This critical petrol situation in Epping Forest has been going on for far too long. Like other elected local representatives I have been inundated with local residents' concerns.

  • NHS staff struggling to find petrol to get to work
  • Care workers after really long hours having to get up at 3.30am to get petrol so they can do their home visits the next day
  • Carers at home really worried if the essential home visits for their loved ones will still be able to arrive
  • Other essential workers struggling to get petrol for work when walking or public transport is not a viable alternative

We can all adapt for a few days but this has now entered its second week, with fights and arguments being reported in several local petrol stations.

Three reasonable questions spring to my mind:

1. When is our government going to get a grip on this situation?

2. When is our MP in Epping Forest going to make a statement about this ongoing situation facing so many of her constituents? (no apparent statement by the ninth day of this situation).

3. What steps has our MP taken to put pressure on her party in power to tackle this issue?

Independent Loughton Councillor Stephen Murray