Fuel protesters arrive in capital

Protesters want a reduction in fuel duty

A convoy of 80 lorries has made its way from North Lanarkshire to Edinburgh in a protest over the cost of fuel.

Several more vehicles joined the "go-slow" protest along the M8 as it travelled from Strathclyde Country Park to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.

Some of the protesters handed a letter to Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson asking him to urge the UK Government to reduce the duty on fuel.

It follows similar protests in Wales and London last month.

David McCutcheon, managing director of Bothwell-based Bullet Express, organised the convoy.

He said his company would have to pay an extra �150,000 for fuel this year and other firms have been forced out of business due to rising costs.

"The industry is already struggling with the working time directive and the normal cost of fuel," he said.

"In the last year the price of fuel has increased by 25% - it's a hefty blow.

"I just felt that the anger was there in the road haulage industry. We want the government to start looking at us in a different light. This could become a weekly event."

One of the trucks in the convoy displayed a sign which read: "I'm no fuel fool" while another read: "Broon back doon".

As the convoy made its way along the M8, supporters and some passers-by waved from overpasses. The lorries sounded their horns as they passed.

At Hermiston Gait, just outside Edinburgh, more vehicles joined the procession.

In the capital, other trucks travelling in the opposite direction sounded their horns in support of the protest.

The convoy arrived at its destination on Regent Road at 1130 BST.

Three trucks were then escorted by police to the Scottish Parliament, where the petition was handed to Stewart Stevenson.

The convoy was not officially endorsed by the Road Haulage Association (RHA), which plans to lobby MPs at Westminster next month. But Phil Flanders, from the RHA, offered his support.

He said: "Good luck to them. They want the same thing that we do, which is cheaper fuel."

Liberal Democrat transport spokeswoman Alison McInnes said: "As Scottish hauliers are further from their market, the industry in Scotland has been particularly badly hit by the spiralling cost of fuel.

"The transport minister must make time to sit down with hauliers and discuss what steps the Scottish Government can take to support the industry. "

'Cost burden'

But Patrick Harvie, from the Scottish Green Party, said tax cuts would make little difference and there should be more investment in rail transport for goods.

He said: "The reality of the situation is that the era of cheap oil is over, and further increases in the oil price will wipe out any short-term tax changes almost immediately."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government is deeply concerned about the impact of fuel duty rises on communities and businesses across Scotland, particularly for our rural and island communities, where fuel costs represent a significant cost burden.

"We are working with representatives from across industry to press Westminster for change to protect Scottish interests."

The spokesman said the first minister had proposed setting up a fuel duty regulator which would see a double protection for motorists and the bus and road haulage industries.

"The Scottish Government is also pressing the chancellor to announce the cancellation of the 2p per litre rise in fuel duty planned for October," the spokesman added.

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