Ambulance HQ forced to call petrol stations to avert fuel crisis

Apr 27 2008 By Charles Lavery, Derek Alexander And Raymond Hainey

Ambulance Hq Forced To Call Garages To Locate Vital Petrol Workers Refuse To Unload Tanker After Stand-Off In Forth

AMBULANCE bosses were forced to call round petrol stations yesterday to secure supplies before the start of the Grangemouth oil refinery strike.

The 999 fleet rely on local garages to fill up after management ended in-house fuel supplies.

Last night refinery bosses claimed workers had refused to unload a tanker ship carrying 120,000 tonnes of fuel earmarked for the emergency services.

Staff at Grangemouth - Scotland's only oil refinery - were due to walk out at 6am today in a dispute over pensions with plant owners Ineos, which is owned by billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

The Scottish Ambulance Service yesterday made calls to petrol stations to pinpoint those capable of topping up vehicles.

They said: "We have to identify who has diesel to ensure our ambulances have access to fuel.

"We've been checking on a daily basis. All services are running, all our vehicles are getting fuel and contingency plans are in place."

Scotland's biggest fire brigade, Strathclyde, revealed the service also use petrol stations to top up, although they keep fuel at stations.

They added: "It's probably a 50- 50 split. If we start to run low at one station we would use another one.

"We would also get priority deliveries if it got to that point but we have no shortage of fuel."

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland confirmed that emergency measures were in place to provide essential services.

Labour health spokeswoman Margaret Curran said: "It's vital all emergency services, especially ambulances, have contingency plans. The Government must make provisions that the emergency services remain fully operational."

The Scottish Government last night confirmed an extra 65,000 tonnes of fuel - mostly diesel - will arrive from ports across Europe over the next few days.

But there were fears workers may now refuse to unload it.

Union leaders denied the fuel which arrived yesterday on the Greek-registered Astro Arcturus was meant for 999 crews and said it was attempting to break the strike.

Its cargo was still on board the tanker docked at Hound Point, South Queensferry, last night.

An Ineos spokesman said: "We have pleaded with them to provide the cover needed to offload those cargoes. They will provide fuel for key workers and emergency services and there is an agreement to do that."

Industry leaders yesterday appealed for both sides to meet and thrash out an agreement.

Oil and Gas UK chief executive Malcolm Webb said: "This is now affecting 80 companies which are in no way connected to this dispute.

"We are aware of increased activity at the pumps but there is no need for people to change their normal pattern of fuel buying."

First Minister Alex Salmond called Grangemouth workers' union Unite and Ineos on Friday in an attempt to stave off the action.

Unite revealed 400 staff would remain on site to ensure safety.

They said: "There will be a constant manned picket but 400 members will walk out then return to ensure safe running of the plant.

"The workers have also asked the Scottish Government how much fuel they need to ensure emergency services in the country run smoothly.

"They were told one tanker would be enough for the two days and this is being sent out."

The Forties pipeline, which carries 30 per cent of the UK's daily oil output, will close at 6am today.

Yesterday drivers continued to buy more petrol than usual but there were fewer long queues.

AA president Edmund King said: "People were filling up more than normal but I wouldn't say it's a case of panic at the pumps."

Douglas Robertson, chief executive of the Scottish Motor Trades Association, said: "There is no shortage of fuel. By the end of next week I think that everything will be back to normal."

Last night seven tankers were preparing to sail to Scotland.

The River Forth deliveries represent more than 10 days of normal supply.

Salmond said: "This will give extra reassurance for consumers and businesses alike.

"No doubt there will be some difficulties through the early part of the week however the required fuel for Scotland is on the way."

HOW DRIVERS HIT THE FORECOURTS AROUND THE COUNTRY

ISLANDS: In the north of Skye rationing was in force but in the south, at Broadford, there was none. In the lucky Outer Hebrides a shipload of fuel has just been delivered.

ARGYLL: Halfway petrol station in Oban had no problems. They said: "It's steady but not too busy." In Campbeltown, the Clachan station said there hadn't been any panic-buying, with lots of fuel left.

CENTRAL: Shell in Borestone Crescent, Stirling, was busier than usual but not having problems. Dreadnought Garage, Callander, was rationing to s10 a tank and running low.

GLASGOW: Morrisons in Cambuslang were not rationing supplies but Shell Woodlands Road had no diesel. Last night a Shell outlet in Pollokshaws Road had run out of fuel by 7.30pm.

BORDERS: Outlets in Galashiels and Selkirk closed on Friday but reopened yesterday after deliveries from Jarrow. BP in Dumfries had a tanker delivery and were limiting petrol buys to s15.

HIGHLANDS: Some garages limited to 25 litres per vehicle, including Nairn Road, Forres. BP station Longman, Inverness, and Shell, Culcabock, ran out of diesel.

ABERDEEN: Queues formed early at the BP station in Peterculter and some drivers waited up to 10 minutes at Sainsbury's in Garthdee but the early rush dropped off to normal levels later.

TAYSIDE: Motorists in Dundee were in no panic yesterday, with forecourts quiet for a Saturday. But Perth-based limousine driver Drew McDonald said: "It's been a bit of a problem for me."

FIFE: The Jet station in Bothwell Street, Dunfermline, was restricting customers to purchases of s20 but Kirkcaldy's BP station was reporting no rationing and no queues.

EDINBURGH: Shell in Craigleith Road reopened yesterday but a nearby Esso had no fuel. Diesel ran out at BP Queensferry Road and petrol neared £1.25 a litre at one Prestonpans station.