Motorists in Stafford are panic buying fuel - stop it!!

[Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt]

Sad but true. I went to buy some fuel yesterday (because I actually needed some) and ASDA was empty, there was a queue going up the Weston Road from Lammascote filling station - it is ridiculous. Had a walk out today and there is once again quite a lot of queuing going on.
I blame the Government who have advised people not to panic buy (and so predictably what is the first thing that people now do) and the idiots out there topping up with £2 quids worth and filling jerry cans.

If there was a real crisis this Country would completely fall to pieces within about 48 hours.

 

[Lucy]

And we don't even know when they are striking. I don't need fuel yet, so I will get some on Friday when I do. I don't understand the mentality of these people who will probably need to fill up before the strike again anyway.

 

[pollyannapatch]

I was at the Shell garage on Sandon Road on Tueday and I Sh** you not, the van in front of me was filling over 30 large jerry cans with fuel. I was gobsmacked! (never mind hacked off that I had to queue for ages...)

I thought it was illegal to carry or store that much fuel. I can't believe the petrol station was letting them!

 

[Franklin_Delano_Roosevelt]

It is indeed illegal. I don't think you are allowed to buy more than two jerry cans per filling (which I think hold about 10 litres?) and so if someone is making off with that many then the forecourt is at fault as they should not have made the sale.

It is the selfish stupidity of it that gets me - they haven't even announced a strike date let alone actually started striking! If everyone acted normally then there wouldn't be a problem but then we seem to be a Nation of abnormal panickers.

 

[Dabbler]

OK, so I will need to fill my car up on Friday, as the tank will be about 3/4 empty by then. Maybe I should go now because they may have sold out by Friday...

It never fails to amaze me at people's behaviour in this country, it's a bit like people buying food in bulk over Xmas when the shops are only closed for a couple of days at most.

Given that the unions have to provide 7 days notice of strike action, and I don't think we've had this notice yet, there is no immediate need to go out and fill up tanks. What is the Government playing at by suggesting people 'top up their tanks' now? Anyone would think they were trying to incite queues deliberately.

 

[Lucy]

I may be cycling to work for a few days!

 

[Jareth]

Blame David Cameron!

 

[henryscat]

And we don't even know when they are striking.

Or indeed if yet!!!

 

[joshua]

They will have to give 7 days notice anyway. All these panickers queuing now will be queuing again next week.
If it were me I'd be giving notice of industrial action on 3rd April then striking from 10th April for a week having made sure I'd worked Good Friday, Easter Sunday and the Bank Holiday Monday at premium rates. Net result I would be no worse off financially, I'd get a few days off with kids and the country would run out of fuel for a few days within the working week.

Then back in on overtime. Point made.

 

[Miss Red]

I noticed that the esso garage by asda put 2p on a ltr - friday it was £1.33 monday when i got some it was £1.35! - perhaps its the govs way of making people panic buy so they get tax in quicker and a bit of quick profit for the garages. I gotta get some tomorrow - just hope theres some left otherwise im stuffed!
Stupid people

 

[Gramaisc]

I don't understand the mentality of these people who will probably need to fill up before the strike again anyway.

One of my favourite quotes was from my landlord whan I first came to Stafford. In the 70s we had regular shortages of all sorts of things, even bog-rolls and sugar. During one of the petrol shortages he declared that "I'm going off to work early this morning, so that I can fill up at Charles Clark's on the way and beat the panic buyers!"..

During the last fuel strike, Wilkinson's sold out of candles.

 

[joshua]

The government are encouraging panic buying to get all those who don't really need it topped up while there is no actual strike on and they can replenish with no problems. This means when the real strike comes the impact will be smaller.

 

[Miss Red]

Errm better give update - i decided to get some petrol for work (due to panic buying) now instead of tomorrow - out there is as follows
Esso by asda - petrol all gone - they did have diesel but queues to get in (and pushing)
Asda - all gone
The garage by the gaol - petrol all gone and diesel nearly gone as they have cones up on entrance.
The garage by maccy d,s island - queues to get in but didnt go there because of queues, so dont know what they have.
The BP garage has some pumps with petrol and diesel - but they have wacked it up to £1.44 just for the petrol!!
robdogs!
That was all just 20 mins ago at 8pm - guess it will be worse tomorrow, so if you need some it might be an idea to get some asap.

 

[Goldstyle Limousines]

Just come from filling up my limo at Tesco wolverhampton road with petrol - diesel is all out and they don't know when next delivery is as esso have turned of there emergency contact telephone also was told one of the refineries had closed.
This was at 10.30pm and think they are running low now on petrol. Was told only place that has diesel in stafford at the moment is the main tesco store station, don't know if that's true.
Spoke to a couple of people and they said that they was only filling up as they need it for work and heard down south is putting a £20 limit, again don't know if true.

 

[tek-monkey]

Well thats the public sector demonised, who next? I hear those pesky fuel delivery drivers may strike, shall we tell Murdoch to tell the other fellows that fuel drivers are poofters? Nobody will talk to them again, what a jape! When do we get to stop pretending with the middle classes?

 

[wildwood]

I overlook the Shell on Sandon Road and even up until 11.30 the garage was full. Shocking! Finally gone quiet now at half midnight.

 

[johnny come lately]

I'm afraid I was worried and listened to the government and filled up two jerry cans full - and I don't even have a car. keep smiling

 

[Toble]

Jerry can filling was going on at Brookhouse Garage (nr McDonalds) last night. There was a forecourth punch up too, aparently.

 

[WildwoodPaul]

Wife just rang to say cars are queuing onto Radford Bank at the Freedom Caravans petrol station.

 

[Rikki]

I decide not to go fill up last night as I was hoping people wouldn't react like they now seem they have. Wish I would have after reading this, I've probably got enought diesel in the van to last me till early next week. Just hope the deliveries are before then or I won't be able to carry on working.

I hate to ask this question but does anyone know if there's diesel left anywhere?