GRANGEMOUTH, Scotland, April 29 (UPI) -- Hauliers have been staging a protest at a Scottish oil refinery as part of their campaign against rising fuel costs.
Friday's protest at BP's Grangemouth facility comes after days of demonstrations and blockades at refineries nationwide.
The campaigners say they want to put rises in fuel duty on the electoral agenda. Though they acknowledge rising oil prices are a global problem, it is exceptionally high British fuel duty that is driving businesses to breaking point, they say.
Around 200 truckers gathered at the Scottish plant, in a protest organized by the Road Haulage Association.
At a meeting on Wednesday evening, the RHA urged its 1,000 members in Scotland to join the protest.
Chief Executive Roger King said the RHA was not seeking a repeat of the blockades which caused a national fuel shortage in 2000. The RHA did not want to see trucks being used in protests, only individuals, he said.
However blockades have been carried out at other plants. 15 lorries, cars and trucks prevented tankers leaving Fawley oil refinery in Hampshire for four hours on Thursday morning and there are concerns protests could escalate.
