[scanny]

THE organiser of a fuel protest which attracted only 11 vehicles believes the poor turnout reflects the fact that many haulage firms have resigned themselves to closure.

Brian Willoughby, who runs garage repair business BMR Automotive, in Langley Mill, was expecting about 40 vehicles to take part in Saturday's go-slow protest.

But only five lorries and six cars turned up.

The 53-year-old said his company faced closure because of the increasing cost of fuel and that others in the county faced a bleak future.

“Companies have resigned themselves to closure. They have been beaten into submission,” he said.

“They think there is no point in taking part in protests like this because no-one will take notice.

“We ran a similar protest in June and we had more than 30 vehicles but I think that people now believe that the Government are not going to do anything about the prices.

“It has been a disappointing turnout. We have to start somewhere, though, and we are planning further protests in the future.”

Saturday's convoy started at Trowell Services on the southbound side of the M1, at 10am, and was flanked by police cars from the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire forces.

The convoy travelled at 40mph along the inside lane of the motorway before coming off at junction 25.

It then headed along the A52 and the A61 before travelling north on the A38 and back to the M1.

Other drivers showed their support for the protest by beeping horns and flashing lights as they passed the convoy.
source