Anorak

Anorak News | Panic Stations

Panic Stations

by | 13th, September 2005

‘THE cricket’s over. There’s nothing to watch on the telly. So why not take a nice drive out to your local filling station and sit in a queue for a few days. Better yet, get some exercise and push your car there.

‘Last one to the petrol station’s a walker’

Petrol prices are up, and the fuel price protests pencilled in for Wednesday are causing many motorists to panic.

The Telegraph says that yesterday long queues formed outside petrol stations. While there was no evidence of any serious shortages, the paper says that some forecourts did run dry.

Of course, the protest, which threatens to blockade refineries, petrol stations and cause traffic jams on roads, can be averted if the Government agrees with the Fuel Lobby’s demands and cuts fuel tax.

Since this is about as likely as England winning cricket’s Ashes, the protest looks very much on.

And over on the Times’s front page, the news is that ministers are less discussing ways to stave off a mass protest by angry road hauliers than they are looking to ensure that petrol goes to the best places.

Ministers have noted the panic buying and are concerned that there will enough fuel for essential users, like John Prescott and, should she have had her hair done, Mrs Prescott, Doctor Prescott, Nurse Prescott and Chief Inspector Prescott of the Yard.

But the call is for calm. Don’t panic! Don’t Panic! Don’t panic!

The oil firms are calling for calm, but the Times says that hundreds of forecourts are expected to run out of fuel by lunchtime today.

Roy Holloway, director of the Petrol Retailer’s Association, says that people mistook normal Sunday-night queues for evidence of panic buying and spread the wrong word.

“These media reports have been self-fulfilling, with people panicked into filling up just in case there is a shortage,” says he.

But “just in case” sounds like “just might”, as the paper tells us that queues are likely to continue forming until the end of the week – especially since there are only 900 tankers available to replenish 10,000 forecourts.

The message sounds a bit confused. But best not to take any chances. If you don’t want to walk or get public transport to work and school, you’d best get down to your local petrol dealer pronto.

If you don’t get your share, you may be forced to do something drastic, like take public transport or walk…’



Posted: 13th, September 2005 | In: Uncategorized Comment | TrackBack | Permalink