All Forecourt Trader articles in March 2012
View all stories from this issue.
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News
No Easter strikes, confirms tanker driver union Unite
Unite has ruled out Easter strike action by tanker drivers in a bid to focus on talks. The announcement came as the union confirmed it was ready to start substantive talks through Acas as soon as possible.Unite said for the past year it had been seeking to establish minimum standards ...
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News
Declining safety standards at heart of dispute, claims tanker driver blog
A tanker driver’s blog has put declining safety standards and working conditions firmly at the heart of the dispute between Unite and tanker driver employers. Writing for blog Left Foot Forward, Tony, a driver with 18 years’ experience, describes an industry in danger of descending into chaos, with corners ...
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News
Fuel volume up 376% on some grades
Motorists have pushed up fuel demand rapidly over just four days to yesterday’s unsustainable levels, according to RMI Petrol. Fuel polling data for independent retailers across the country – including all major brands such as BP, Shell, Esso, Texaco, Jet and Total – revealed that yesterday’s volume uplifts against the ...
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NewsChaos continues as motorists flock to forecourts
Chaos on Britain’s forecourts has continued today as motorists followed confusing advice issued by government ministers to keep their tanks topped up, with one even suggesting using jerry cans. Queues got so bad in some areas causing problems on the main roads, that forecourts were temporarily closed by police. Mark ...
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News
Local shops call on MPs and peers to oppose Sunday Trading Bill
Local shops are calling on MPs and Peers to oppose legislation introduced to remove Sunday Trading restrictions across England and Wales this summer.The Bill, which was introduced in the House of Lords on March 28, was signalled by the Chancellor in the Budget and is subject to a ‘fast track’ ...
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News
Jos Richardson & Son open fifth forecourt
Goole-based family business Jos Richardson & Son has re-opened Longs Corner Service Station in Howden, Yorkshire, bringing its network of sites up to five.The company purchased the site in November 2011, and has spent the past three months re-developing it into a much larger BP filling station and Spar convenience ...
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News
RMI Petrol slams government for “lack of engagement” over risk to energy resilience
RMI Petrol chairman Brian Madderson has spoken out in condemnation of the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) for its “complete lack of engagement with industry” in the lead-up to the Unite ballot results on Monday, which recommended strike action by fuel tanker drivers. The association has repeatedly tried ...
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News
RMI Petrol issues safety alert for fuel deliveries
RMI Petrol has issued a guidance note warning that retailers need to undertake a formal risk assessment before permitting access to any new third-party tanker drivers.As army drivers are being trained to carry out fuel deliveries in the event of a strike by tanker drivers, RMI Petrol has advised retailers ...
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News
UKPIA highlights safety standards of tanker drivers
UKPIA has stressed that its members give high priority to safety issues within the industry, following criticism by the Unite union following a ballot in which tanker drivers voted for strike action. As well as its own active committees, UKPIA said it promotes the work of and participates in a ...
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News
Fuel shortages as motorists panic buy at the pumps
Retailers are already reporting fuel shortages as motorists start panic-buying in response to tanker drivers voting in favour of a strike yesterday. Many retailers across the country are seeing a 10-100% increase on normal fuel purchase levels, according to RMI Petrol. Brian Madderson, chairman of RMIP, said: “There’s quite clearly ...
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News
Retailers in shock as tanker drivers say ’yes’ to strike action
Tanker drivers delivering fuel to forecourts across the UK have voted in favour of strike action, sparking feelings of shock and surprise among petrol retailers. Members of union Unite working for five major fuel distribution firms delivering fuel for household names, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, BP, Shell and Esso backed ...
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News
SNP to table fuel duty amendment
The Scottish National Party (SNP) is to table an amendment to the Budget which it says would freeze future increases in fuel duty.The party is calling for the UK government to introduce a Fuel Duty Regulator which could see the level of duty held down when fuel prices rise and ...
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News
Army on standby to deliver fuel in case of strike action
Emergency plans have been drawn up for army drivers to deliver fuel to petrol stations in anticipation of a possible strike by tanker drivers. Results of Unite union’s ballot on industrial action are expected tomorrow and the government is drawing up contingency plans to avoid major disruption to fuel supplies, ...
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News
Local shops and wholesalers support responsibility deal pledge
Local shops and wholesalers have committed to support the government’s latest responsibility deal pledge to remove one billion units of alcohol from the market place.Local shops and wholesalers that have signed up to the pledge include Bestway Cash and Carry, Booker, the Co-operative Group, Costcutter Supermarkets, Nisa Retail, Spar UK, ...
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News
Come to the NEC to see and hear the latest on the forecourt industry
The RMI Petrol’s submission to the Office of Fair Trading will be one of many key topics covered on the Forecourt Live area at next week’s Fuel and Forecourt Equipment Show at the NEC, Birmingham (March 25-27). RMI Petrol chairman Brian Madderson will be at the centre of the action ...
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News
ACS and RMI Petrol join forces to help forecourt stores
RMI Petrol has joined the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) as affinity group members. The deal, which gives RMI Petrol the same standing in ACS policy-making as symbol group members, takes effect from April 1 and is aimed at giving independent forecourt retailers comprehensive representation for their businesses.RMI Petrol chairman ...
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News
Price of petrol breaks 140ppl barrier
The average price of petrol at the pumps has now reached 140.20ppl, with diesel hitting a new record of 146.72ppl. According to the AA, the driver of a car consuming, on average, 106.17 litres of petrol a month would now be spending £8.44 a month more than at the start ...
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News
FPB welcomes Budget measures on tax and finance
The Forum of Private Business has welcomed the measures on tax and finance in today’s Budget statement, but insists the smallest firms must benefit from new National Loan Guarantee and Business Finance Partnership schemes It sees everal measures on taxation as steps towards creating a tax system conducive to ...
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News
Chancellor presses ahead with August fuel duty rise
The Chancellor’s decision to press ahead with plans to levy the deferred duty increase of of 3.02ppl from August 1 this year has been described as irresponsible by RMI Petrol chairman Brian Madderson, as he reviewed today’s Budget speech. Madderson said pump prices for diesel would reach 150ppl by ...
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News
Budget is devastating for small retail businesses, says ACS
ACS has condemned the Government’s decision to allow large stores to open late on Sundays during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is estimated will cost small stores of £480million. In response to today’s Budget speech by Chancellor George Osborne, James Lowman, ACS chief executive said: “This Budget is devastating ...