Storing petrol

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

I've moved these posts to a new topic as this thread had wandered rather a long way from 'Climate protests in Bristol'

[TaplowGreen]

That lawnmower website has, I think, got the essentials right – the 30 litre limit, not keeping it in a dwelling, etc – but for some reason been overly cautious and prescriptive on the type of container. Perhaps because those are just the most common types of container used by lawnmowerists?

I only linked to it because it was the first site that came up in a quick search; I did edit my post to include a link to the official HSE^▸ (Health and Safety Executive) rules. Broadgage's 30 litres do seem to be legal, as long as the building is subject to adequate ventilation etc. I do wonder what the local fire brigade and also the police, for different reasons, would say though!

I reckon he's a secret revolutionary, he's probably the sort of chap who likes his steak well done (on the Pullman and elsewhere) so petrol bombs hold no fear for him! To the barricades comrades! for buffets and no more IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train)! 

[Celestial]

My reserve petrol is for any friends who drive here and cant obtain petrol to return, for neighbours from whom I might want a favour, or possibly other uses not yet foreseen.

I'm baffled.  How many friends do you ever expect to turn up and not have enough petrol to get them as far as the nearest open filling station? If you're being that prudent I hope you have a similar supply of diesel in case any of your friends have cars so powered.  And if you need a favour then much much safer that you give them a couple of quid or a bottle of wine than start to decant fuel into their vehicle.

But seriously, although I think we've established that it's not illegal, if there ever was any question as to your motivation for keeping such a large amount of fuel on the premises, your reasons would be laughed out of hand by whichever authority was interested as totally implausible and to be hiding another motive.

 

[broadgage]

I reckon he's a secret revolutionary, he's probably the sort of chap who likes his steak well done (on the Pullman and elsewhere) so petrol bombs hold no fear for him! To the barricades comrades! for buffets and no more IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train)! 

Young sir, you again tend to exaggerate a little.
I prefer my steak to be medium to rare.
I have never made a petrol bomb, nor manned a barricade.
I would like to see the return of proper trains with buffets, but would not resort to violence over such matters.

[broadgage]

My reserve petrol is for any friends who drive here and cant obtain petrol to return, for neighbours from whom I might want a favour, or possibly other uses not yet foreseen.

I'm baffled.  How many friends do you ever expect to turn up and not have enough petrol to get them as far as the nearest open filling station? If you're being that prudent I hope you have a similar supply of diesel in case any of your friends have cars so powered.  And if you need a favour then much much safer that you give them a couple of quid or a bottle of wine than start to decant fuel into their vehicle.

But seriously, although I think we've established that it's not illegal, if there ever was any question as to your motivation for keeping such a large amount of fuel on the premises, your reasons would be laughed out of hand by whichever authority was interested as totally implausible and to be hiding another motive.

 

30 litres is only enough to get one vehicle back to London in an emergency. If any serious emergency occurred one can not expect to find an open filling station.
In some emergencies, a can of petrol could be very valuable indeed, much more so than a few pounds or a bottle of drink.
The last time that my reserve was used "in anger" was during the fuel price protests and blockades. A neighbour was very glad of it, having already used their own reserve.
And yes I do keep a small supply of diesel fuel.

I doubt that the fire brigade or police would be very interested in a small and legal supply. Many people in rural areas store petrol far in excess of that permitted, and often in dubious circumstances.
With common sense precautions, I see little risk in decanting petrol from a jerry can into a vehicle.
No smoking, no other flames or sparks nearby, touch the can with one hand and the vehicle with the other to discharge any static electricity, preferably decant in daylight, or use an intrinsically safe flashlight, or an electric light a safe distance away, or other safe light source.

"Did you hear about poor old Harry ? He struck a match to inspect the level in his petrol tank !"
"What ! you would think that would be the last thing he would do"

"It was"

[Bmblbzzz]

An emergency serious enough to close every petrol station between Broadgage Towers and London would probably require alternative transport desirable. For some reason, I'm reminded of The Changes trilogy, particularly the last one, The Weathermonger.

[TonyK]

I never panic buy, but have done some prudent stocking up.

I lay in prudent stocks.
You hoard.
He panic buys.
 

The airline hedges.

My reserve petrol is for any friends who drive here and cant obtain petrol to return, for neighbours from whom I might want a favour, or possibly other uses not yet foreseen.

My 2 or 3 litres (until at least Hallowe'en) is primarily for my lawnmower, but nearly got used to take me to Taunton, where petrol is much cheaper. My neighbours are very pleasant, but should make their own arrangements. As for other uses, as yet unseen? But while the police, army, fire brigade or local council may not be worried about my stash, I am. It is in a sealed container of the approved type, by the door of my garage, away from the balanced flue boiler, and as well ventilated as I can make it. I might be daft, but I'm not stupid.

[JayMac]

Ahh, someone else who fills up in Taunton. I try to whenever I visit the family. It's currently 5p a litre cheaper in Taunton compared to Morrison's Wincanton, which is the cheapest near Templecombe.

Taunton is consistently one of cheapest places for petrol/diesel in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). One reason is that there are 4 supermarket filling stations in the town. Another reason is the Sainsbury's at Hankridge Farm's proximity to the M5, A38 and A358. Saturday's at Sainsbury's Hankridge Farm can be a nightmare, when it seems everyone from Somerset (and the odd one from Devon like TonyK  ) descends on the petrol station there.

An acquaintance who used to work for Sainsbury's told me that the petrol station at Hankridge Farm sells more fuel than any other Sainsbury's in the UK.

[Surrey 455]

An emergency serious enough to close every petrol station between Broadgage Towers and London would probably require alternative transport desirable. For some reason, I'm reminded of The Changes trilogy, particularly the last one, The Weathermonger.

Gosh, The Changes on BBC1 scared me witless when I was young even though it was a childrens programme. The soundtrack had fairly haunting music I seem to recall. It's on YouTube but I haven't got round to watching it yet.

[Bmblbzzz]

The Sainsbury's just off J12 of the M4 used to have very cheap petrol back in the 90s, perhaps for similar reasons.

[Clan Line]

One reason is that there are 4 supermarket filling stations in the town.

That would seem to be a logical statement...........but.............the cheapest place that I know of is Tesco in Calne - with no local competition there whatsoever. Always much cheaper than anywhere in the Warminster/Trowbridge/Salisbury areas.  Whenever I visit my daughter there the car is always down to its last cupful !

[bobm]

The Sainsbury's just off J12 of the M4 used to have very cheap petrol back in the 90s, perhaps for similar reasons.

In those days it was Savacentre - a joint enterprise between Sainsbury’s and British Home Stores. 

Look what happened to BHS! 

[Bmblbzzz]

Yes, it was Savacentre, but I didn't know there was any BHS involvement; thought it was just another 'brand' of Sainsbury's, similar to 'Tesco Metro' etc nowadays. I don't remember ever seeing any other branch of Savacentre anywhere!

[patch38]

An emergency serious enough to close every petrol station between Broadgage Towers and London would probably require alternative transport desirable. For some reason, I'm reminded of The Changes trilogy, particularly the last one, The Weathermonger.

I think broadgage's avatar gives another clue to why he stores petrol (coincidentally contemporaneous with The Changes)...

[TonyK]

Ahh, someone else who fills up in Taunton. I try to whenever I visit the family. It's currently 5p a litre cheaper in Taunton compared to Morrison's Wincanton, which is the cheapest near Templecombe.

I never go there just to fill up, but always do en passant[/url]. I arrive on fumes. My normal fuel uplift in Tiverton is a tenner.