Drivers across Scotland are being warned to expect major disruption on motorways this week, with farmers planning nationwide fuel protests targeting key routes.
However, The Herald understands that there has been no disruption to any carriageways in the country.
Demonstrators were expected to block the M8 between junctions 20 and 19 from noon on Wednesday, but the key access point to Glasgow remained unchanged as traffic continued to flow onwards and over the Kingston Bridge.
Action was reported to be continuing on Thursday and Friday as part of a three-day campaign over rising fuel costs.
According to the RAC, petrol currently costs £1.58 per litre and diesel £1.91, with some motorway stations charging close to or above £2.00 per litre for diesel.
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Organisers have urged farmers, HGV drivers, and members of the public to join them, raising fears of long delays on some of the busiest stretches of motorway in the country.
As well as the M8 in Glasgow, farmers are planning to target the A1(M) at Scotch Corner and the M6/M74 at the Scottish border, with further meeting points on major routes in England, including parts of the M6, M5, M4, M1, and M25.
Police Scotland said it is aware of the plans and has confirmed that a dedicated policing operation will be in place. A spokesperson said: “We are aware of potential planned protest activity due to take place in various sections of the motorways in Scotland over the next few days, Wednesday, April 15 – Friday, April 17, 2026.
“We will have appropriate resources in place to ensure the safety of those in attendance and mitigate disruption to the wider community.”
William Taylor, Farmers For Action co-ordinator based in Northern Ireland, said in a statement released on Monday: “Farmers For Action are privileged to be asked by farm organisations across the UK and accompanied by support from organisations across these islands to consider a UK-wide tax and fuel protest.
“Currently, it has been agreed to wait and watch over the coming days with reference to fuel prices and governments’ reactions to the plight that family farmers, SME’s, the haulage industry and the UK’s workforce find themselves in.
“There is huge concern that current policies are failing to address the pressures facing key sectors of the UK economy.”
The group has not made any statement in support of the protests, which have so far proved to be a damp squib.
Members of now-disbanded farmer-led movement Farmers to Action (Image: Farmers To Action)
The supposed action follows last week's protests in Ireland.
Several distinct but co-ordinated protests began on Tuesday, involving slow-moving convoys on motorways as well as the blocking of major roads in Dublin and other cities.
Those taking part included hauliers and agricultural contractors using large trucks and tractors to disrupt traffic.
The demonstrations continued into Wednesday, with escalations including the blockading of fuel depots and the Whitegate oil refinery in Co Cork, a move described by Taoiseach Micheal Martin as “an act of national sabotage”.
On Thursday last week, the Irish Army were called in to remove the vehicles blocking roads and depots.
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