MOTORISTS across Worcester and Malvern have been urged to buy fuel in their usual amounts as the week-long panic buying spree continued across the county.
Despite the continued pleas from the industry and Government, the pressure at the pumps has continued with a number of forecourts closed as drivers seek to fill up.
Among the forecourts contacted by the Observer was the Shell garage on Nunnery Way which had no fuel while the BP garage on Whittington Road was also closed to those seeking to fill up.
Tesco’s newly-refurbished forecourt on London Road was closed on Tuesday (September 28) but petrol was available at the Commandery Service Station, on Henwick Road and at the Texaco off Castle Street.
Queues were reported at many Malvern petrol stations. A staff member who didn’t wish to be named said demand was less than at the weekend.
“It’s been a nightmare and completely unnecessary, we’re now running low only because so many people came in and filled up over the weekend,” he said.
The UK fuel industry – including BP, Shell and Esso – issued a joint statement on Monday (September 27) night and said it was working with the Government to ensure there is enough fuel.
In the statement issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, they 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.”
Both West Mercia Police and West Midands Ambulance Service have confirmed their vehicles are unaffected by the current crisis with ambulance chiefs confirming their depots had their own fuel supply.
However, the British Medical Association has called for healthcare workers to get priority access to fuel amidst supply issue to get where they needed to be.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair, 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.
The Petrol Retailers Association, which represents 5,500 out of the UK’s 8,000 filling stations, has said it has begun to see some evidence the number of cars visiting petrol stations was beginning to stabilise.
