Does anyone else think it’s interesting that from near-total coverage, there’s been very little in the news today about it?
At the risk of sounding a bit, well, loony, I wonder if the gov’t have ‘had a word’ about inciting hysteria (or even issued a d-notice)?
Or is it because things seem to be pretty much back to normal?
Not in my experience
I seen this
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-58767230
and then read this
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36618701
and it all made sense
That's brilliant!
Or is it because things seem to be pretty much back to normal?
"Many problems, most are focused on the South East with little sense of any improvement at all"
https://twitter.com/mwayservices/status/1444013853298266118?s=19
Or is it because things seem to be pretty much back to normal?
10pm - huge queue blocking a dual carriageway, cars presumably trying to get to the local Asda, nearest Shell station was coned off. Not any form of "normal" that I've seen before.
“Many problems, most are focused on the South East
I'm NW and the two local stations to me have both been coned off for s couple of days now (one Esso and one independent.) Not sure how representative of the rest of the area this is, but it's not normal that's for sure.
No Fuel to be had in Brighton area - Unless you want to queue for hours
We went to get shopping at sainsburys tonight , and 60+ cars queued up in car park even though garage was closed, when we came out of sainsburys even more were waiting, asked one of the guys in high vis, what was going on and was told they were going to get fuel in another 30mins , staff had leaked info onto social media and the locusts had arrived...
earlier had been out on road bike and roads to asda fuel station totally blocked with q's
wont be going anywhere in car any time soon
Just filled up from fumes at a garage with nobody else there apart from a board looking staff member, go me.
Apologies, pretty much back to normal here in Ilkeston Thursday night/Friday.
Seems yet another reason to avoid the SE. 😉
it seems a bit mean spirited to fill right up when half a tank will easily see me though the next fortnight
Yesterday I pulled into a small service station parking to grab some lunch. While I was browsing online with a sarnie, windows down, early autumn sunshine warming my arm - I became aware of Audi S-line man parked next-door. His engine had been running these last ten minutes. He kept his engine running for another ten while filling his face with the biggest roll I’ve ever seen, and then off he drove. There was no (vehicle) fuel available at this service station. I then wondered if he was keeping his engine running all day in defiance of the supply shortage? Sort of flipping the bird to the whole thing? Or maybe he believes that his engine uses more fuel to stop and start again vs idling for 20 mins?
Apparently the military are going to help deliver fuel from next week so I imagine everyone will calm down this weekend. Obviously.
Actually, I think i snapped a photo of them practising deliveries in the Thanet area:
I then wondered if he was keeping his engine running all day in defiance of the supply shortage? Sort of flipping the bird to the whole thing? Or maybe he believes that his engine uses more fuel to stop and start again vs idling for 20 mins?
Or he wanted a lack of fuel to get out of work/job/errand/in laws.
I escaped an extra call on Friday due to fuel concerns.
I then wondered if he was keeping his engine running all day in defiance of the supply shortage? Sort of flipping the bird to the whole thing? Or maybe he believes that his engine uses more fuel to stop and start again vs idling for 20 mins?
Got to keep the phone charged and the air con running!
My car will allow you to half turn the key to fire up the electrics without running the engine but a modern car with a start/stop button won't allow that, it'll rely on engine auto-stop which (a) has to be enabled and (b) won't work all the time, especially if the air con is on - even if you're stationary the engine will fire up to power the air con.
There was a big police 4x4 parked outside the town hall the other day, engine running for 20+ minutes. Guessing they need the engine on to power their radios and onboard ANPR cameras...?
I thought everything could run on 'sovrunty'?
Clacket Lane about 8 PM last night was looking normal with no queues. there is a premium to be paid for this however.
I seen this
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-58767230
It'd be great to get an empty tanker and just drive around for hours - potentially on quite a long cross-country trip - and just see how many people follow you around and also how many eventually break down due to running out of fuel.
"No, sorry mate, this is empty, I'm heading back to the refinery. In Liverpool."
Not normal near me. 2 closed for varous reasons, 2 open with queues getting on for 1/4 mile long. So thats maybe 50 plus waiting at 0800 on a Saturday morning.
Im ok with 500 range still so hopefully will be sorted by the time i need to fuel up. Roads are definitely quiter and so is work as we get daily footfall numbers.
