Fuel shortages slammed

Published 16 Sep 2009 14:53 Comments 1 Comment

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Have YOU been affected by petrol shortages in the Burgh? Let us know!

ESSO have been slammed by an MP after they admitted their Helensburgh filling station ran dry THREE times in one month.

MP Alan Reid wrote to Esso last month on behalf of his constituents who complained, after arriving at the pumps only to be turned away and forced to drive the extra eight miles to Dumbarton - adding half an hour onto their journey.

He said he hopes the chain have got their act together and there will be no more occasions on which local residents are left "high and dry" without fuel.

Esso admitted that the filling station had run out of fuel five times between March and June, but have promised to do "everything possible" to stop this happening again.

Esso replied to his letter earlier this month, with a spokesperson for the company stating that they were concerned to hear that constituents weren't happy about the fuel running out, and that they were aware the pumps were a vital resource to the community.

She added that performance had improved since June, but the faults in the four month period were down to "structural changes in our customer network", a "planning error" and "equipment defect".

Mr Reid said that Helensburgh desperately needs a second filling, after the closure of the previous Esso garage two years ago.

"Since Esso obtained the monopoly on fuel in Helensburgh and shut one of the town's two filling stations, the remaining filling station has run out of fuel on a regular basis leaving motorists stranded.

"I hope that Esso have now got their act together and the remaining filling station will not run out of fuel again.

"If it does, I urge constituents to let me know so that I can take this up with Esso again."

Have YOU been left high and dry in Helensburgh without petrol? Let us know by filling in the form below.

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Jacques Mesrine
Unregistered User
Oct 27, 00:52
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I dont think anyone in Helensburgh is intelligent enough to get to grips with the real problem. GREED.

There are far too many cars on the road, and theyre mostly one person travelling in big-engined cars at any one time, and all these single person travellers are all up in arms because they cant get petrol?

Reason: There's too many of you.

Solutions: Car-sharing. Use Public Transport. Walk.

You would be doing your bit to help the environment by doing any one of these, it would give you enlightenment and save you money too.

Alternatively, you can just stop bleating and drive to the Dumbarton garage to fill up. Its private enterprise, supply and demand, and if you're not fast then you're last.

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