Fuel protest causes traffic chaos

A go-slow by lorry drivers protesting over the price of fuel has caused traffic chaos in Cornwall.A convoy of around 250 drivers set off along the A30 - the main route out of Cornwall - as thousands of holidaymakers headed home following the Whitsun half-term.The main convoy was travelling at less than 10mph from Truro, heading for Launceston, before returning to Truro later on Saturday, Devon and Cornwall Police said.The protest passed off peacefully but at one point motorists faced "severe delays" of up to 40 minutes as the lorries passed Bodmin, the Highways Agency said.Police warned drivers to set off after the protest or use alternative A class roads.Today's action follows protests in London and Cardiff on Tuesday over the rising cost of fuel.Sarah Elworthy, joint owner of the Lifton Hall Hotel and Village Inn near Launceston, said she supported the protest."The impact of the fuel price on us has had more of an impact than a one-day protest so we are in support of them," she said."The cost of everything has gone up so it's hard to get a balance between putting up prices and keeping customers."Neil Hart, who operates a haulage company in Pool, Redruth, said he took part in the protest because he could no longer afford the fuel prices."In the past year it's cost £200,000 more in diesel," he said."That's about £16,000 a month extra and we just can't pass any more on to our customers."He called for a rebate of 25p per litre.

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ITN | May 31, 2008

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