People have blasted the organisers of a planned M4 blockade saying their protest over fuel prices will only make people angry and force them to drive even further than they need to, including NHS workers trying to see patients. Others have said they'll be forced to go "the long way round" to make sure they get to the airport for a long-awaited family holiday while another said anyone who "thinks this will make the government reduce the tax on fuel is living in cloud cuckoo land".
Plans to block the M4 and M48 bridges over the Severn next month to “stand up against” rising fuel prices are being organised by Ashley Fowler, from Cardiff. He spoke to WalesOnline and explained his group of car enthusiasts felt they had no choice but to "stand up against" rising fuel prices which mean a typical family car now costs £100 to fill up.
"It's going to be cars on the Severn Bridge protesting to the government to reduce the fuel prices," he said. But while nearly everyone is struggling to meet the rising cost of fuel not everyone thinks Mr Fowler's course of action is the right thing to do. We shared the story on our Facebook page and the response from readers was mixed.
Jennifer Bulman said: "This is only going to make people angry, not at Boris but them. If you want to protest do it outside Parliament and the headquarters of the greedy oil and gas companies. How is making people lose money by not being able to get to work solving the problem?"
NHS worker Siân Elizabeth said she needed to use the bridges to get to work. "It won't just affect me, also my colleague and the 66 patients we will see that day if we can't get cover for both our clinics," she vented in frustration.
Most people were frustrated that it would be normal "working-class people" affected by the blockade and many would have to drive the extra 90 miles to bypass the protest. Leah Forse said: "Forcing the people who are already suffering to drive the long way around, using more fuel. Go and protest somewhere where the people in charge of this mess will get affected."
Helene Smith said the protests were happening the day she needed to travel to Bristol Airport for a holiday booked a while ago. She said: "I need to get over the bridge to Bristol airport for our family holiday which we've waited for before Covid hit. You're just forcing people to use more petrol by going the long way around and paying more for the fuel. I get we need to protest but go and do it outside the Senedd or Parliament. Hope you're proud of yourself Ashley Fowler." Go here to read the truths and myths about how to make the fuel in your car go further.
Kay Evans said the planned blockade was "absolutely ridiculous". She commented: "Blocking the bridges makes no sense, stopping people going about their daily lives and having to spend a lot of money on petrol to get to the bridges, l for one won't be turning up and if anyone thinks this will make the government reduce the tax on fuel is living in cloud cuckoo land."
But others voiced their support for Mr Fowler and his group and said it was about time something was done. Jan Imms said: "Brilliant. Don't know if will help but working class people got to do something. The rich get richer while we struggle. Enough's enough. Come on Wales." But her view wasn't without its objectors with one replying: "It won't be the decision-makers i.e. government sitting in these protest queues. It will be the general public and businesses who are already on their knees trying to survive. So what's the point? There's nothing to gain or outcome by doing this protest."
And yet people have to take a stand, some readers felt. Natalie Jones said: "I say fair play to them for trying. Even if it doesn't make a difference at least someone got the courage to stand up for the people struggling." Tyrone Rees commented: "Some people are appalled by this but I say well done. Someone's got to make stand against Boris and the robbing brigade, it's tax by the government driving up the cost, not the suppliers."
Even so the protest will "hurt Wales", said Fiona Smith: "This will only make life harder for those going back and fore to work and to visit their families. I don't see how this has anything to do with fuel. It's not as if they are blocking fuel coming out off ports."
Christian Morris expressed concern about the impact on emergency services and commented: "People will probably die because of this. If you think that's a price worth paying then fair enough." But one reply to this still voiced support, saying: "People are going to die if nothing is done, especially in the winter."
Perhaps the general mood could be summed by by James Hornsey, who said: "Guy can't afford to drive to work, so because he has to go back and live with mummy, decides to ruin everyone else's day..... all this will achieve is a 90-MILE DIVERSION each way, resulting in people having to spend EVEN MORE on fuel, making EVEN MORE profit for the oil companies and the government. Be honest, you've not really thought this through have you?" And the last word goes to the person who observed: "Thing is we are used to the M4 being blocked coming into Wales so is anyone really going to notice?"
