UK: FUEL CRISIS: BLOCKADE

Описание: (13 Sep 2000) English/Nat

Petrol tankers began moving from Manchester's Stanlow refinery at 0130pm local time (0030gmt) breaking a blockade that has lasted for three days.

Hundreds of protesters watched as a convoy of 8 Shell tankers left with emergency supplies of petrol, which had run dangerously low.

There was a heavy police presence at the refinery with further riot police standing by a few miles away in case of trouble.

They formed a cordon at the kerbside, to prevent any interference with the tankers, and the petrol tankers were followed by a convoy of police vehicles.

But the protesters were mainly peaceful and demonstrated their feelings by clapping and whistling as the trucks left.

Blockade leader Brynle Williams had earlier appealed for calm among the demonstrators.

He later claimed that the fact that only supplies destined for use in emergency vehicles had left the Stanlow refinery represented a victory for the demonstrators.

He said that the demonstrators would not give up their fight to reduce the price of fuel.

The breaking of the blockade follows just hours after Prime Minister Tony Blair's pledge to get the tankers moving and end the shortage that had threatened to halt transport throughout the country.

Under a special dispensation by the Privy Council, the Department of Trade and Industry gave out orders to oil companies to deliver petrol to hundreds of priority stations across Britain.

Esso said that deliveries from Purfleet in Essex had resumed at 7.30pm local time (1830gmt) after talks with police had reassured the company about the safety of its
drivers and the protesters.

Later eight vans carrying police dressed in riot gear arrived at BP's Grangemouth terminal in Scotland as a convoy of 10 tankers prepared to leave.

The tankers left with a police escort for destinations across Scotland which police refused to reveal.

Up to 60 officers set a cordon across the road to allow the lorries to leave without been hampered by protesters.

The crowds chanted, clapped and cheered despite the heavy police presence.

Suffolk Police said they hoped a blockade outside a fuel depot in Ipswich
could end tomorrow.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"This is really demonstrating that there is solidarity throughout the country. And once again it is an unjust law, an unjust tax. I'm begging you, please repeal it. Can't you see there's been no unpleasantness anywhere in the country, yet the country's on its knees."
SUPERCAPTION: Brynle Williams. blockade organiser

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well, the only petrol that's going to be on the forecourts is the emergency supplies."
QUESTION: "What will make you call it off, Brynle?"
"Parity with European price. Nothing else, parity with European price. Mr. Blair keeps telling us he's condemned everybody, the Eurosceptics, he is taking us into Europe. We're governed by European laws now and legislation...lord knows, we all know some rather ridiculous legislation, but yet we can't be governed by European prices on fuel. Now, I think it's a ludicrous situation. He's giving away our work, as far as road haulage, he's giving that away to anyone who wants to come in from either France or Ireland."
SUPERCAPTION: Brynle Williams. blockade organiser

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