A PRESSURE group remains committed to reducing soaring fuel prices and is re-evaluating its plans for the year.

Last week Transaction 2007 released a mission statement on its website saying it was hoping to issue an update on its position soon.

In December less than 10 campaigners met at the M56 Hapsford Services, near Ellesmere Port, and abandoned plans to mount a demonstration outside Shell’s Stanlow oil refinery.

Despite the low turnout, protest co-ordinator Tom Houghton said the gathering had been a success and warned the Government it could attempt to blockade the Oil Sites Road site unless it agreed to talks over fuel prices.

The message on the website says: “2008 is here and just to let you all know that we at Transaction are still fully functional and committed to the cause.

“We are currently re-evaluating our plans for this year. To all who have supported us over last year, we thank you.”

However, when the Pioneer visited the website yesterday (Tuesday) we were greeted with a message saying it had been closed down due to a “lack of support from the Transaction hierarchy”.

The message added: “Thanks to all of you who at least supported the cause and had moral fibre, enough to be seen as doing something.”

Speaking at the demonstration last month Mr Houghton, who runs a farm near Sandbach, warned the Government that if they failed to get in touch by the end of January, Transaction would be forced to take action.

He said: “We wanted to send a message to them to get in negotiations with us. We hope by the beginning of January we’ll have heard some noises from the Government.

“If not, we will sit down together and then step up our action in the New Year. We don’t want it to come to that but sooner or later we’re going to see major disruption.”

With petrol prices now well exceeding £1 a litre, the organisation is calling on the Government to cut fuel duty as its members struggle to meet costs.

In 2000 protesters held a highprofile blockade of Stanlow refinery for nearly a week and caused panic buying of petrol.