THE COUNCIL has urged York residents to avoid panic buying fuel - warning it is "the only thing" that would cause a shortage in York.

In the latest statement, City of York Council said it was not aware of fuel shortages in York or surrounding areas in North Yorkshire.

It comes after Wendy Loveday, chair of the York Private Hire Association, appealed for taxis to be placed on the local emergency fuel list. 

In the event of a fuel shortage, the list would prioritise certain drivers - such as those who need access to emergency vehicles like paramedics or police officers.

The chairwoman said taxi drivers are "one of the emergency services" to many York residents who rely on their availability.

Wendy, who is a driver at Fleetways Taxis on Queen Street, told how her company has a potentially life-saving contract with Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

When dialysis patients need treatment, Wendy and her fellow drivers at Fleetways are on call to help them get to and from the hospital.

But without fuel, these important trips could not be made.

Wendy told The Press: "They will die without us getting to and from the hospital."

"These people that are filling their cars up full could be the people that are reliant on taxis to get them to their emergency service. 

"These are probably people that are just filling their car with fuel to be able to pop to the supermarket and it will be probably sat in their garage for a week."

Reacting to scenes of panic buying and queues outside some petrol stations, Wendy said: "The thing is, it's not going to be long lived. These thing are never long lived. This is not the fuel crisis we had in the 70s."

James Gilchrist, director of transport, environment and planning at City of York Council, responded to say it was "aware of the impact" caused by the lack of HGV drivers across the country. 

The director said: “We are of course aware of the impact of the national lack of HGV drivers on a range of supplies and services. 

“The government is clear that there is no shortage of fuel, and the supply issues are not affecting anywhere in York or North Yorkshire. 

“The only thing that would undermine supply in York is panic buying – please don’t do it.” 

Reader Joanne Katy Thomas saw one woman panic buying fuel in one York petrol station.

After needing to fill her car up with fuel, Joanne reported seeing a woman filling up her car - moments after paying for petrol stored in some drums.

Similar concerns were shared by the British Medical Association (BMA), which called for healthcare staff and essential workers to be given priority to access fuel.

It warned that “there is a real risk that NHS staff won’t be able to do their jobs”.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of council at the BMA, said: “Emergency and essential workers rely on fuel both to travel to work and for their work itself – whether this is to get to hospitals, practices and other healthcare settings, or for ambulances to reach people in urgent need of care and GPs to visit very ill patients at home.

“Everyone will have their own reasons for needing to fill up, but as pumps run dry there is a real risk that NHS staff won’t be able to do their jobs and provide vital services and care to people who urgently need it."

Meanwhile Patricia Marquis, director for England at the Royal College of Nursing, said: “Nursing staff do valuable work, often travelling long distances to get to work or see their patients in the community.

“Health and care services, already struggling with widespread staffing shortages, cannot afford to lose any more staff because they’re unable to travel."

'Plenty of fuel'

The UK fuel industry – including BP, Shell and Esso – issued a joint statement on Monday.

The industry stressed that it is working with the government to ensure there is enough fuel accessible to drivers across the country.

In the statement issued by the department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said: “There is plenty of fuel at UK refineries and terminals, and as an industry we are working closely with the government to help ensure fuel is available to be delivered to stations across the country.

“As many cars are now holding more fuel than usual, we expect that demand will return to its normal levels in the coming days, easing pressures on fuel station forecourts. We would encourage everyone to buy fuel as they usually would.

“We remain enormously grateful to all forecourt staff and HGV drivers for working tirelessly to maintain supplies during this time.”