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Large Island Fuel Retailers Refuse To Give Supply Updates As Queues Form

Newport, the fuel queue for Morrisons at 8am today, Sunday

As queues form outside Isle of Wight filling stations once again this morning (Sunday), major retailers in Newport are refusing to update reporters on their supply situations.

Above, see the queue for Morrisons in Newport, which is beyond the distant end of the M&S store pictured.

The motorists' rush to the pumps continues as government ministers announce measures to speed up supply chains.

New changes announced so far, to bring more HGV drivers onto the road, include:

  • 5,000 fuel tanker and food lorry drivers being allowed into the UK from overseas for three months until 24 December
  • 5,000 poultry workers being allowed into the UK on the same terms
  • Up to 4,000 people in the UK will be trained as new HGV drivers, including 3,000 on free "skills bootcamps" and 1,000 through local courses
  • Driving test examiners deployed by the Ministry of Defence to increase testing capacity over the next three months.

Yesterday, Isle of Wight Radio reported that the Sainsbury's store in Newport had closed its fuelling station to all but the emergency services.

This morning, all enquiries were being directed to the headquarters of chain stores, which were closed when journalists approached them at the start of today.

The UK has an estimated shortage of 100,000 HGV drivers, according to the Road Haulage Association (RHA).

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said the measures "will do little to alleviate the current shortfall".

He added: "Supermarkets alone have estimated they need at least 15,000 HGV drivers for their businesses to be able to operate at full capacity ahead of Christmas and avoid disruption or availability issues."

Mr Opie called for the programme to be extended to HGV drivers in all sectors of the retail industry.

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