Fuel protest: M5 and A38 hit by slow convoys as more chaos expected on roads
Demonstrators are calling for more action to tackle soaring petrol costs
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Your support makes all the difference.Fuel-price protesters launched slow convoys on the M5 and A38 as part of demonstrations during the busy summer getaway period.
On the M5, the action was partly responsible for 45-minute delays.
More disruption was feared later, including along the M4, from slow-moving convoys by drivers calling for action to cut the soaring cost of petrol.
In a similar protest earlier this month, around a dozen people were arrested for driving too slowly.
Demonstrations had been planned nationwide, including in Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, London and Manchester, according to information on the Facebook group for Fuel Price Stand Against Tax.
Avon and Somerset Police warned motorists of “slow-moving roadblocks” on parts of the M4, M5, M32 and A38 on Friday morning.
At lunchtime, the M5 convoy left the motorway to switch its protest to a Shell petrol station in Somerset.
The demonstrations were expected to cause disruption on an extra-busy day for roads when schools have been breaking up for summer holidays.
See below for what was our live coverage.
Good morning and welcome to our coverage of fuel price protests expected on UK roads today.
Protests expected to make traffic jams even worse on busy day
Fuel price protests are set to make traffic jams even worse during what is expected to be the busiest summer getaway in at least eight years.
Avon and Somerset Police warned motorists that “slow-moving roadblocks” are planned on parts of the M4, M5, M32 and A38 on Friday morning.
An image posted on Facebook group Fuel Price Stand Against Tax suggests demonstrations will be held “nationwide”, including in Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, London and Manchester.
With most schools in England and Wales breaking up for summer this week, the RAC said an estimated 18.8 million leisure trips are planned in the UK between Friday and Monday.
That is the most since the company began tracking summer getaway numbers in 2014.
PA
What message is RAC giving drivers?
An RAC traffic spokesperson has just been asked about the planned protests on Sky News.
“I’m afraid, I think later on this morning into the afternoon, there is likely to be impact,” Rod Dennis said.
The spokesperson said an “important stretch” of road where the M4 and M5 meets near Bristol has been pinpointed as somewhere expected to see disruption from protests.
“There is likely to be some impact on drivers heading south there into the early part of the afternoon,” he said.
Mr Dennis also said the M25 looked set to miss the worst of the fuel protests, but was picking up most of the holiday congestion.
“The message for drivers is you've got to leave early - if you're watching this and you haven't left yet nd you've got a long journey planned, I think expected this to take longer than you would normally expect.”
Police share message on protests
The protests are expected to cause particular disruption on the M5 today.
Here is what Avon and Somerset Police have to say:
Full story: Fuel protests to block rush-hour traffic
Fuel protests set to erupt across the country are threatening to wreak havoc on Britain’s major roads.
Southwest England is likely to be hit with some of the worst blockages, with Avon and Somerset Police today warning motorists that “slow-moving roadblocks” are planned on parts of the M4, M5, M32 and A38.
Emily Atkinson has the full story:
Fuel protests to block rush-hour traffic on major roads across UK on Friday
Police are urging drivers to make alternative plans for travel
What are the protests over?
Petrol prices have been soaring this year, setting a number of new record highs.
The RAC said the price recently fell for the first time in months. But here is a reminder of the other sky-high prices that have recently been seen:
Petrol and diesel prices hit record high
Retailers have been accused of raising profit margins since the cut in fuel duty.
What happened last time?
Here is a recap of what happened during the last fuel protests - including arrests - earlier this month:
13 arrests in for ‘going slower than allowed’ amid fuel protests
Slow-moving convoys cause delays across country
Protest kicks off on M5
A slow-moving convoy has joined the M5 and is heading northbound:
Slow-moving convoy drives along A38
It looks like the A38 is also facing a slow-moving convoy:
M5 convoy update
Police say the M5 convoy has reached the exit for Weston-super-Mare:
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