Panic buying blamed for long queues at pumps in North Sheen
Queues stretched across the Sainsbury's car park
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One man waited over seven hours for petrol amid the fuel crisis in North Sheen this Monday.
It comes after days of long queues at the pumps, after fears of disruption to the fuel supply sparked panic buying. The situation now seems to be improving with the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) saying that only 37% of its members were out of fuel compared to over two thirds on Sunday.
Motorists waited for hours for fuel earlier this week at the Sainsbury’s petrol station off Manor Road in North Sheen, with parents unable to pick up their children from school and visit vulnerable relatives.
Cars were seen empty as motorists got out of their vehicles to stretch their legs and did a spot of shopping to pass the time.
Cars Queuing Down Manor Road
Pepe Oberoi of Richmond had been waiting since 7.30am on Monday morning (27 September), he said: “What happens is a domino effect, people see this queue, and then they panic buy even more.”
The car salesman was on his way back from the gym before getting stuck in the queue, he said it’s vital he gets fuel to be able to work.
He said, “At the end of the day, you know, this was coming down the line, every single person keeps talking about supply chains.”
The 65-year-old added, “There are people that genuinely need fuel. Somebody was just telling me he was in front of somebody who put £8 of gas in and he said he was ‘brimming up’.
“Jesus Christ, be reasonable, there are people that need it.”
Pepe Oberoi, 65, waited since 7.30am for fuel
Samantha Madhosingh, a local resident and mother, said, “It’s frustrating, because none of this was really necessary.
“We’ve been waiting because we had no petrol, and I drove around the area, and everywhere was completely out, and there was nowhere to wait.
“I felt this was the safest place to do this, but I’m worried that if I don’t get it now, then I won’t be able to pick up my daughter from school and visit my father who has dementia.”
The 52-year-old added: “I specifically stayed home all weekend, and I didn’t drive the car, and I thought that the madness would be over by today but it’s just ridiculous.”
Samantha said the panic buying is “stupid, it’s the same nonsense as they did with the stupid toilet paper at the beginning. It’s just dumb”.
Alessia Smith from Putney, who has waited for fuel since 9.30am, said, “I’m not panic buying, I just need to pick up my nine-year-old son from school.
“We don’t have transportation for that so I really need fuel.”
When told she didn’t have much longer to wait, the 41-year-old said, “I’ve never been so happy. It’s frustrating, I mean it’s actually just a waste of time.”
Samantha Madhosingh, 52, waited since 10.30am
Speaking to the LDRS, a Sainsbury’s manager at the petrol station who asked not to be named, said, “We are getting [fuel] deliveries daily.”
James Mayer - Local Democracy Reporter
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September 29, 2021
