TIME LINE
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August 2000 • French hauliers blockade oil refineries. On 9 September, the strike is called off as the French government concedes to a 15% reduction in fuel taxes by way bf an essential user rebate.
Thursday 7 September • Hauliers and farmers meet Wales under the request of lobby group Farmers for Action to discuss following suit. • A group of 12 hauliers meet in a pub in Eythorne, near Dover in Kent, to discuss replicating the action in France. They go on to form TransAction.
Friday 8 September • Shell's Stanlow oil refinery, near Ellesmere Port, is blockaded by farmers and hauliers.
Saturday 9 September • Kent hauliers finalise plans for Essex fuel refinery blockades • Protests spread to the Manchester Fuels Terminal and Cardiff docks Sunday 10 September • Fuel rationing begins; more than 3,000 forecourts close.
• The government obtains an order, authorised by the Privy Council and the Queen, to take emergency powers to ensure fuel delivery to essential services. Monday 11 September • Hauliers meet at Thurrock services ahead of Essex blockades at four sites, including the Vopak depot at Purfleet.
• Prime minister Tony Blair says he will not cut fuel duty Tuesday 12 September • Seven of the nine refineries and four oil depots in the UK are closed by protests. • Larger operators report supplies of bunkered fuei running tow.
Wednesday 15 September
• Blockades begin to end. The protesters say they are giving the government 60 days to act on the issue or they will protest further,
Thursday 16 September • Fuel supplies begin to return to normal.