News

Pressure group Transaction 2007 has confirmed that fuel protests will take place on Saturday 15 December at 10am at undisclosed locations. A statement released on its official website, www.transaction-2007.com, says: "Transaction  2007 has decided to release the date and time of protest action earlier than scheduled. This is to enable the motorist and public to better prepare themselves for the coming action. This will be a nationwide protest extending to Northern and Southern Ireland.

"A date of Saturday 15 December 2007 at 10am has been decided for protest action. This date was decided by members as the best possible to enable those who would normally be working during the week to attend. This action will be initiated at a refinery or storage depot somewhere near you. Anyone wishing to support action is requested to make your way there at the allotted time. Transaction again wish to emphasise the importance of legal protesting."

Transaction had previously claimed it was working in conjunction with the Road Haulage Association and referred to "all 10,000 RHA/Transaction 2007 members". This prompted the RHA to distance itself  from Transaction 2007 by saying: "The Road Haulage Association feels it necessary to make a number of urgent points concerning the Association and the pressure group calling itself 'Transaction 2007'. "The RHA is not 'in association with' the pressure group, although this assertion is made on its website. The expressions used such as 'RHA/Transaction 2007 members' are highly misleading, implying a relationship which does not exist.

"The RHA has never been involved in negotiations with 'Transaction 2007' but has, as a matter of courtesy, held discussions with RHA members who are also part of the pressure group. The RHA will always support members who wish to protest legally where members have expressed that wish through the RHA regional organisation. Comments within 'Transaction 2007' suggesting that legal and peaceful protests would produce no results and that more direct action should be taken are unacceptable."

Following talks on 4 December on the fuel-duty hikes and the prospect of protest action, after which protest action was confirmed, Transaction 2007 distanced itself from the media. Founder Mike Presneill said: "All updates will now come from the Transaction 2007 website." He also declined to comment on the statement released by the Road Haulage Association denying any relationship with Transaction 2007.

No RHA members have contacted the association for support in local legal protests despite Transaction's call for protests this weekend. Neither has Transaction approached the organisation with its plans, according to spokeswoman Kate Gibbs. "It does not surprise us that members have not requested support. Only about 2% of them were in favour of protest," she says. "We all want something doing about fuel duty but we maintain that taking to the streets is not the way to achieve it."

The Freight Transport Association is taking a similar position. Director of external affairs Geoff Dossetter says: "We remain absolutely opposed to any form of direct action. We believe it could be counter-productive and alienate the public. "Fuel duty remains a major problem for members and we are still pressing for separation in the way it is charged." The details of the protest promised for next weekend seem to be passed only by word of mouth or private mail.

For more information log on to our Fuel Protests page here.