Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Fuel shortages start to ease off, PRA says

Fuel shortages start to ease off, PRA says
A member of the Armed Forces drives a tanker at the Buncefield Oil Depot in Hemel Hempstead, north of London, on October 5, 2021. The British military started delivering fuel to petrol stations on October 4, after a tanker driver shortage sparked two weeks of panic buying by motorists. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images

Petrol and diesel shortages have eased in London and southeast England and the situation in the rest of Britain has improved further, according to an industry group representing independent fuel vendors.

The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) said 15 per cent of forecourts in and around the capital were dry, down from 22 per cent on Sunday, but 21 per cent still had only one grade of fuel.


"Whilst there has been a significant reduction in dry sites, these areas are still lagging behind in having both grades of fuel available compared to the rest of the UK," said Gordon Balmer, the PRA's executive director.

"Members are reporting they are now receiving deliveries from military drivers using commercial tankers, however further action must be taken to address the needs of disproportionately affected areas."

Frustrations have boiled over into anger in some places, and violence even broke out between motorists desperate to fill up, including with jerrycans and old water bottles.

Across the rest of the country, 86 per cent of sites reported having both grades of fuel while 3 per cent had only one grade and 11 per cent were dry, the PRA said.

Military personnel in fatigues began delivering fuel on Tuesday to ease an acute trucker shortage that triggered panic buying at the pumps. They were photographed at several fuel depots in southern England driving tankers, some with instructors, and then delivering fuel to a gas station.

Meanwhile, the country has sourced less than 10 percent of the 300 European Union lorry drivers earmarked for immediate short-term visas to help ease the fuel supply crisis, the government confirmed Tuesday, following confusion over the exact number issued.

In a round of broadcast interviews Tuesday morning, Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted 127 applications had been received - filling nearly half the total available - and disputed an overnight newspaper claim that it was just 27.

But hours later the government confirmed it had only received 27 names for the visas, and did not respond to questions about Johnson's assertion that it was nearly five times that number.

"This is a global problem and we have been working closely with industry for months to understand how we can boost recruitment," a spokesperson said.

More for you

C-store body warns of 'inflation-busting increase in wage costs'
Woman Holding British Pound
Getty Images/iStockphoto

C-store body warns of 'inflation-busting increase in wage costs'

Convenience store body Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) today (30) has warned the Chancellor about the negative effects of the new National Living Wage (NLW) increase, a day after the Chancellor announced a pay rise for over 3 million workers next year, with NLW rates rising by 6.7 perc cent.

From April 2025, the NLW will increase from £11.44 to £12.21 while 18-20 National Minimum Wage will rise by £1.40 per hour to £10 - the largest increase on record, marking the first step towards a single adult rate.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Robbie MacDonald via LDRS

Shop’s licence bid rejected over illegal vapes and ‘no regard’ for children’s safety

A Rossendale shop has had a licence bid rejected after repeatedly selling vapes to children and having illegal products on its premises.

Management at the Ibra Superstore at 34 Burnley Road, Bacup, have shown ‘no regard’ for children’s protection and safety, and have insufficient controls for licensing, Rossendale councillors have ruled.

Keep ReadingShow less
SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR North of England retailer Dara Singh Randhawa’s family store has been awarded £100,000 of free stock after hitting all his targets since moving to the symbol.

Dara and his family, who have their SPAR store in Patrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, joined SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd in August 2023 having taken the decision to maximise the store’s potential.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pound Sterling bank notes
iStock

National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 in April 2025

The government has on Wednesday announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations on the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW).

The rates which will apply from 1 April 2025 are as follows:

Keep ReadingShow less
Food inflation eases as retailers treat customers to spooky season deals

iStock image

Food inflation eases as retailers treat customers to spooky season deals

October saw shop prices fall marginally further into deflation for the third consecutive month with food inflation eased, particularly for meat, fish and tea along with chocolate and sweets as retailers treated customers to spooky season deals, shows industry data released today (29).

According to British Retail Consortium (BRC), shop price deflation was at 0.8 per cent in October, down from deflation of 0.6 per cent in the previous month. This is below the 3-month average rate of -0.6 per cent. Shop price annual growth was at its lowest rate since August 2021.

Keep ReadingShow less