THE Westlink in Belfast is one of several locations signposted for fuel protests this afternoon.
Other locations for possible protests which are earmarked for 2pm include Sprucefield in Lisburn, Nutts Corner and Sandyknowes Roundabout. Any protests will lead to traffic disruption and tailbacks.
On Tuesday morning tractors moved slowing on the Belfast Road approaching Tillysburn and Sydenham Bypass towards City Airport. Police are warning of delays and are advising motorists to avoid the area if possible and to leave extra time for their journey.
Schools are currently monitoring the situation closely.
The protests follow a week of similar action in the Republic which only ended after the government in Dublin announced a half a billion euro in fuel support.
Motorways and Dublin city centre were brought to a standstill and fuel depots were blockaded by farmers and hauliers protesting at the steep rise in the cost of fuel, brought on by the US-Israel war in Iran.
Fuel delivery drivers and members of An Garda Síochána reported receiving threats from protestors during the course of the week.
Speaking as the protests ended in the Republic Taoiseach Micheál Martin hit out at “groups with a self-declared mandate” who he said had rejected the “right of democratic representative groups to speak for them”.
“As we said consistently during the week, nobody has a right to blockade our country,” the Taoiseach said. “In this free democracy there are many ways to make your point publicly, and our streets are regularly full of people exercising their rights.
“But no self-appointed groups has a right to prevent emergency services from operating normally, or delay people going for cancer treatment, or to threaten the jobs and livelihoods of others.
Fuel protests in Dublin last week Photo: © RollingNews.ie
“Nobody has a right to intimidate drivers attempting to distribute fuel or to talk about having control of the country and government.”
North Belfast MP John Finucane has said the British government must do more to help those affected by the rising fuel crisis.
He was commenting as Sinn Féin MPs supported a letter to the British Prime Minister calling for temporary immediate reduction in costs of fuel in the North.
Mr Finucane said: “The British Prime Minister must step up and deliver urgent, meaningful support to tackle soaring energy costs driven by Israeli-US attacks on Iran.
"Families, households and businesses across the north are under severe and growing pressure. While the British government can find billions for weapons and warfare, workers and families here are being left behind to shoulder the burden of rising costs alone. That is unacceptable.
"We need a strong, united voice from across all parties to demand immediate intervention.
"Sinn Féin MPs have joined with other MPs from the north to press this case, calling for decisive action to cut fuel prices to ease the strain on our communities."
