A major motorway came to a standstill earlier today after protesters demonstrated against rising fuel prices. Campaigners blocked a stretch of the M4 between Bristol and South Wales, including the Prince of Wales Severn bridge crossing, as part of an action calling for a cut in fuel duty.
It is understood that the protest was organised on social media under the banner Fuel Price Stand Against Tax. One of the protesters who gathered at Magor Services, near Caldicot, was Vicky Stamper 41, a former HGV driver who said she and her partner Darren had to leave jobs in Bristol because they simply couldn't afford the fuel cost. She said: “We had to leave those jobs because it was costing us £380 a week just to get to and from work.
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“I then lost a job two weeks ago because the company couldn’t afford to put fuel in that many lorries so last in, first out.” She added that the whole situation has caused a large amount of emotional stress for her family.
Talking about the disruption the protest will cause to other drivers on the motorway, Ms Stamper said: "We’re doing this for us and for them. If they want to have a moan, they should join us instead.” She also called for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to "resign".
Richard Dite, 44, a mobile welder from South Wales, said it is costing him hundreds of pounds in fuel to get to work every week due to price hikes. “It’s costing me £300 a week before I even get to work and earn anything,” Mr Dite said.
“My only option soon will be to put the welding gear in the shed and call it a day, maybe go on the dole. Face it, at this rate I’ll be on more that way.” Marting Crowley, 48, from Cardiff, said fuel prices are having a drastic effect on his livelihood.
"Fuel cost me £280 over two days last week. It’s unbelievable,” he said. "You can hardly make a living anymore.”
Protest organisers were informed by police that they could not stop on the motorway and must drive no slower than 30mph. However, some protesters said they intend to meet in the middle and block the motorway.
Both carriageways of the M4 approaching the Severn crossing were brought to a stop by go-slow protests travelling both east and west. Two police motorcyclists at the scene drove in front of four vehicles travelling at around 30 mph from the Bristol area towards South Wales.
Similar protests have also taken place in other parts of the country. West Yorkshire Police said a "small group" of motorists had gathered near Ferrybridge services but were not yet causing any disruptions.
Meanwhile, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he will carefully consider calls for a "more substantial" fuel duty cut after the 5p per litre reduction implemented in March did nothing to stop rising prices. Data from Experian shows the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts reached a new high of 191.4p on Thursday, while diesel rose to 199.1p.
Meanwhile, Gwent Police said protests are expected to take place on the road network between 7am and 7pm on Monday. Bristol Airport advised travellers to allow extra time for their journeys. A Government spokesman said: “While we respect the right to protest, people’s day-to-day lives should not be disrupted, especially on busy motorways where lives are put at risk and resulting traffic delays will only add to fuel use.
“The new Public Order Bill will make it a criminal offence to glue yourself to a dangerous motorway, which sees police spending hours trying to safely remove people.”
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