the Heathrow-based Roy Bowles company, said "wildcat protests" could be the next step all across the country. | Driver Mike Wright, 61, from the Heathrow-based Roy Bowles company, said "wildcat protests" could be the next step all across the country. |
| "They will block every motorway in the country and then the government might listen," he said. | "They will block every motorway in the country and then the government might listen," he said. |