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Petrol supply issues are pushing Brits to try and stock up on fuel across the country, with queues outside petrol stations. A small number of petrol stations have been forced to close due to lack of supply, with others introducing restrictions.
While there’s not a shortage of petrol across the country, there is a lack of drivers to distribute fuel.
At a meeting a week ago BP is said to have told the Government the company was struggling to get fuel to its forecourts.
Companies are calling on the Government to introduce measures to make it easier to recruit HGV drivers from overseas.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told ITV News he would “move heaven and earth” to get the situation solved.
Read More: Fury as selfish drivers fill cars with jerry cans as pumps run dry
Police have urged drivers to be “sensible” when it comes to stocking up on fuel.
Lincolnshire Police said: “We have received reports this morning of long queues at some petrol stations in the county.
“This is a potential hazard for vehicles making other journeys and may cause difficulties for emergency services trying to reach people in need.
“While we appreciate that some people may be particularly keen to fill up their vehicles this weekend, we would respectfully ask motorists to be sensible when making judgments about joining a queue at a petrol station.
“If it is too long, consider returning at a different time.”
Addressing the panic buying of fuel, Mr Shapps said on Friday motorists should “carry on as normal”.
He told Sky News: “The advice would be to carry on as normal, and that is what BP is saying as well.”
A Downing Street spokesman said: “We have ample fuel stocks in this country and the public should be reassured there are no shortages.
“But like countries around the world we are suffering from a temporary Covid-related shortage of drivers needed to move supplies around the country.
“We’re looking at temporary measures to avoid any immediate problems, but any measures we introduce will be very strictly time-limited.
“We are moving to a high-wage, high-skilled economy and businesses will need to adapt with more investment in recruitment and training to provide long-term resilience.
Which petrol stations have £30 limit?
To combat panic buying, some companies have introduced a £30 limit on fuel.
On Friday, Lancashire-based EG group put a £30 limit across its forecourts.
EG Group has 341 petrol stations in the UK issued a statement explaining the restriction was to make sure its customers “have a fair chance to refuel”.
They run petrol stations like BP, Esso, Shell and Texaco.
Heavy goods vehicles and emergency services will not be subject to the limit.
Other stations affected but not yet imposing limits are Esso, BP and Tesco.
Royal Dutch Shell said on Friday it was seeing more demand at some of its fuel stations in Britain.
A spokesperson said: “We are adapting our delivery schedules to ensure sufficient supplies for our customers.
They added rising demand “may in some instances result in larger queues.”
A handful of Shell gas stations are thought to have run out of fuel.
While BP said it was prioritising fuel deliveries in Britain to sites with the highest demand and seeking to minimise the amount of time its petrol and diesel pumps were empty.
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