Still a ‘Big Problem’, Only One of Guildford’s Four Central Petrol Stations Has Fuel to Sell

Published on: 2 Oct, 2021
Updated on: 2 Oct, 2021

The queue of cars that had formed this afternoon at 12.45 along Ladymead for the Esso Garage.

By Martin Giles

The claim by the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) that fuel supply is still a “big problem” in the South East seems to have been borne out by the situation in Guildford this afternoon (October 2). Only one of the four most central petrol stations in Guildford had fuel – the garage at Ladymead – where long queues formed.

A station at Peasmarsh on the Old Portsmouth Road also had petrol and long queues formed there too.

Attendants at the stations visited had a common story: once a delivery was made it only lasted between 12 and 24 hours. They couldn’t give information about when the next delivery was expected.

In Ash, the Tilthams Service Station in Ash Street had also run out of fuel. Staff there said the next delivery was due tomorrow (Sunday).

Yesterday (October 1) at Bellfields petrol station an attendant efficiently supervised the queue of vehicles waiting to buy fuel. A limit of £30 per sale was in force.

Brian Madderson, chairman of the PRA, which represents nearly 5,500 of the UK’s 8,300 petrol stations, said there were fewer dry sites in Scotland and other regions of England. But he told the BBC that the situation had got worse in the South East.

He thought that the introduction of military drivers would be a “large help” but warned drivers that they would see a rise in fuel prices next week because of “global factors”, not, he said, because of profiteering.

A constant stream of cars passing through the forecourt at the Esso station on Ladymead. The station had received a delivery early this morning.

But across the road at the BP garage they have had no fuel since Tuesday and did not know when the next delivery would arrive.

The BP garage on Woodbridge Road received a delivery on Thursday but sold out with 24 hours.

And the Shell garage on the Woodbridge Road sold a delivery received yesterday within 12 hours. In common with others, garage staff did not know when the next delivery would be made.