R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Anyone seeing any panic buying of fuel? If so don't fill up a jerry can and store it in a garage or your house. This could be a potential time bomb. Rather stupid comments Francis Maude said. Shocked

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

It's silly for people to be panic buying when we don't know for sure that there is going to be any industrial action and even if there is the unions will have to give at least 7 days notice

As for storing fuel I believe that it is perfectly safe provided the right type of container is used - ideally metal or if not reinforced plastic specifically intended for the purpose

Storing fuel in unsuitable ordinary plastic containers is very stupid and highly dangerous and there is a legal limit on how much can be stored but there's nothing wrong with storing a few litres Smile

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R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

I've not seen any panic buying, it's quite difficult to stockpile petrol in your car - about 55 litres is all most cars can take.

What is dangerous about storing fuel in a container specifically designed for doing exactly that?

I could understand the “Outrage” if Francis Maude had said – fill every container you can get hold of with fuel but he didn’t, he said – fill up a Jerry Can. It’s no biggy.

Everyone’s a critic.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19297 Location: Cheshire

Well there are queues at all the local petrol station round here and many have already sold out and closed up.

I agree it's ridiculous but I think the terrible memories of the strike in 2000 has gripped the nation and people just don't want to be left with no fuel.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Shaky Fan · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 628

Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

Nope, not seen any panic buying around here yet.

What Maude said was probably not advisable in the circumstances but the media are not completely innocent in this are they? I would say they are the ones who have whipped up the panic buying.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

There have been long queues at filling stations here since Monday morning. Half of Sainsbury's car park has even been used up, in a stacking operation.
Most people had read about the ballot on the front pages and didn't need the government's encouragement.

Petrol, sugar, toilet rolls, Tracey Islands. Some of us have seen it all before.

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Maude is an idiot, I hope the Fire Service heads come down on him.

There's been panic buying in Coventry, one supermarket service station I went to yesterday only had diesel.
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John W

littlepieces · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1098 Location: Lowestoft

Call me a cynic but the petrol and pasty-gate seems to have taken the cash for questions off the front page
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I found out how you can hurt an insect.It's the bees knees

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19297 Location: Cheshire

Just topped up and had to queue for 30 mins at Tesco this morning. I don't do a big mileage so should last me a while.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6791

Martin Lewis has just said to forget about queueing for petrol as the strike isn't a done deal...yet.... but to stock pile up on stamps instead ...he has heard from one bride-to-be (next year) who has already bought the stamps needed for her invitations and there are stories he says on Twitter of queues for stamps in W.H.Smiths.... Smile

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Make sure you fill up. Buy a Cornish pasty. Very Happy

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Where will it all end?
E.on and nPower have pulled the plug on the project to build two nuclear power stations, to replace ageing existing ones which have to be taken out of play.
Anyone buying up stocks of batteries and candles?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-17546420

SantaFefan · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:01 pm Post subject:

Here's a thought... why don't we build them... Nationalise the lot if necessary... bloody foreigners dictating to us all the time... Evil or Very Mad

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13/8/07
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ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I completely agree Santa Smile

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Toggy · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 1239

So do I, we must all be Xenophobic Rolling Eyes

littlepieces · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1098 Location: Lowestoft

Somebody in York has 40% burns due to having fuel in her house>As far as i can gather she was transfering it from one cannister to another
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I found out how you can hurt an insect.It's the bees knees

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5747 Location: Hampshire

I assume the poor woman in York didn't realise that petrol fumes can ignite as well as the actual liquid, but it's unbelievable she was doing it in her kitchen.

I need some petrol and feel like putting a placard in my car window saying: "I am not panic-buying, I just need some petrol!"

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Whilst any injury to any person is sad really this lady does have only herself to blame Sad

At no point did any Government Minister advise people to bring in or store petrol in their house - it should always be stored in a secure garage or outhouse which I would have thought was common sense

One only has to note the signs at filling stations asking people not to use their mobile phones to realise just how inflammable petroleum spirit can be
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Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19297 Location: Cheshire

Very sad but as Ruddles says there are many signs about.

I know what you mean Eileen! I always top up just after I get my credit card bill in, (free credit if you pay up in full etc, etc) you feel you are at least not paying straight up for it. Daft I know! Wink

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

How about this for an idea Eileen

During the current period of silliness every petrol station cordons off a quarter of its pumps for panic buyers but the rest of the station carries on exactly as normal

A member of staff checks the fuel gauges of every vehicle on arrival and all vehicles with more than a quarter of a tank are forced to go into the 'hoarders' queue but those genuinely needing to fill up get priority

Now you might pose the question as to whether this idea would work as there might be a risk of supplies running out anyway but I remember from when I used to work in a petrol station during my student days that certain underground tanks are linked to certain pumps so when the 'hoarders' pumps had run dry they could quite simply be turned away without supplies to the other pumps being affected

Can anyone see any flaws in this idea? Smile

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SantaFefan · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 11:05 am Post subject:

Sounds a really good idea to me Ruddles... obviously, you'd never get a job in Government! Laughing

I need to fill up one of my Yank tanks over the weekend which itself is like a fuel storage depot Razz

but, I also need a can of juice for my mower so I'm going to feel guilty too! Rolling Eyes

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Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

FleetingEileenM · Joined: 30 Mar 2010 Posts: 5747 Location: Hampshire

Yes Ruddles I like the sound of that. My local petrol stations are either empty or have long queues, even after it has been announced that there is no danger of a strike until after Easter.

My local Morrisons has put out cones to stop cars turning right at the mini roundabout into the petrol station so they all had to turn left into the supermarket car park and then either park and do the shopping or exit to join the back of the very long queue for petrol. A very sensible move on their part to keep the traffic flowing as it was chaotic yesterday for anyone simply wanting to shop.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

The other solution appears to have been adopted by local filling stations here today - the price has jumped by 8p a litre.
Coming home from the city tonight I noticed they were still quite busy, but the queues have evaporated.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6791

littlepieces · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1098 Location: Lowestoft

Luv it

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I found out how you can hurt an insect.It's the bees knees

Shaky Fan · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 628

It seems to be just England and Scotland that are panicking! According to the news story here the other night in Wales and Northern Ireland it's business as usual.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

A few miles up the road from here in North Wales most supermarkets and garages have completely run out of diesel and I was talking to someone in Cardiff last night who told me there are similar problems there

From what I know of Northern Ireland I think it's a slightly different market as some people cross the border to fill up depending on whether fuel is cheaper in Sterling or Euros and I would guess that goes on regularly - crisis or no crisis
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littlepieces · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1098 Location: Lowestoft

BP are charging £1'46 and right opp Asda are charging £1.38 a litre but both were empty this morning here in Lowestoft
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I found out how you can hurt an insect.It's the bees knees