Concerns about a shortage of fuel has led to an increase in the number of motorists visiting filling stations across the county. This has caused long queues and congestion on roads throughout Friday 24 September 2021, which has caused delays to other motorists and is having an impact on critical and emergency services.
Partner agencies met on the afternoon of Friday 24 September 2021 to discuss the issue and provide reassurance to communities that it will not impact on their services to the public. They are collectively calling for the public to behave sensibly and not panic buy.
Superintendent Dean O’Connor, of Dorset Police, said: “Like many other parts of the country, Dorset is experiencing a delay in delivery of fuel to forecourts, but there is no suggestion that there is a fuel shortage.
“We have received multiple reports today of roads being blocked as a result of people queuing to buy petrol and diesel. I would strongly urge people to not panic buy as it is only compounding the situation.”
Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, said: “There is currently no fuel shortage in Dorset. I would urge all motorists to not panic buy fuel; only buy what you need when you need it and to be considerate of others.”
I have been to 9 petrol stations in the Poole area this morning. 26/9/21 No fuel available at any of them
This is a load of rubbish – there is no fuel on Portland at all and the situation in Weymouth is dire. Brexit is to blame for this. When will everyone wake up and realise this? Boris botched it – and now he can’t hide behind covid, he’s blaming us! Its not easing here. Its getting worse.
Get the army out and stop procrastinating Boris. The country is coming to a standstill thanks to your egregious bodging leadership.
Would be good to know where fuel is available rather than wasting what little fuel we have
It’s not shortage of fuel but of HGV drivers. Disingenuous of politicians to say the former…..
We live in a village. The nearest petrol station 2miles away has no fuel. I cannot risk driving to Blandford 8miles away to find that there is no fuel. We are stuck here!
I think blaming panic buying is futile and doesn’t address the real situation in Rural Dorset. We have no fuel ie. diesel anywhere near us, so we currently have two vehicles almost empty, as we didn’t even get a change to buy ‘normally’ since last Friday. Living rurally there is no point in going to queue anywhere, we have telephoned many filling stations only to be told: no diesel. I don’t believe people have been panic buying at all, there just has not been enough fuel for a week now for normal functioning of a rural area, where people need to drive to go about their everyday lives. We’ve been told maybe Monday at our local station, we won’t be able to get very far or queue very long, so hopefully that will materialise.
For rural communities It is not helpful when supermarkets will not tell people over the phone whether they have stock or not.
We only have 3 buses a day and non at weekends so how do you get food. Getting fuel is at least 15 miles to our nearest supply which could soon be 50 if you need to travel to another town which is risking wasting fuel.
“URGING “ is not GOVERNING.
Dorset Councils should have laid down rules. They should have nominated a number of filling stations around the county for use by only the NHS and other essential services.
How to lose credibility!
What nonsense. There is a shortage of fuel in Dorset due to the lack of HGV drivers. There is no shortage of fuel at Fawley.
The lack of HGV drivers was forecastable and forecast before Brexit. The problem has been caused by the government mismanagement of the Brexit process
I have been to 3 yesterday, the 1st of Oct in the Poole area. No fuel. Can someone please tell me where I can fill up? I am almost on zero. Thanks