Plus that guy wasn't transporting 44t of morter. Maybe 30t of ready mix concrete. Just shows how silly its all getting. Local bookface page has banned tanker updates ad it exasperates the panic, not even allowed to ask which garages have what fuel available and how bad the queues are
Many local garages around Burnley with no diesel last night. I can access it from a pump at a local fuel depot with a fuel card but bad for a lot of people. The local depot had even been opening for the public to let some key workers get fuel.
Well, who'd have thunk it? Things are getting worse. Its almost as if we've a bunch of blithering incompetents in government who haven't got the first clue how to solve a crisis they needlessly created
https://twitter.com/samtabahriti/status/1444203338220941314?s=20
Main road in and out of the village be like... "Queuing for petrol one way queuing for the GP surgery another..... so many cars". Random FB comment 🙁
A friend is on her way up to mine at the moment from Kent, she's driven past 7 closed garages and has just sent me a pic of the queue she's in now for one that apparently does have fuel...
I think that we've hit the tipping point up here where everyones car must be full. Just nipped out for some odds and sods and past the garage. Petrol and diesel on and no queues. They've been shut up until yesterday since last weekend.
At that tipping we find out if there is a real supply chain issue, and we can stop blaming the public.
A reminder, “no problem here”, doesn’t mean every area is the same.
Did a 510 mile road trip. Filled up no problem.
independent in my local town had £30 limit, drove into Plymouth and no queues or restrictions anywhere.
Its almost as if we’ve a bunch of blithering incompetents in government who haven’t got the first clue how to solve a crisis they needlessly created
It's almost as if there was actually a supply problem, in some areas at least, rather than just a panic problem.
Well, just goes to show how some people can still be nice during all this shite.
Cut a long story short, only way I could think to get some diesel in my absolutely empty tank was stick my canister in a rucksack and ride round til I could find a garage. First 2 were closed, got to Sainsbury's, massive queue, woman in hiviz directing everything (Silvia). I ride up and say can I join the queue and fill my canister? Woman in the car at the front of the queue offers to fill it for me, but she's getting petrol, so it will be awkward. Silvia then says tell the kiosk she said I could jump the queue. Kiosk lady takes me to a broken pump, with no queue, says it will fill a canister. I carefully ride home, empty the canister and am now just about the get hold of a pump nozzle..
Had to drive to Corby this morning. First station nothing, second one (Shell) no problems. Local one here, BP, nothing and 10p more per litre. Gouging.
Didn’t even think to check how much Sainsburys were charging!
There are good people. Nice story.
Gave me a warm feeling. Badly written cos done on phone while queuing 😀 (I know I know) So hard to type into the forum when ads cover the post entry box... Great design STW!
Queue for fuel looked ridiculous, but actually went through pretty quick. I wish I'd taken Silvia some biscuits or something, standing out in the rain all day.
Managed to pull straight up to a pump and fill up at my local place at 07:00 today, thanked the chaps serving. Passed another station after on the way to work also with fuel and no queues
Managed to fill up Thursday night, 250 round trip today dropping son at uni, so should have about half a tank left after that. Think MrsMC has a 100 mile work trip on Monday so we should be OK till after then.
Just driven 550 miles from Gairloch to Herefordshire in a car with an inconveniently small fuel tank which means it has an effective range of about 220 miles before getting anxious about it. Absolutely no problems in north west Scotland during the last week, we saw no queues at all even though where we were staying is about 500 m from the NC500 route. We filled up in Perth Tesco at 8 am this morning and fewer than half the pumps were occupied. No problem at Tebay South or Kidderminster services either (apart from the price of course) From the M5 to home, saw three garages closed, a queue at another and two others with only one pair of pumps operating. I am very pleased to be home (!)
Filled up in Cardiff. One place closed, one with only unleaded (and one customer) and about 2/3 of pumps with both fuels at Caridiff Gate services. And only a few customers there.
Get Christmas and Valentine’s Done?
Talking of Christmas.....
Definitely not normal around Aldershot way now - Tesco, Morrisons, Farnham Sainsburys, Hog's Back Services, Gulf, BP, Ash - all out. Went to the new services at the bottom of the A331 at half 7 this morning and they were closed but there was a tanker filling them up. Parked up, popped into the Starbucks for a coffee and sat and waited for an hour before they opened up. Managed to get both cars fuelled though, so hopefully should see us through til next weekend. OH is wfh and I try and cycle in if I can, but with the weather this week and needing to get to the horses with dogs in tow we've needed fuel more than usual.
