By IRNA,
London : Hundreds of lorry drivers were gathering in London Tuesday to protest against rocketing diesel and petrol prices in the largest-ever blockage to hit British streets.
During the demonstration, a delegation of hauliers will hand in a letter to Prime Minister Gordon Brown demanding the immediate introduction of an essential user rebate which would allow heavy goods vehicles to claim a fuel tax rebate.
The protest, which has the to a six-hour closure of a main road into the capital, comes as the average cost of diesel has soared 20 per cent so far this year, reaching a record of more than Pnds 1.20 per litre in the wake of escalating oil prices.
Transaction 2007, one of the organizers of the mass demonstration, said the government has the power to act but appears not to be listening to warnings.
“Foreign hauliers are entering the UK with cheaper fuel purchased abroad. All we are asking for is that the Government introduce an essential user rebate so that we can compete on a level playing field with continental hauliers,” said Transaction’s Mike Presnell.
The demonstration comes as Brown is already under increased pressure to shelve a 2p increase in petrol duty, which has already been delayed from April to October.
There are also reports of a rebellion over government plans to change vehicle excise duty on “gas guzzling” cars, which will adversely affect millions of motorists.
More than 30 Labour backbenchers have signed a parliamentary motion urging ministers to rethink the vehicle excise duty proposals before the new rates come into force.
The last major fuel protests in Britain caused to widespread shortages in 2000 when hauliers and farmers blockaded oil refiners, but the government has since enacted emergency legislation to prevent the possibility of any repeat.