Fuel pumps running dry at Shell garage (From York Press)

Fuel pumps running dry at Shell garage

9:39am Monday 16th June 2008

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A FILLING station in York has run out of ordinary petrol and diesel fuel amid a tanker drivers' strike.

A supervisor at the Shell garage, in Hull Road, said it ran out of ordinary petrol and diesel fuel on Saturday, and it was not expecting any more deliveries of that fuel before the end of the strike, which is due to finish at 6am tomorrow.

The supervisor, who asked not to be named, said the station still had V-Power petrol and V-Power diesel fuel and, so long as motorists bought their usual amounts, stocks of V-Power would last until the strike was over.

"We'll remain open as long as we're able to," she said.

"The shop itself will continue to stay open and the forecourt will stay open for as long as we have fuel here."

She said the length of time the forecourt would remain open for would depend on how many people visited it, and how much fuel they used.

"If people only put fuel in as they need it, and what they need, and not buy too much - if people just carry on as normal - there won't be a problem, we won't run out," she said.

"By this time tomorrow, when we hope the strike will be over, we expect to have returned to offering a normal service. But we just don't know at this stage.

"The way things are going at the moment, we're expecting to be able to last through the strike - we've got quite a lot of it in.

"We haven't really had any panic buying - people have been quite sensible about it, which is good.

"We're encouraging people not to panic buy the fuel - that's what causes the problem. Every single time you have a strike or a blockade, people start panic buying. Obviously, you can't ask people not to panic buy, but if they don't panic there really is enough to last."

In a statement, Shell said last night: "Based on the information available to us to date, we have received more reports of our service stations stock outs of either petrol or diesel fuel.

"We are sorry for inconvenience this has caused to our customers and have to thank them for their patience."

Drivers at two haulage firms - Hoyer and Suckling - which deliver fuel to Shell garages, walked out on Friday morning in a dispute over pay.

Fresh talks were due to be held today between Unite union officials and managers from Hoyer and Suckling.

Bernie Holloway, a director of Hoyer, said: "We are pleased that this step forward has been made and will make every effort to draw these talks to a successful conclusion."

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