Truckers take fuel protest to capital

Jun 12 2008 by Shirley Bartynek, Hamilton Advertiser

HAULAGE firms from across Lanarkshire this week staged a protest against the rising price of fuel.

More than 100 lorries met at Strathclyde Park on Tuesday and later formed a convoy which made its way to Edinburgh.

They staged a go-slow protest in the capital, where police handed out maps to help minimise traffic disruption.

The convoy travelled at 15 mph, before parking in Regent Road.

The trucks also joined east coast truckers at Hermiston Gait before entering Edinburgh.

Three trucks were escorted by police to the Scottish Parliament, where a letter was handed in to Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson.

David McCutcheon, the MD of courier and transport company, Bullet Express, based in Bothwell, helped to organise this week’s demonstration.

He said Bullet Express were having to pay an extra £150,000-£160,000 a year for fuel.

“That is a lot of extra cash and where are we and others supposed to find that kind of money, he added.

“The protest was very successful. I organised it because I felt the anger amongst others in the industry.

“I contacted the police and several other haulage firms and before I knew it I had built up a great support.

“I managed to get into the Scottish Parliament to hand over a letter of protest.

“There was very little disruption; when we headed into Edinburgh through the by-pass we all kept to the inside lane and the police were superb in helping with this peaceful demonstration.

“I have already had people asking me when the next protest will be, and let there be no doubt if there is no change then there will be others.”

The protest comes a fortnight after hundreds of lorry drivers took to the streets of London calling for a cut in fuel duty.