Reports of panic buying at UK petrol stations as fuel deliveries are restricted

Following admissions that fuel deliveries would be rationed and a very small number of petrol stations would close, the British general public was told yesterday that there was no need to panic buy. However, pictures from various locations across Great Britain today indicate that some motorists have not heeded the call. Images published in the last few hours by various media outlets, as well as social media, show queues of cars lining up outside petrol stations.

UK tabloid the Daily Mail writes that queues of cars were spotted this morning at petrol stations in Tonbridge, Kent, in Ely, Cambridgeshire, Bright and Leeds.

Petrol panic-buying begins as UK plunges towards Winter of Discontent 2.0 https://t.co/RhaZxzj7Kc pic.twitter.com/6LPhq7flsD

— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) September 24, 2021

The Dorset view also reports that queues were spotted at a Tesco petrol station in Ferndown.

⛽️ Queues to get into @Tesco petrol station in #Ferndown this morning. Access down Spinneys Lane is currently blocked by traffic ⛽️ #panicbuying #PaniceAtThePumps pic.twitter.com/lPc7otPeU0

— Dorset View (@Dorset_View) September 24, 2021

On top of that, the photos of petrol station queues below are just a snippet of what has been uploaded by Twitter users across the UK.

Despite pleas not to panic buy, motorists in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire queue to full up with fuel at a petrol station #gloucestershire #petrolshortage #panicbuying @GlosLiveOnline pic.twitter.com/PWSVVxPOUO

— Urban Pictures (@Urban_Pictures) September 24, 2021

Amid concerns over fuel shortages, AA president Edmund King told the BBC that “there is no shortage” and added that Fridays do tend to be busier at petrol stations:

“There is no shortage of fuel and thousands of forecourts are operating normally with just a few suffering temporary supply chain problems. Fridays and the weekend always tend to be busier on forecourts, as drivers either combine filling up with shopping runs, prepare for weekend trips or refuel for the start of the new working week.”

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also spoke to the BBC this morning. He stressed to viewers that there was “plenty of petrol”. However, he did not rule out bringing the army in to drive some trucks “If it can actually help”.

Writing on Twitter about the situation, the Road Haulage Association said:

There is no need to panic buy. Because of the efficiency of the haulage industry, we are used to things, including fuel, being there when we need them. The current driver shortage means things will just take longer to arrive.

Photo © Copyright Gerald England and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence. Note: featured image is for illustrative purposes only