The organisers of one of the largest fuel price protests is urging other demonstrators to notify the Parades Commission ahead of any further planned events.
There was disruption on the roads earlier this week when dozens of transport firms, farmers and others held ‘go-slow’ protests across the north.
In some areas roads were blocked temporarily, including the A6 Derry to Belfast road at Toome, where police threatened that failure to move could lead to arrest and “force may be used”.
There have also been reports that some protesters were later contacted by police and given penalty points.
Vehicles on the Sydenham bypass in Belfast this week (Liam McBurney/PA)
One of the larger protests in the north took place in Strabane last weekend.
It has now emerged that organisers had filled out an 11-1 form via the PSNI, which is then forwarded to the Parades Commission.
A fresh 11-1 form has now been completed for another planned protest in Strabane on Saturday, which has been listed on the Parades Commission website and is expected to include up to 100 participants.
The planned procession has not been marked as ‘sensitive’.
Strabane businessman Paddy McLaughlin, who runs PML Recovery and Transport, said last week’s event was well attended and supported by local people.
He said those taking part included farmers, construction workers and carers.
“It’s not only hauliers that are affected by this, the whole of industry is being affected,” he said.
“Even your shopping is going to go up, it all has to be transported to the shops, your groceries are going to go up.
“We need the cap, we need the cap on diesel, petrol and kerosene, we need the suspension of the carbon tax, the excess duty and the VAT as well.
A convoy of vehicles taking part in a fuel protest in Strabane. PICTURE: MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN (MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN COPYRIGHT / )
“We need stronger government action on the cost of living crisis.”
Mr McLaughlin urged other protesters to notify any planned protest processions to the commission.
“We went to the police and got a 11-1 form filled out, which allowed us to have a peaceful protest,” he said.
“We had no problems at all with the police, the police came and helped us through.
“We had no bad manners at all from the police, now, I know in different areas they have….but we did not have it because we went the peaceful way of doing it.”