Remember a week or two into lockdown with forlorn, empty garage forecourts with unleaded priced at a quid a litre?
That seems an awful long time ago now, doesn’t it?
Maybe we'll have another lockdown before Christmas 😁
Remember a week or two into lockdown with forlorn, empty garage forecourts
Local petrol station had a forlorn, empty forecourt today as well.
Still dodgy supply wise round here. Had to go to an alternate supermarket than normal since the one I normally use had a nice traffic jam outside hoping to find some fuel.
I wonder how long its going to take until people get bored and revert to their old habits and let things recover.
I am surprised there are no stories about dodgy stashes getting spilt and catching on fire yet.
Just got petrol for the first time since this started been holding out. One petrol station by me has been shut all week others patchy. Waited like half hour which I can only assume is a good thing these days. Just lost for words how bad this country has got in the space of a few years.
Absolutely no change up here. Not seen or heard of a queue since last week.
I got the car filled up yesterday at only petrol station I saw open between reading and Newbury, pass about 6. Actually I didn't fill up as it was rationed to £35. But that's more than enough for us to do what we need to do this week.
What a great time to have to drive from the Midlands to the Isle of Wight, to Ayrshire and back to the Midlands!
What a great time to have to drive from the Midlands to the Isle of Wight, to Ayrshire and back to the Midlands!
Its okay to say don't panic buy, but when you have a journey like that to do every time you get near a petrol station (that isn't too busy) and have done 200 miles you are most likely to fill up. I did notice Scotroutes the other day saying Aviemore was struggling (probably the tourists when leaving, filling up in case they struggle for fuel on the way home). As said Scotland is okay for fuel.
Just got home from a week's holiday in Dumfries & Galloway - no fuel issues at all there.
Travelled back home yesterday and whilst acknowledging the shite weather might have something to do with it I thought the motorways were a lot quieter than usual - I presume the fuel issues in England likely helped with that.
Anyone know how the M4 / South Wales is for fuel issues? Im off to Bike Park Wales from Hampshire early in the morning, tried 6 petrol stations around here at various points over the weekend. All sold out and closed forecourts. I have enough to get there, just not sure i'll get all the way home without finding some diesel along the way!
Petrol stations are pretty normal in Ayrshire yesterday/today, but Greggs was queued up and empty of softie rolls and only one can of red bull left, the vegan sausage rolls were cold, one more day of this and I think there could be serious problems.
Well had to put some petrol in last night as getting and been resisting adding to the ques all week.
Supermarket stations empty small village one empty only one I could find was an Esso, strangle the last time there was a fuel shortage I used the same station but back the it 4*/ unleaded.
No problems in glasgow ( braehead sainsburys), no queues at all
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/596930?fbclid=IwAR3iPubJOSgoBnm7QRoOfUVXUdIUIq37tEj8wYBKGTB0IsysHDlpKDdecH0
Rejoin Single Market petition.
Took son to rugby tournament today, Newbury to Henley and back, saw one station with fuel and loads of cars queuing.
pobaker,I was told yesterday that the Asda garage at J32 had fuel and minimal queues.
I have no idea if they sell snorkels and flippers there but it would be prudent to purchase them if they do.
My family say that there's no issue getting fuel in either Abergavenny or Merthyr, you just might have to try a second one. Depends if you're going that way though or going to Cardiff and up.
Greggs was queued up and empty of softie rolls and only one can of red bull left, the vegan sausage rolls were cold, one more day of this and I think there could be serious problems.
Electric Bakery will be open tomorrow, if you're stuck on a Sunday I discovered Stephens up in Stirling, looks like Fife based chain, do a good steak pie and beef sausage rolls! Might as well make use of all that surplus fuel 😉
Has anyone checked in on Binners lately, is he OK?
Electric Bakery will be open tomorrow, if you’re stuck on a Sunday I discovered Stephens up in Stirling, looks like Fife based chain, do a good steak pie and beef sausage rolls! Might as well make use of all that surplus fuel 😉
Can't Sunday, I'm going over the border with boot full of jerry cans.
@Cougar He was out at the weekend, someone got his picture in the Salford Badlands.
Still big problems down here (Bromley - SE London) i rode past about 6 garages yesterday morning, all were either closed or selling food/drinks only - none had any fuel.
