Queues are forming in Watford as motorists rush to petrol stations to get fuel for the fourth day in a row (Monday).
Drivers have been flocking to filling stations nationally after concerns from BP were leaked that the shortage of lorry drivers could impact upon its ability to keep up with fuel deliveries.
Long queues have been filling at forecourts since Friday which has been causing lengthy delays.
And it appears that petrol stations in Watford continue to be busy this morning (Monday).
According to Google Maps, there are queues forming at The Dome Roundabout outside the Shell garage, Asda Petrol Station and Sainsbury’s filling station.
DELAYS: #Watford Dome roundabout, very heavy delays at present. #AvoidTheQ pic.twitter.com/hQqpaKSBtO
— HCC Highways (@Herts_Highways) September 27, 2021
There are also long queues in St Albans Road by the Esso filling station near Watford Junction Station.
And there is also traffic outside the Shell garage in Old Mill Road, according to Google Maps, as well as the BP garage in Wiggenhall Road.
Service W20 and W21 affected by standstill traffic along Wiggenhall Road #Watford
— Red Eagle Buses (@Red_Eagle_Buses) September 27, 2021
Vehicles queuing for Shell garage causing severe congestion pic.twitter.com/YiHqVPmTYj
A statement by Shell, ExxonMobile and other industry bodies again insisted there was no “national shortage of fuel” and that the pressures on supply were the result of “temporary spikes in customer demand”.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is now thought to be considering sending in troops to drive oil tankers after days of panic buying saw filling stations in many areas run dry.
He is reported to be holding a series of meetings to consider whether to activate the military for Operation Escalin.
The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) chairman Brian Madderson confirmed some training had been taking place “in the background” for military personnel.
But he warned it was not an “absolute panacea” and that there was no “single lever” the Government and the industry could pull to resolve the crisis.
With long queues at filling stations continuing over the weekend, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng announced on Sunday he was temporarily suspending competition laws to allow the industry to share information so it can target areas where fuel supply is running low.
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