Colchester petrol panic buying could be solved by cycling

Drivers are continuing to hunt for petrol and diesel to fill up their vehicles amid the limited supply at petrol stations.

Queues have continued to stretch out along busy roads as drivers queue up in the hopes of filling up at petrol stations.

Colchester councillor Lee Scordis said the situation demonstrated how dependent the public was on cars for transport.

He said: “In the short-term, the Government firstly needs to get its message right, along the lines of ‘There is no shortage and fuel will be available if people stop panic-buying’ or ‘You are stopping keyworkers get to work by your actions’.

Read more >> LIVE: Updates as petrol panic buying enters fifth day in Essex

“The Government has clearly had an impact on the staff shortage. If it continues then temporary legislation would need to come in to prioritise key workers and key services.”

Mr Scordis added the public’s priorities need to change as there are now “real issues” after seeing workers sleeping in their car when they couldn’t get fuel.

He said: “I am amazed that the discourse on the fuel crisis has led to accusations made against the media whilst the bigger issue is that clearly we are too over-dependent on cars as a nation. Too many of us use cars for short journeys.”

Organisations such as Liftshare have said car-sharing could be an answer to the crisis.

Ali Clabburn, founder and chief executive of Liftshare, said in a statement: “Car sharing is one of the easiest ways to mitigate the impacts on climate change, affording sharers the opportunity to reduce travel costs, minimise congestion and improve air quality in their local community.”

Mr Scordis added: “Without the fuel crisis, this is a must anyway.

“The number of cars on Britain’s roads has doubled since 1990.

“It is it just not sustainable.

“In Colchester, more than 50 per cent of daily journeys are three miles or under – a distance that could easily be cycled or even walked.

“Some people blame the cycle lanes for traffic congestion, which in itself does not make sense as congestion has always been an issue

“They should be welcoming more cycling as it frees up the roads.”