Got to the garage (just about) at last.

[bricol]

Speaking to colleagues nationwide, this appears to be a southern problem

Not sure why that is though

Hmmm.

Every forecourt, including supermarket ones, was closed in the next nearest town to me the other day. The only one actually in my town has been closed for two days, expecting a delivery Monday. They have been closed a couple of days earlier in the week - and were limiting people to 30 quid - and then limiting sales to NHS staff (Airedale Hospital is a mile or so away). The two forecourts up the road towards Skipton, closed. I heard a rumour Skipton Morrisons had fuel today . . but I figured everyone else did too, so I stayed put.

My neighbours, who have a milk round, sat in a queue for an hour and half to fill at a small diesel/industrial place the other day.

Last weekend I had to cross Bradford to get to Wakefield - every forecourt either had queues way up the road, or was shut. Looked similar Friday morning.

So I would guess the same idiotic panic works just as well up here too.

 

[bricol]

I never understand why people put in the fuel they need for the week, every week, instead of filling up for the month - of course, it means they're pulling a bit of extra weight around but as most are going to be local commuters (otherwise they'd be brimming it anyway) they lose more by the accelerate / brake circus you can see on most urban roads - more importantly, it leaves lots of room for condensation to form in the tank, leading to water in the fuel and somewhere for the 'diesel bugs' to live.

When I wasn't working from home, you would see me put in fuel for the week, every week. Because a full tank in the Lancia was showing me an occasional flicker of low level light on the way home thursday, and a definite "ON" by Friday. Dodge might have got me mid week the following week as it had a big tank.

 

[dobbslc]

there are more fuel stations down south to service said density... Aren't there?

Loads of them have been closed and then more pig pen flats built on the land down here!

 

[Kayos]

Hmmm.

Every forecourt, including supermarket ones, was closed in the next nearest town to me the other day. The only one actually in my town has been closed for two days, expecting a delivery Monday. They have been closed a couple of days earlier in the week - and were limiting people to 30 quid - and then limiting sales to NHS staff (Airedale Hospital is a mile or so away). The two forecourts up the road towards Skipton, closed. I heard a rumour Skipton Morrisons had fuel today . . but I figured everyone else did too, so I stayed put.

My neighbours, who have a milk round, sat in a queue for an hour and half to fill at a small diesel/industrial place the other day.

Last weekend I had to cross Bradford to get to Wakefield - every forecourt either had queues way up the road, or was shut. Looked similar Friday morning.

So I would guess the same idiotic panic works just as well up here too.

I did speak to 5 people plus my own experience so not exactly a representative sample

The 3 in the SE all said no fuel, the 2 further north and myself had no problem getting fuel. Plus I avoid Bradford as if my life depended on it

 

[DAPPH]

Because not everyone can afford to have that sort of cash tied up in fuel.
Some people are paid weekly - and have to live week to week, unfortunately.

True , I saw a Texaco at he west end of the M4 I'm fairly certain it was demanding £1.69.3 per litre on Friday night

 

[Wozzaaah]

I think very few people are paid weekly now - the ones I know for sure fill up weekly, I know for sure are paid monthly. I know not everyone can budget effectively for a month on weekly pay, I had some dark times a few years ago when I was paid weekly, electric, gas, rent, car tax, insurance was all monthly expenses with no opportunity to pay weekly and presumably if, like me, they are filling up with fuel to get to work, paying car insurance and tax, surely they already know how to pay monthly for some things? Fair enough, if they need more than a tank of fuel for the month, then its a fill/use cycle. I know posties were paid weekly, not sure if they still are - even the small independent garages I know pay monthly, sometimes with a staff of only two or three.

Yes, still paid weekly.

 

[MCKDAVID]

Yes, still paid weekly.

very weakly ............

 

[addjunkie]

True , I saw a Texaco at he west end of the M4 I'm fairly certain it was demanding £1.69.3 per litre on Friday night

1.59 on the A1 at Washington Services. No customers.2 miles away at Sainsburrys 1.34, no que.

 

[Robotstar5]

I think very few people are paid weekly now....

JLR shop floor workers are still weekly and staff monthly.

 

[Ubique]

JLR shop floor workers are still weekly and staff monthly.

That's a bit archaic - is it a union thing? when you say 'staff' monthly, are production line not considered staff?

 

[sako243]

True , I saw a Texaco at he west end of the M4 I'm fairly certain it was demanding £1.69.3 per litre on Friday night

Pont Abraham has a reputation for being the most expensive fuel in the country.

 

[mtt.tr]

I was back down to 50miles which isn't enough for tomorrow's driving fortunately managed to get enough until Wednesday at least.

 

[Onoff]

From what I can see (around Sevenoaks) then fuel availability is returning to normal. Both SWMBO and I were able to fill up yesterday albeit at different garages and at different times.

SWMBO called into a local garage just now, just to enquire for a friend. No queues, fuels available.

Our local Co-op however had f*** all on the shelves yesterday! Be wiping our ar5es with fuel receipts soon!

 

[Moose McAlpine]

True , I saw a Texaco at he west end of the M4 I'm fairly certain it was demanding £1.69.3 per litre on Friday night

Toddington Services last night. £45 limit. (Regular diesel.)

 

[Robotstar5]

That's a bit archaic - is it a union thing? when you say 'staff' monthly, are production line not considered staff?

It seems to change all the time, employees, colleagues, associates depending on the prevailing political correctness

They have pay bands, A & B are weekly, C upwards are monthly.

 

[Ubique]

It seems to change all the time, employees, colleagues, associates depending on the prevailing political correctness

They have pay bands, A & B are weekly, C upwards are monthly.

A good mate of mine moved from DDC to the JLR engine plant as something in management, he kept threatening to find me a job there, by the sounds of it, I'm glad he was too busy to sort it....

 

[Cato]

On the weekly pay thing,, don't forget the self employed and small businesses. I get paid when I invoice. That can be daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly depending on the job. Sub contractors are at the mercy of whoever they are contracting to.

A delay can mean that there hasn't been anything going into the account for a couple of months. If you can't get to wherever you need to be because you don't have the money for fuel you're screwed.

 

[My Old Landy]

I just posted this on landyzone so I thought I would pop it on here too:
'Failed to secure any diesel again this morning. Five forecourts, four shut and the fifth were out of diesel (I discovered after queuing for 20 mins!).
Still we have fuel in the Koleos to go and get the contract signed this morning. The 90 will have to stay here until we can get fuel for it.'
I hope those army chaps hurry up and get some dirty diesel delivered soon!!

 

[Munkul]

Sheffield had plenty of fuel and no queues when we drove though yesterday. Diesel was at 1.43.9 at sainsburys. Cheaper than Penrith where we live, which is at 1.38.9 Morrisons and 1.40.9 at Esso.
In contrast, the Esso services at Scotch Corner had diesel at 1.61.9!

 

[James1979]

Esso at scotch corner is always a rip off. If I’m not in anything big I tend to dodge off at barnard castle and use the co op. It’s cheapest for miles.