Drivers’ petrol protest

ROAD RAGE . . . The convoy on Broadway, Chadderton

SOARING fuel prices brought scores of Oldhamers out onto the streets in a mass protest on Saturday.

Members of the public signalled their support, as car drivers joined 70 lorries which crawled along the streets.

The mile-long convoy edged along the bypass, down Broadway and back up to Mumps through Failsworth and Hollinwood at 10mph — but minimal disruption was caused, as the hauliers sought to highlight their plight without inconveniencing members of the public.

Dane Firth, director of Royton’s DP Firth Transport, who led the convoy, said: “The drivers behaved impeccably during the protest and it passed off peacefully.

“We were really encouraged by the support we got, from other hauliers as well as passers by and motorists. Many of the people we passed gave us the thumbs up, while some other drivers joined in.

“The bypass was end-to-end with trucks and we had not mentioned it to that many people, so it just goes to show that this issue has really struck a chord.

“The drivers who took part represented only a very small fraction of the hauliers who work in this town and it shows how many people are set to lose their jobs if our businesses are sunk by the cost of fuel.

“And it’s not just about drivers. Everyone is feeling the pinch, as the cost of fuel impacts on everything, including the cost of heating a home and the price of food.”

The evening before the go-slow, Mr Firth was one of a group of local hauliers who met up with Oldham West and Royton MP Michael Meacher, who is set to discuss the issue with the treasury.

And as drivers were issuing a rallying cry in Oldham, a Royton man led a separate convoy down to London.

Carl Rea has set up a fuel and tax protest website, through which hundreds of drivers arranged to join him on his drive down to the capital on Saturday.

The motorists met up at the M1 at Woodall Services at 10am and were joined by more supporters at stations on the way down, before parking up outside the BBC in London.

Mr Rea said: “The protest was absolutely worth it. We got phenomenal support from members of the public and lots of people approached us in service stations saying how glad they were that someone was standing up and doing something.

“There about 40 cars travelling down from South Mimms to the capital and although we slowed traffic a little, we didn’t disrupt the flow, which was what we wanted.

“I know Gordon Brown is not going to run out tomorrow and slash 20p from the price of petrol, but our aim was to make people take notice and we achieved that.

“I’d like to thank Robinson’s Subaru of Rochdale, who supplied my car, and the police, who were brilliant.

“I would also urge everyone to write to their local MP . . . hopefully something will change.