Drivers are being warned to expect further disruption at the pumps over the Easter weekend.

Environmental fuel protesters are vowing to continue action. This will impact deliveries of petrol and diesel, with fuel shortages already reported at some forecourts.

Environmental protests

Supply of diesel has been the biggest issue, while other motorists have experienced long queues to fill-up.

Protesters from Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion have been targeting oil depots around the country.

The Just Stop Oil coalition claims that the world will be “unviable” if we continue as we are. In particlular, the group highlights current Government policies to extract more oil and gas from the North Sea.

Ongoing issues

“We cannot be bystanders while people, communities and countries across the world are sentenced to death,” they continued.

“At this critical moment we find ourselves, as others have through history, having to do what is unpopular, to break the law to prevent a much greater harm taking place.”

It added: “The Government can end the queues and closures at petrol station forecourts immediately, ahead of the Easter holidays, by committing to halt all new oil licenses and consents.

“Ministers have a choice: they can arrest and imprison Just Stop Oil supporters or agree to no new oil and gas.

“While Just Stop Oil supporters have their liberty, the disruption will continue.”

Terminals targeted

On Sunday (April 10) a group of Just Stop Oil supporters, stopped and climbed on top of two oil tankers. They succeeded in forcing two major oil terminals in Warwickshire to cease operations.

Further south, another group accessed the Inter Terminal in Essex bringing production to a halt. These are just the latest in a series of actions at oil facilities around the country.

Up to 12 people have been locked on to pipework in the Inter Terminal. A further group are still occupying a tunnel under a major access route to the Kingsbury Oil terminal in Warwickshire.

The campaigners claim more than 400 people have joined actions. They have succeeded in stopping operations for up to 24 hours at a time at 11 critical oil terminals. Supply to hundreds of petrol stations across the Midlands and South of England have been affected.

As many as one in three petrol stations are being reported as shut in the South according to Just Stop the Oil.

Emergency summit needed

Problems with fuel supply come as airports and ferry terminals have also faced delays.

The Liberal Democrats have called on the Prime Minister and transport secretary to host an emergency summit. This would work on solving the country’s travel chaos ahead of the Easter Weekend.

It would include members of the travel industry from airports and airlines, to ferry operators and rail operators. With one of the busiest weekends on the nation’s roads approaching, they are in particular need of potential disruption planning.

Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: “It is now or never to prevent Britain from coming to a stand-still.

“Our airports are already scenes of chaos and drivers are being warned to only travel at night just to avoid gridlock. This is no way to run our country’s transport network.

“The Government needs to get a grip.

“They need to bring decision-makers together and give the travel industry all the resources necessary to ensure people can make sure their journeys are safe and timely.

“Those travelling are already furious at the lack of planning from the Government and there is now only a matter of days to fix the problem.”