Two join in 'damp squib' fuel protest
Sep 15 2005
By Sam Lister Daily Post Staff
THIS was the "protest" that sparked days of panic buying at Merseyside petrol pumps, causing service stations in the region to run dry.
Despite hype from the Fuel Lobby, just two men turned up on foot to Shell's Stanlow refinery as part of a day of nationwide demonstrations.
Police allowed them to walk up to the gates but they left soon afterwards.
Security guards were checking drivers' passes as they approached the road to the main gate but no protest vehicles arrived.
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The Ellesmere Port site was at the centre of the protests in 2000 and motorists, fearful of a repeat, rushed to stock up on fuel.
But the event was labelled a "damp squib" yesterday.
Cheshire Constabulary had a small group of officers on stand-by at the site throughout the day but they kept a low profile.
A spokesman for the force said: "We received no specific intelligence of any protests but we have officers on scene as a precaution.
"Two people did turn up earlier on foot, and they were allowed to go to the main gate because they were not in vehicles. They left shortly afterwards.
"There has been no sign of protesters in vehicles."
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