Ilegal of petrol

ScottishMum

just looking for some advise.

I am aware that one of my neighbours purchases fuel from a local scrapyard which has been synphoned off from scrap cars.

THis is then stored in large plastic containers within a garage.

Is this allowed?? It annoys me as mI (as well as the rest of the country) having to pay through the roof for petrol in my car.

Another reason it concerns me is it is obviously a huge fire risk. One small spark and that will be the row of garages away. It is being stored within local authority garages. I have informed my local authority.

Can anyone advise me if this is allowed or not?? Who do I report it too?? Police / customs and excise??

thanks in advance

Mhairibramwell

p.s. im in scotland

harveybobbles

Fuel from scrapyears being used isn't uncommon, so cant see that being a problem.

However, the fact its being kept in plastic contains concerns me! A polite chat with him may suffice, or a call to the local Police!

Strider590

Should be in metal containers for long term storage...... But storing fuel in metal containers can be dangerous due to risk of sparks caused by static build up (which is why fuel cans are now plastic). Touch the can = spark = boom.

You may also need a licence to store petrol in any significant quantity.

If the house is rented, then his landlord won't be too impressed either.

birkee

Yes, I believe there is a specified maximum amount of petrol that can be held in a domestic situation.
Need to research for the quantity though.
(Think the subject was raised in the 70's, when petrol rationing nearly happened.)

spiro

See here http://www.hse.gov.uk/fireandexplosion/petroleum/faqs.htm

Max 20ltrs (2*10) in metal containers or 10ltrs in plastic containers (2*5), over that you need to inform local authority.

Gloomendoom

As far as I know the law is the same north and south of the border...

Storage of Petrol in a Domestic Environment

The Petroleum Spirit (Motor Vehicle etc) Regulations and the Petroleum Spirit (Plastic Containers) Regulations limit the amount of petrol that can be kept in a domestic garage or within 6 metres of a building.

The limit is a maximum of 2 suitable (ie robust and capable of preventing the escape of petrol) metal containers of a capacity not exceeding 10 litres or 2 plastic containers (of approved design only) each of a maximum of 5 litres capacity.

You may also keep up to 2 x 10 litre capacity containers in your car.
If you wish to keep more or use larger capacity containers you must notify this service and you will have to satisfy storage and distance requirements set out in the Petroleum Spirit (Motor Vehicle etc) Regulations.

Under NO circumstances should petrol be stored in the home itself.

Source

Rossy.

He has his head screwed on for getting the go go juice from a scrappy in fairness

Duty has already been paid on the fuel so Customs can swing fourth on that one

My only gripe would be the amount he's storing, if it is as much as you say

vaio

I think the OPs gripe is that the neighbour won't share the cheap fuel

mhairibramwell wrote: »

........It annoys me as mI (as well as the rest of the country) having to pay through the roof for petrol in my car........

Rossy.

^^

Precisely my thought!

Jealous much OP?

Hammyman

Customs are not interested as the duty has already been paid on the fuel in the first place. When I worked in a scrappies for a short period, nobody who worked there paid for fuel as we all just ran our cars on the stuff drained from the tanks. However you had to replace fuel filters quite regularly but as it was in the days of carburettors, it wasn't really a problem.

david39

If the fuel is being obtained from the scrapyard with the owner's full knowledge, then no crime is being committed from that point of view.

However, a serious crime is being committed by storing large quantities of fuel in inadequate containers. This is strictly contolled by law. If the accusations about this situation are true then it should be reported at once to the local authority (probably the Fire Department) as it represents a serious risk to the local community. It would also nullify any insurance policy protecting the building and contents.