An organiser of plans to block the M4 and M48 bridges over the Severn next month says his group of car enthusiasts felt they had no choice but to “stand up against” rising fuel prices. Ashley Fowler from Cardiff said he set up the event on Facebook which has now been shared thousands of times.
The 24-year-old delivery driver, who says he is so affected by the cost of living crisis and fuel price rises that he’s now having to leave his flat in Cardiff Bay to move back in with his mum, said he’s been surprised at how positive the reaction has been to the plans. Ashley, who was inspired by the growing social media group Fuel Price Stand Against Tax, said he used his position as leader of a car club in Cardiff to mobilise the plans. He is “shocked at how crazy it’s gone” since the proposed event was posted on social media.
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READ MORE: Protesters plan to block both Severn bridges over fuel prices
Ashley said: “We’re all car enthusiasts and we have all been worried about fuel prices and when I saw the post about blocking the bridges we began talking about it. Then people started asking me to make an event so we could update each other.
“I made the event because I run a car club in Cardiff which I started on social media during the pandemic lockdowns to help people’s mental health. When we can we go out to car parks and just meet up and have a chat but during the pandemic we weren’t able to do it so I made the group.
“Now we can’t meet up so much again because of the cost of fuel. I know some of them can’t drive so much because they need to feed their kids. It’s serious. People are getting really depressed about it. One of the boys in the group has actually sold his car due to fuel price rises.”
He said his group’s plans aren’t set in stone and he is not certain the protests will go ahead. But they currently expect to block the bridges from 7am until 7pm on July 4.
“It’s gone crazy – I’ve had messages from so many people and all sorts of companies,” he said. “There has been some criticism too – people are going to have an opinion on whatever we do. If we were standing outside Westminster people would kick off. I think if people are in the same boat as each other they’ll support. Obviously a lot of people are affected by this.”
Ashley said he expects issues on the day and is speaking to other organisers about how they can accommodate NHS staff and emergency workers. “I’ve had a lot of people say: ‘Don’t do it because of people going to work.’ We are talking about plans for some people to be able to go over the bridge.”
At the end of July he says he is going to have to leave his flat, which he pays £600 a month for in rent, due to bills, food, and fuel costs. Weeks ago he was paying £55 a week in fuel as a delivery driver but now that figure is £85.
“I saw a breakdown of the petrol figure and the percentages last week and we’re basically doing this to pay back government debt and I don’t think people realise it,” he added. “I’m having to leave my flat at the end of July and I’m going back to my mum’s house.
“It has all added up. I could afford it before. If the cost of living wasn’t so harsh I would have been able to afford it.”
John Ingram, National Highways’ network planner for resilience, said: “We respect people’s right to protest. However protesting on the strategic road network is extremely dangerous not just for the protesters but for people using the roads.”
A spokesman for the body added: "Along with the police and other partners we’ll be working hard to limit the effects of the protests on the Severn bridges. We’ll be doing all we can to keep people up to date with the latest traffic information and to keep drivers on the move."
One protester who says she will be in attendance at the bridges said something controversial needed to take place to bring attention to the issue. The plans are a source of debate across Facebook community groups with many accusing organisers and those wishing to attend of being irresponsible and dangerous.
A campaigner responded: “The point of this action is to show the government that we aren’t the little people that will sit there and do nothing. Something this big will be heard. It will make the news. I’m not happy to sit back and let the government think they can get away with this.”
