Fuel protest: M5 and A38 hit by slow convoys as more chaos expected on roads

Demonstrators are calling for more action to tackle soaring petrol costs

Protesters are calling for more action to tackle the cost of fuel (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Fuel-price protesters launched slow convoys on the M5 and A38 as part of demonstrations during the busy summer getaway period.

On the M5, the action was partly responsible for 45-minute delays.

More disruption was feared later, including along the M4, from slow-moving convoys by drivers calling for action to cut the soaring cost of petrol.

In a similar protest earlier this month, around a dozen people were arrested for driving too slowly.

Demonstrations had been planned nationwide, including in Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, London and Manchester, according to information on the Facebook group for Fuel Price Stand Against Tax.

Avon and Somerset Police warned motorists of “slow-moving roadblocks” on parts of the M4, M5, M32 and A38 on Friday morning.

At lunchtime, the M5 convoy left the motorway to switch its protest to a Shell petrol station in Somerset.

The demonstrations were expected to cause disruption on an extra-busy day for roads when schools have been breaking up for summer holidays.

See below for what was our live coverage.

Key Points

[22 July 2022 07:42 · Zoe Tidman]

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of fuel price protests expected on UK roads today.

[22 July 2022 07:42 · Zoe Tidman]

Protests expected to make traffic jams even worse on busy day

Fuel price protests are set to make traffic jams even worse during what is expected to be the busiest summer getaway in at least eight years.

Avon and Somerset Police warned motorists that “slow-moving roadblocks” are planned on parts of the M4, M5, M32 and A38 on Friday morning.

An image posted on Facebook group Fuel Price Stand Against Tax suggests demonstrations will be held “nationwide”, including in Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool, London and Manchester.

With most schools in England and Wales breaking up for summer this week, the RAC said an estimated 18.8 million leisure trips are planned in the UK between Friday and Monday.

That is the most since the company began tracking summer getaway numbers in 2014.

PA

[22 July 2022 08:00 · Zoe Tidman]

What message is RAC giving drivers?

An RAC traffic spokesperson has just been asked about the planned protests on Sky News.

“I’m afraid, I think later on this morning into the afternoon, there is likely to be impact,” Rod Dennis said.

The spokesperson said an “important stretch” of road where the M4 and M5 meets near Bristol has been pinpointed as somewhere expected to see disruption from protests.

“There is likely to be some impact on drivers heading south there into the early part of the afternoon,” he said.

Mr Dennis also said the M25 looked set to miss the worst of the fuel protests, but was picking up most of the holiday congestion.

“The message for drivers is you've got to leave early - if you're watching this and you haven't left yet nd you've got a long journey planned, I think expected this to take longer than you would normally expect.”

[22 July 2022 08:11 · Zoe Tidman]

Police share message on protests

The protests are expected to cause particular disruption on the M5 today.

Here is what Avon and Somerset Police have to say:

[22 July 2022 08:36 · Zoe Tidman]

Full story: Fuel protests to block rush-hour traffic

Fuel protests set to erupt across the country are threatening to wreak havoc on Britain’s major roads.

Southwest England is likely to be hit with some of the worst blockages, with Avon and Somerset Police today warning motorists that “slow-moving roadblocks” are planned on parts of the M4, M5, M32 and A38.

Emily Atkinson has the full story:

[22 July 2022 09:11 · Zoe Tidman]

What are the protests over?

Petrol prices have been soaring this year, setting a number of new record highs.

The RAC said the price recently fell for the first time in months. But here is a reminder of the other sky-high prices that have recently been seen:

[22 July 2022 09:42 · Zoe Tidman]

What happened last time?

Here is a recap of what happened during the last fuel protests - including arrests - earlier this month:

[22 July 2022 09:44 · Zoe Tidman]

Protest kicks off on M5

A slow-moving convoy has joined the M5 and is heading northbound:

[22 July 2022 09:54 · Zoe Tidman]

Slow-moving convoy drives along A38

It looks like the A38 is also facing a slow-moving convoy:

[22 July 2022 10:26 · Zoe Tidman]

M5 convoy update

Police say the M5 convoy has reached the exit for Weston-super-Mare: