Truckers block roads in fuel price protest

More than 300 lorries descended on central London today in protest against rising fuel costs.

In the largest protest of its kind in the capital, hauliers drove into the city from across the UK and converged near Marble Arch.

British haulage firms are calling for the introduction of a rebate which would allow HGV drivers to claim back some of the fuel duty and have parity with bus companies.

They also want Gordon Brown to shelve a 2p increase in fuel duty and a planned hike in road tax.

This mass demonstration turned large swathes of the West End into a virtual car park as roads around the Paddington area were closed.

The London-bound A40 carriageway between White City and Edgware Road was closed from 10am to 3pm as the demonstrators parked their vehicles on the normally busy road.

A six-member delegation, representing the protesters, handed in a letter at 10 Downing Street calling for the Essential User Rebate.

The price of fuel has increased by more than 30 per cent since January, and average petrol and diesel prices have hit 114p and 126p a litre respectively.

British lorry drivers have complained that foreign haulage companies are capitalising by filling up abroad and working in the UK during the week.

Peter Carroll, spokesman for Transaction 2007, said: "If we don't get a rebate, then an industry that creates thousands of jobs could be wiped out.

"Our trade associations have been pathetic in putting forward a robust case on our behalf so we felt that this was the best option. We feel that the British motorist will empathise with us as everyone's been hit now. It costs us £1,000 a week to fill up and that is just unsustainable for the whole industry."

Motorists in the area had mixed views about the protest. Pedro Carvalhoa businessman from Kensal Green said: "I completely support them. The Government is bleeding dry the motorist and the hauliers at the end of the day are being hit the hardest."

Engineer Anil Sharma was forced to take a 30-minute detour en route to his office in Perivale due to the protest.

He said: "We are all upset about the cost of petrol, but they won't win much support from normal drivers if they jam up our roads on a working day."

The Government is also coming under pressure about its plan to increase road tax for vehicles registered since 2001 which emit higher levels of pollutants. Under Budget proposals, owners of the most polluting cars could face a tax rise of up to £200 a year.

Business secretary John Hutton said today that the Government would heed the demonstration. "The Chancellor has got to take all that into account. People have the right to protest."

The protest coincided with similar action by lorry drivers in Wales and Scotland. By midday, more than 100 lorries were protesting in Wales, travelling in a convoy down the M4 to present a petition to Nick Bourne, Tory leader on the Welsh Assembly.

WHAT THEY WANT

Why are British hauliers protesting?

British road users are enduring record fuel prices - with diesel costing more than 120p a litre. The Government takes about 60 per cent of the cost of fuel in tax. Buses get nearly all this back in rebates. Hauliers want a similar system to protect British firms from going out of business.

What do they want from the Government?

They are demanding an "essential user rebate" to allow HGV drivers to claim back some fuel duty, and for Chancellor Alistair Darling to scrap a proposed 2p rise in the duty. The Freight Transport Association wants diesel duty cut to the EU average.

Is there a genuine danger to the British haulage industry?

Rising oil prices have been exacerbated by the credit crunch. British hauliers say they are struggling to compete with foreign drivers who fill up for less on the Continent but work UK roads. A number of haulage firms have axed jobs.

What could happen?

If the Prime Minister and Mr Darling do not make at least some concessions, protests could escalate. There have been threats of disruptive action over summer, raising the prospect of a repeat of scenes from 2000, when lorry drivers and farmers blockaded fuel depots.