A HUDDERSFIELD haulier has called for a repeat of the 2008 national fuel protest against further hikes in petrol duty.

Slaithwaite-based Ken Taylor said the time for talking was past – arguing that the Government was paying no attention to lobbying by haulage industry bodies.

“The hauliers will have to fight their own corner,” he said.

“I would be in favour of a protest because it is the only way to make the Government listen. They are too arrogant.”

Mr Taylor said the 2008 national protest with lorry drivers staging go-slows on the motorways and picketing refineries had persuaded the Government to scrap the controversial “fuel escalator” – although it was later reintroduced.

Mr Taylor said UK hauliers were under the cosh from rising fuel costs at home and road tolls when they travelled into Europe.

He was speaking as petrol retailers called for the Government to scrap April’s planned fuel duty increase.

The call came as the price of crude oil rose above $98 a barrel – closing in on the $100 a barrel last seen two years ago.

Chris Stern, of Paddock-based petrol retailer CJ Stern (Oils) Ltd, said the rising price of crude would “inevitably” mean price rises at the pumps within the next seven days.

“The increase comes on top of the increases in VAT and fuel duty we have already seen this month,” he said. “We could see record pump prices.”

Motorists in Huddersfield currently pay between 125.9p and 128.9p a litre for unleaded and 129.9p and 133.9p a litre for diesel.

But Mr Stern said: “There could be another penny or two on the price by the end of next week.

“Huddersfield enjoys some of the cheapest prices in the country compared with many other areas. But the only way for prices is up. There’s no good news on the horizon at the moment.”

Brian Madderson, chairman of the Retail Motor Industry Federation’s petrol division, urged the Chancellor to “halt the relentless rise in fuel prices”.

In a letter to George Osborne, Mr Madderson said average petrol prices were already at 128p a litre with diesel close to its record-high of 133p a litre.

On diesel, Mr Madderson said: “We anticipate a new high within days and expect the price to reach 140p a litre from April 1.

“Our unequivocal recommendation is that the Government now abandon the fuel duty ‘escalator’ principle as this is a legacy of your predecessors.

“We are mindful that the plan to increase duty yet again by 1p a litre in ‘real terms’ from April 1 will add a further 4 to 5p a litre to the retail price at the pumps for all grades of fuel.”

Mr Madderson said that by Easter average petrol prices could be as high as 136p a litre – with diesel at “an unthinkable” 140p.

He told Mr Osborne: “We lament the fact that neither you nor your ministers or officials have yet involved industry in any of its changes to taxation directly affecting road fuel pricing. However, we remain willing and available to discuss these serious issues at any time.”

Adrian Tink, of the RAC motoring organisation, said: “We fully support the call to scrap the April fuel duty rise.

“Drivers have been subjected to unprecedented levels of tax rises in the past 12 months.

“It’s time the Government took tangible steps to demonstrate that they understand the ever-increasing pain at the pumps that motorists are suffering – and that means cancelling the April increase in fuel duty.”

Mr Stern said: “The Government is talking about looking into whether they can adjust duty.

“Rising fuel prices will have a knock-on effect for the whole economy. It won’t be good for the inflation figures which might force the Bank of England to put up interest rates.”