Fuel protest - live: 13 arrested for ‘driving too slowly’ after major UK roads targeted

Slow-moving convoys cause delays across country

Petrol prices: Average cost of filling family car set to exceed £100

At least 13 protesters have been arrested for driving too slowly during road blocks demonstrating against high fuel prices.

Police said there had been a legal minimum speed limit in place, but a number of drivers had been caught breaching this.

Twelve were arrested in south Wales, while one driver was arrested in Devon after previously being warned about driving too slowly.

Convoys of protesters drove slowly on purpose on fast-moving roads in a call for fuel duty to be slashed on Monday.

The demonstrations affected stretches of the M4 and M5, as well as main roads in Essex, Devon, York and Shropshire.

A bridge between England and Wales was temporarily closed due to disruption caused by the protest, while other drivers faced delays due to the convoys.

It came a day after the cost of petrol hit a new record, with the average litre price spiking at 191.5p on Sunday.

Key Points

• Thirteen arrests for ‘going too slowly’ in protests
• Police faced ‘challenges’ over A38 protest
• Protests takes place across UK including Welsh border, Essex and Devon
• Petrol hits another new record high as drivers block motorways

[4 July 2022 08:03 · Zoe Tidman]

Protest also underway in Wales

Protesters have left the M4 Magor services near Caldicot in South Wales.

Police have told the convoy of around 20 vehicles they cannot stop and must drive no slower than 30mph.

They are due to head across the Prince of Wales bridge crossing the River Severn into England.

Some protesters have said they intend to meet in the middle and block the motorway.

PA

[4 July 2022 08:18 · Zoe Tidman]

M4 ‘brought to standstill'

For a few minutes both carriageways of the M4 approaching the M4 Prince of Wales Severn Bridge crossing were brought to a standstill by go-slow protests travelling east and west.

Two police motorcyclists rode in front of four vehicles travelling at around 30mph from the Bristol area towards South Wales.

There was a marked police patrol car behind the protestors, followed by dozens of queuing motorists.

A larger convoy of protestors drove over the Severn crossing heading into England from Wales with a large backlog of traffic following behind.

PA

[4 July 2022 08:23 · Zoe Tidman]

‘It’s costing me £300 a week before I even get to work and earn anything,’ protester says

Mobile welder Richard Dite, 44, from Maesteg, South Wales said it is costing him over £300 in fuel to get to work every week due to price hikes.

“It’s costing me £300 a week before I even get to work and earn anything,” Mr Dite told PA news agency.

“My only option soon will be to put the welding gear in the shed and call it a day, maybe go on the doll. Face it at this rate I’ll be on more that way.”

He was joined at Magor Service Station with around a dozen or more other people who have driven this morning across the Prince of Wales Bridge in protest of fuel tax.

PA

[4 July 2022 08:39 · Zoe Tidman]

Convoy drives across England-Wales bridge with police escort

Images show the go-slow convoy driving across the Prince of Wales bridge during this morning’s rush hour.

It was escorted by police:

The convoy has driven across the Prince of Wales bridge (PA)

Drivers held a go-slow protest on the M4 during morning rush hour (PA)

[4 July 2022 08:49 · Zoe Tidman]

Traffic ‘moving slowly’ on Prince of Wales bridge

Police say westbound traffic is “moving slowly” on the Prince of Wales bridge amid the protest:

[4 July 2022 09:02 · Zoe Tidman]

‘Significant delays’ on Prince of Wales bridge

Chief Superintendent Tom Harding, of Gwent Police, said: “We are seeing significant delays both east and westbound on the Prince of Wales Bridge due to the planned protest.

“We are seeking to return traffic to normal as soon as possible.”

[4 July 2022 09:13 · Zoe Tidman]

A38 protest

Devon and Cornwall Police say there is another protest going on along the A38, as well as the M5:

[4 July 2022 09:22 · Zoe Tidman]

Protesters ‘going 11mph on M4'

Protesters are reportedly ignoring a police order to go no slower than 30mph on the M4.

A WalesOnline reporter, who is in a passenger seat, says the convoy is down to 11mph:

[4 July 2022 09:37 · Zoe Tidman]

Another slow-moving convoy sets off along M5

Another slow-moving roadblock has set off along the M5 northbound, according to police.

It started at services in Bridgewater:

[4 July 2022 09:56 · Zoe Tidman]

Rising fuel prices

The protests are over fuel prices, which are soaring in the UK.

Here is Ben Chapman, our business reporter, on the situation last week: