A colleague has just told me there are companies just the other side of the channel who will deliver a bowser of diesel at French prices (currently about 30p a litre less than UK prices) to your home. The only condition is you have to go to France to order and pay for it and there's obviously a rental charge for the bowser.
Any of you helpful backroomers know anything about this? Sounds too good to be true, but if it is, count me in :o)
Terry
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How much does a bowser hold and are there any Customs limits on personal importation, I wonder?
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I think that if it's a 'portable' tank, then you don't need planning permission or approval to store fuels from the local authority. I know some people that do this with autogas. They have a skid mounted tank, but i is tucked away to stop neighbours etc complaining.
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Even if was cost effective to get it here, read recently of new EC directives to be introduced shortly, regarding above ground lubricant & oil storege.
We will be obliged to have to provide a leak-proof & VERY secure storage facility, even for amounts as little as 200 lts (drums normally hold 205lts)
Wonder how much it would cost to build in the garden at home!!?
Mark
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Diesel is the same as commercial heating fuel; this was often discussed on the old forum. Plastic heating oil tanks are advertised in the heating trade publications. I think they're bunded (tank in a tank), I don't think you'd have to construct a concrete bund.
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Here's an idea, remember PLUTO the Pipe Line Under The Ocean that the Allies constructed after D-Day to pipe petrol across the Channel.
Well you can see it still comes out near Shanklin (IIRC) on the IOW. Why not recommission it and pump French diesel back? They can't touch you for it as you are not passing through Customs.
(not too seriously of course)
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Europe must go under to the Yellow Peril at last. We will not be getting anything constructive or competitive done at all - too busy cobbling things as these legions of parasites in the EC and Whitehall and Edinburgh come up with yet more and more "safeguards" we never needed.
I suppose from their point of view it beats working.
Tomo
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Vansboy
Beat me to it. The Control of Pollution (oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001, SI 2954 covers outdoor storage of more than 200 litres. Came into effect from 1/3/02. Available on the web.
If that doesn't get you the Groundwater Regulations 1998 will!
I'm working on them both at the moment.
Regards
John S
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I've heard of someone who takes a large tank to Belgium in a trailer and has never had problems but you would have to declare your load to the ferry company.When the firm I worked for wanted to ship fuel in drums,we could not just use any carrier,the firm had to have special vehicles,registration,insurance ,training and extinguishers.
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Try www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2001/20012954.htm
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Looks as if you can store 750 gallons at a private house without worrying about the Water Resources aspect!
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Could be back on the cards then. I've just got to locate the company in Calais.....
Terry
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[does not apply]
(d) on any premises used -
(i) wholly or mainly as a private dwelling if the storage capacity of the container in which it is stored is 3500 litres or less;
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What a great thread
MG-Rover Questions? Click on www.mg-rover.org
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It occurs to me we are assuming that the bulk doesel will have French excise duty paid on it and that UK duty is not payable. It may be that HM Customs & Excise will still require their customary 45p (or whatever) per litre before you can legally use it in a vehicle on a public road.
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What about when you put Diesel in your car in Calais then drive back with a full tank? You don't get stung for 45 p a litre then do you.
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........and I've been on a coach that has put 400 litres of the stuff on board before coming home :o)
Terry
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Itis usually 400 litres of beer!
C
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This is true, but if you filled your car with containers full of diesel, then HM C&E might have grounds for demanding payment. They seem have an infinite quantity of red tape to tie you up with.
I do know that, with regard to alcohol, there are limits on the amount that you can import for personal consumption. C&E can also interview you, if they think you intend to sell the stuff, but the interview might be in several weeks time, so that you have the inconvenience of returning to the port of entry or having the booze confiscated.
I do not know what the situation is, but would check it before paying for a bowser of diesel.
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There are NO LIMITS on alcohol and tobacco products imported for personal consumption! The jobsworths in C & E choose to operate a set of arbitary 'guidelines', which have no legal standing, and are already being adversely commented on by the appropriate EU commissioners. On this basis a lot of honest law-abiding citizens, plus a few duty evaders, are being given the 3rd dgree at ports of entry, having their goods and cars confiscated etc. For this rubbish our parents fought 2 World Wars and we still finish up with little H*tl*rs in charge!
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From Customs and Excise FAQs page.
"How much fuel can a commercial vehicle bring into the UK without paying additional duty?"
"You may bring in the fuel which is held in the ?standard tank? of the vehicle in question, provided that the fuel is not removed from the vehicle. The fuel may only be used in the vehicle in which it was imported. In addition, fuel may be brought into the UK in a ?special container? for on-board refrigeration systems on condition that this ?special container? is not connected to the engine or the fuel system of the vehicle. If you are in any way unsure, contact Customs National Advice Service for further advice."
www.hmce.gov.uk/business/othertaxes/roadfuelfaqs.h...m
I can't see how the suppliers can import fuel, other than in the vehicle's standard tank, without paying additional duty. They may be selling red diesel, but the purchaser assumes they are buying DERV fuel with the excise paid. There is diesel and there is diesel. Which diesel do you get?
There are no statutory limits on alcohol & tobacco imported for personal consumption, but C&E seem to have assumed the authority to decide what one might reasonably import for personal consumption.
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We've been in the so-called "Common Market", now metamorphised into the European Union, for nigh on 30 years, and the politicians haven't got round to such a simple thing as common customs duties.
So we waste millions of pounds enforcing rates of duties which vary from our neighbours, in the case of the UK facilitated because of the existence of the English Channel which, because we cannot simply drive over the border free of charge, enables our Treasury to impose penal rates of duty on anything it wishes.
So much for convergence. What is the point of even belonging to the EU?
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Brian,
I can't find the article on the DT website but yesterday, either in the Money or Travel supplement there was an article about problems people were having with the euro during travel.
The most stupid was that some countries, Spain was the example given, were refusing to accept Euro coins from another country, in this case Belgium.
Also people taking Euro travellers cheques were being asked to pay stupendous commissions, and cheques in Sterling or US Dollars were much preferred with far lower commissions.
what is it someone said about organising liquid refreshment in a brewery!
Lions led by donkeys!
regds,
Stuart
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s** and his law working well tonight, here is the link to the article mentioned in earlier post,,,doh!
titled: Will euro chic even stretch to a French stick?
www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fmoney%...l
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So all you need is a diesel fridge on board!
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I don't know the law or rules on the import of diesel whatsoever but a few years ago I took a trip with the son in law when he was driving on international transport. I had a weeks leave from work and off I went to Milan with him and was introduced to some of the scams which took place and probably still do.
At Calais the lorries came off the ferry and were halted in a waiting area. This is for uniformed presumably customs officer to climb up on to the running board to look at the fuel gauge.
Drivers are not allowed above a half full tank entering France.
John along with all the other lorries had a tip waiting on the dashboard. The man swung up, made no pretence at looking but simply lifted the cash. Watching the other lorries exactly the same took place. This would be I suppose when our diesel was relatively cheap. But I do seem to recall seeing a similar rule on documentation when using the ferries so whether it is for safety or customs reasons I don't know. Talking to other drivers in Milan one of the scams used particularly by some Irish lorries was to have underslung tanks on the trailers full of red diesel and switching to it on the continent.
Another one taking place was Mont Blanc and Frejures tunnels where lorries carrying hazardous loads are required to pay for an escort through. This could also be taken care of. I thought of this about a year ago when the tragic fire took place in another Pyrenees tunnel!! who knows..
alvin
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