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MORE than 150 motorists took part in a protest outside Stanlow oil refinery last night, angry at rising fuel prices.
Cars, vans and trucks joined a slow-moving convoy along the A5117, arriving at the fuel plant at around 9pm where they staged a drive-past.
Around 50 people then got out of their vehicles, waving banners bearing slogans such as “Fuel duty is highway robbery” and “Wake up Cameron”.
The man behind the demonstration, Kevin Bowker, 40, of Saltney Ferry, said the Government needed to act on fuel prices.
He launched the protest via the social networking website Facebook just 10 days ago along with Stephen Johnstone.
Mr Bowker, a dad-of-four, who referees full time in the Welsh National League, said he hoped this would “kick start the nation”.
He said: “This is something that has been stewing for some time.
“This campaign has grown through word of mouth, talking to friends and it went from there. It recently cost me £85 to fill up my Vauxhall Vectra. Fuel prices are ridiculous.
“We launched the Facebook campaign about 10 days ago and we have been amazed at the levels of support we have gained.
“We have had 8,000 messages of support.
“The Government were talking about not putting the 1p extra on in April, but that is not nearly enough.
“Fuel price increases affect everything, from bread to the presents you buy your children because it is brought on the roads.
“To break it down for £10 of petrol £4.60 goes on fuel duty, £1.66 on VAT, £3.43 goes to the oil company and 31p to the petrol station.
“I think people would be happier if fuel goes below £1 per litre.
“But they have got to get round the table to talk about a sensible level of fuel price.”
Yesterday’s scenes were reminiscent of the 2000 fuel protest which started at Stanlow and spread through the country.
Brynle Williams, the Cilcain man who led that fuel protest, now a Conservative AM, also believes the Government have got it wrong over fuel prices.
Yesterday Mr Williams, the Welsh Assembly Government Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, said: “As soon as you touch fuel, you touch everything.
“To keep inflation down you have to keep the cost of fuel down.
“They have got it wrong on this one.
“I am begging the Chancellor not to go ahead with the increase in April, we need a fair system for rural communities and for central users.”
Cars, vans and trucks joined a slow-moving convoy along the A5117, arriving at the fuel plant at around 9pm where they staged a drive-past.
Around 50 people then got out of their vehicles, waving banners bearing slogans such as “Fuel duty is highway robbery” and “Wake up Cameron”.
The man behind the demonstration, Kevin Bowker, 40, of Saltney Ferry, said the Government needed to act on fuel prices.
He launched the protest via the social networking website Facebook just 10 days ago along with Stephen Johnstone.
Mr Bowker, a dad-of-four, who referees full time in the Welsh National League, said he hoped this would “kick start the nation”.
He said: “This is something that has been stewing for some time.
“This campaign has grown through word of mouth, talking to friends and it went from there. It recently cost me £85 to fill up my Vauxhall Vectra. Fuel prices are ridiculous.
“We launched the Facebook campaign about 10 days ago and we have been amazed at the levels of support we have gained.
“We have had 8,000 messages of support.
“The Government were talking about not putting the 1p extra on in April, but that is not nearly enough.
“Fuel price increases affect everything, from bread to the presents you buy your children because it is brought on the roads.
“To break it down for £10 of petrol £4.60 goes on fuel duty, £1.66 on VAT, £3.43 goes to the oil company and 31p to the petrol station.
“I think people would be happier if fuel goes below £1 per litre.
“But they have got to get round the table to talk about a sensible level of fuel price.”
Yesterday’s scenes were reminiscent of the 2000 fuel protest which started at Stanlow and spread through the country.
Brynle Williams, the Cilcain man who led that fuel protest, now a Conservative AM, also believes the Government have got it wrong over fuel prices.
Yesterday Mr Williams, the Welsh Assembly Government Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, said: “As soon as you touch fuel, you touch everything.
“To keep inflation down you have to keep the cost of fuel down.
“They have got it wrong on this one.
“I am begging the Chancellor not to go ahead with the increase in April, we need a fair system for rural communities and for central users.”
