Packaging firms back fuel protests

Haulage companies believe that diesel prices topping 120p a litre, plus a planned 2p fuel tax rise, will force many companies to close. The protesters are demanding an “essential user” rebate, similar to the one already operating for bus companies.

A convoy of vehicles from the M2 in Kent is making its way to Central London before handing in a petition to Downing Street.

A second group of lorries will drive from the M25, through the centre of London to Whitehall. Protest organiser TransAction 2007 expects up to 1,000 lorries to take part.

Dick Searle, chief executive of the Packaging Federation, told Packaging News: “Everybody is feeling the effect of the fuel price rise. The packaging industry is as affected by the diesel price as anyone – we have to use lorries for all our goods.

“Fuel price escalators are built in to most contracts that packaging companies have with their haulage suppliers. Recent financial reports from the packaging sector have said that fuel prices are having an impact and it is becoming harder to recover the cost from their customers.”

Searle added that the industry would support the protests as long as they remained legal.

Ben Roberts, sales director of flexible packaging specialist Roberts Mart, added: “All haulage contractors have added a fuel surcharge as a standard term and condition, so it’s costing us so many more thousands of pounds to run a truck each week.

“It’s uncontrollable at the moment.”

The protests come as Chancellor Alistair Darling prepares to meet with Labour MPs who are concerned about plans to increase road tax on older, more polluting vehicles.

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