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Government advice on storing petrol slammed

Simon Ward
by Lovemoney Staff Simon Ward on 29 March 2012  |  Comments 13 comments

With a fuel tanker strike still on the horizon, the Government has come under fire after issuing 'mistaken' advice on storing petrol.

Government advice on storing petrol slammed

As talks to avert a fuel tanker driver strike continue, the Government has come under fire from several angles for its handling of the situation.

There have been reports of panic buying in certain areas following continued Government advice that people should fill up their tanks in case the strike goes ahead. Road and motor industry bodies and petrol retailers have said that there is no need to panic.

And Cabinet Secretary Francis Maude has been heavily criticised after he said on BBC radio: "The greater extent to which people have fuel in their vehicles - maybe a little bit in the garage as well in a jerrycan - the longer we can keep things going.”

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has warned that Mr Maude's comments are "not sensible advice".

Matt Wrack, FBU General Secretary, said: "Those without garages may be tempted to store fuel in the home. In the event of a fire in the house or a neighbouring property, it would be disastrous. It is already against the law to store more than 10 litres of petrol in two five-litre plastic containers in the home. As that amounts to little more than a third of a tank in most cars, the advice is of little practical help."

Mr Maude's comments are also flawed because the average jerrycan contains 20 litres of fuel, well above the legal limit. MP Mike Penning has since called Mr Maude's advice "a mistake".

You can legally store two 10-litre metal containers of petrol in a vehicle or in a garage.

The AA confirmed to us that it is also against the law to transport more than two five-litre plastic containers of petrol in a motor vehicle.

There are currently no restrictions on diesel transport or storage, although it is obviously a potential fire risk.

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Comments (13)

  • nickpike
    Love rating 270
    nickpike said

    easygoing.

    My jibe happens to be true.

    Who is subsidising me? These lorry drivers get paid more than engineers with degrees.

    I don't buy cheap-poor petrol from a SM. I buy Shell, or Esso having professionally tested these products.

    The Unions are out to destroy this country and with their mates the Labour party, are achieving their aims, ever so slowly taking 50 years if necessary. Look at Brown's scorched-earth policies, a member of the Fabians (google and research, in particular Fabius).

    Don't know where you work, but I have never been intimidated by management. And I do know what the depute is about.

    Your comments and analysis are wide of the mark.

    The Minister said nothing wrong. I filled up 3 days ahead of the majority as I keep myself informed and could see the strike threat. When it would have dawned on the rest, panic buying would happen anyway. He was also correct to say Jerry can, as this is designed for the job. Check on the internet and in 2 x 10l metal Jerry cans, you can store fuel in a well ventilated area (better than in a garage I must admit, but Jerry cans don't leak if in satisfactory condition).

    There are thousands of boat owners who transport fuel at weekends in jerry cans, and I'm not aware of regular problems. There must be millions in use in military units worldwide.

    Report on 05 April 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves
  • ronat42
    Love rating 62
    ronat42 said

    I believe that this strike is about safety procedures which is a worthy cause. If that is really the case then surely the correct action is to refuse to preform unsafe actions and not threaten to strike at holiday times when it was always going to cause panic. If pensions are an issue then I fail to see why anyone who still has more than 50% of their expected pension available has any cause to claim special treatment. there are a lot of poor souls earning less than a third of what tanker drivers get who are a lot worse off.

    One logical way of improving everyone's pension prospects is to get the economy moving rather than destroy it.

    Common sense and a sense of responsibility seem to be in short supply these days. Perhaps we should start some panic action in that area.

    Report on 06 April 2012  |  Love thisLove  0 loves

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