The Transport Secretary has tried to dissuade drivers from panic buying petrol, after BP was forced to close down a handful of its forecourts.
Long queues have formed at some petrol stations across Sussex in spite of Grant Shapps’ assertion that motorists should “carry on as normal”, after BP, Esso and Tesco warned of a lack of fuel at some of their forecourts as a result of the HGV driver shortage.
The transport secretary in an interview insisted he would “move heaven and Earth” to ease the supply chain crisis and did not rule out deploying the army to forecourts or relaxing visa rules to ease the shortfall of drivers.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has urged the government to relax visa restrictions for foreign workers in the short term to ease the driver shortage.
It is estimated that the UK is short of about 100,000 HGV drivers - with gaps made worse by the pandemic and Brexit.
Queues at petrol stations across the County have been spotted with many taking to social media to air their frustrations.
Mr Shapps said refineries had "plenty of petrol" and that motorists should "carry on as normal".
Sussex police have advised motorists to follow government guidance around the buying of fuel.
We are aware of drivers queuing at petrol stations across Sussex.
— Sussex Police (@sussex_police) September 24, 2021
Keeping highways clear is essential for emergency services to respond to incidents and hindering them poses a serious public health risk.
Please follow the latest government guidance around the buying of fuel. pic.twitter.com/S6Mpb0gtVq
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