However the self-entitled pr*ck who lives opposite me - a retiree in his 80s has been going out daily to top his car up, sometimes driving miles and queueing for ages to put about £4 in his tank.
Its tools like this who've caused this problem.
@pobaker filled up on Saturday at Cardiff Gate services J30. There were some pumps out, but no queue. I can go up and have a look if needed?
Still big problems down here (Bromley – SE London) i rode past about 6 garages yesterday morning, all were either closed or selling food/drinks only – none had any fuel.
London/ south east of england is supposed to be the worst - im not far from Bromley. I imagine likely be the first to get fuel from the army. Although I think its getting better Tesco by me was open for the first time in about 3 days on saturday and still open. I had to get petrol Saturday and think I waited like half hour.
In St Albans couple of stations were shut but one which was open didnt seem to have any real queues over a couple of hours (I was in a pub opposite as opposed to being even sadder than normal) although did have constant flow through.
Huddersfield area has been chilled for 3 or 4 days. Back to wafting around filling up when the light goes on. It’s grim up north.
I managed to duck the mayhem through 3/4 full tanks when this kicked off, economical driving and WFH (but still did a return trip to Berkshire in between).
Still big problems down here (Bromley – SE London) i rode past about 6 garages yesterday morning, all were either closed or selling food/drinks only – none had any fuel.
I got fuel yesterday in the Co-op petrol station in Biggin Hill. I suspect that there will still be fuel there this morning.
It was delivered yesterday afternoon by the army and they had a team of civilians to deal with the actual unloading, it seemed to take them forever.
The guy at the counter said that normally a delivery like that would last about a week but that the last load lasted only 48 hours.
There was a forty quid limit yesterday, I don't know if that will make it last longer.
Edit : It was a relief to finally get fuel as I drove past 8 other petrol stations without any, and according to my car I only had sufficient for another 22 miles
Is it getting back to normal most places? I drove into Southampton last night, passed about 4 petrol stations all open, no queues. Looked pretty normal there, only about 30 mins from where I live, where it's been utter chaos.
(not a cue for everyone in Scotland to go "it's been normal here for days!" 😛 )
Think so, we're in the SE where it's been pretty bad and the Shell near work didn't even run out yesterday! Managed to keep my head down throughout the whole thing as I do very few miles, hopefully be able to fill up next week with no queues.Is it getting back to normal most places?
Not had to fill up for 2 weeks as been working within walking distance, back to the other site today so needed a bit to get through the week. Christ Alive ! prices up by 5p / litre - anybody reckon they will come back down when this blows over ?
Helped out directing the long queues at my local rural garage this week, virtually every driver that went by me wound their window down and said 'Its the media stirring up all these idiots who are panic buying, look at them, have they no sense?!'
Not one of them realised they were panic buying, Happy days
Not one of them realised they were panic buying, Happy days
I buy as a precaution, you buy out of concern and they panic buy.
There was a forty quid limit yesterday, I don’t know if that will make it last longer.
If you're making a long journey, is it ok till up £40 each at different pumps until the tank is full? 😀
When I filled up my OH's car last week there was a £30 limit. I did wonder if I could just stick my card back in (pay at pump) and get another £30's worth.
Irrelevant either way, she drives an Up! so thirty quid is pretty much a tankful.
Passed three petrol stations on the way to work (Bucks, Northants) all out of fuel
Not one of them realised they were panic buying
How do you know any of them were? I ran out of fuel and had to queue to get some. I didn't panic, but I needed to go somewhere in my car and the only choice was to queue. I hadn't put any in the tank since early September prior to that.
Are we still blaming the public?
“ Christ Alive ! prices up by 5p / litre – anybody reckon they will come back down when this blows over ?”
This.
Had to put fuel in our second car so my wife could do her job and it was a smidge under £1.50 a litre for the super unleaded her car needs. £25 didn’t go very far. ☹️
I ran out of fuel and had to queue to get some. I didn’t panic,
Some people on here will castigate you for getting in your car at all to go to work unless you're heading down the oil mines, despite taking what little fuel remains for their own holiday driving.
Passed 4 filling stations on today's ride. All closed but 2 had Hoyer tankers in so presume those will open shortly, a view apparently shared by the dozen or so drivers already queuing at one of them (surrey/Hants borders)
