Some relief for motorists as petrol tankers begin to roll

MOTORISTS and services throughout South Buckinghamshire were relieved as the fuel crisis appeared to come to an end yesterday.

Although drivers had been forced to queue for hours during the week to fill up with fuel, the area escaped the worst of the crisis which hit the whole country.

Even at the height of the crisis, tankers managed to make deliveries to a few stations throughout South Bucks which led to huge queues and traffic chaos throughout the area as motorists rushed to fill up to beat what appeared to be a worsening situation.

But the threat of the crisis deepening was suddenly lifted yesterday morning when protesters at refineries throughout Britain voted to end the blockades.

And after four days of gridlock and panic-buying the people of Bucks spoke of their relief that the crisis appeared to be coming to an end although some areas expect a backlog of problems caused by lack of fuel during the week.

Emergency services have quelled fears that response times to 999 calls will suffer and have assured members of the public the fuel crisis will not affect the essential services they provide as the county attempts to return to normal.

Gary Arnold, the owner of Beacon Funeral Services in Rose Avenue, Hazlemere, High Wycombe, said he only had around five or six days of fuel left in his Daimler hearse - which does 12 miles to the gallon on lead replacement fuel.

He said: 'I have had to be careful with my fuel. If the petrol crisis had continued we would not have enough fuel to go and remove the dead from their houses.'

'That would be the worst case scenario. If we used unleaded fuel we would have hit crisis point by now.'

'I am very relieved the blockades are over, but I support the protesters' point of view.'

Fuel rage, however, is likely to continue on forecourts as some people continue to top up their tanks in scenes reminiscent of the strikes of the 1970s.

Furious father-of-two John Hornsley, of London Road, High Wycombe, said he was disgusted when he spotted one man emptying a two litre bottle of Coke into a drain before filling it up with unleaded petrol.

The 45-year-old mechanic said: 'I couldn't believe it. It's absolutely ridiculous what people are doing. I couldn't get my daughter to school because of these people who keep filling up. I had to put my daughter on a bus because I have run out of petrol.'

Nikki Malin, of Thames Valley Police, said: 'Fire services have warned members of the public not to stockpile fuel which needs to be stored in special containers in a well-ventilated area.

'Inappropriate containers, such as plastics, can leak and vapours can then ignite resulting in a significant fire hazard.'

Taxi services have cut back on jobs and are concentrating on serving schools rather than passing trade.

A spokesman for Amersham and Chesham Executive Cars said: 'We have organised to cover the school runs but anyone who manages to get a ride in between will be very very lucky.

'Now we have drivers going from Chesham to Denham to get petrol, but they can't afford to sit in queues for two hours. The business could go down the pan. Having said all that we do support what is going on because prices are getting ridiculous.'

Chauhdry Shafique, a Wycombe district councillor and prospective parliamentary candidate for Labour in Wycombe, said: 'I fully understand the concerns of drivers, particularly in the rural areas and those people who have to use their cars regularly.'

David Lidington MP (Con, Aylesbury) said: 'I am pleased the demonstrators appear to be ending the protest, but the pressure should now be on the Government to respond. We have seen a genuine popular revolt against excessive taxation.'

Sir Ray Whitney MP (Con, Wycombe) said: 'It has been very badly handled. The Government should have seen it coming. They have put up petrol prices by 50 per cent since they come into office.'

Dee Tomlin, prospective parliamentary candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Wycombe, said: 'Politicians have to learn to listen. Tony Blair's broadcast to the country has not given anybody any confidence in the Government.

She added: 'I would not be surprised if it happens again if the Government do not hold talks with people and take serious action.

'I think this is going to damage the Government's credibility long term.'