I am not happy about social distancing (i.e. lack of measures) at vehicle fuelling outlets: I have not come across a 'garage' forecourt yet where simultaneous use of both sides of double-sided pumps has been restricted!
A Sainsbury's assistant (on a forecourt without pay-at-pump facility as it happens) advised me that they "have permission" to continue to allow side by side fuel dispensing at double-sided pumps. I checked the Sainsbury's website where they say they are following the social distancing rules (still 2m as far as I know) at their fuelling outlets - well, obviously they are not! (I can't find a way of contacting them to clarify their position/question them.)
Nor are any other local outlets, that I've come across,
restricting pump use: they
[size=78%]are all allowing fuelling from double-sided pump stations, which means many folk are standing nearby each other while fuelling their vehicles for many minutes with less than 2m between them (with or without a face mask - I've yet to see anyone mask-up for fuel to date). [/size]I asked someone today, who took up the opposite side of my pump with their fuel-cap next to the pump, whether they would mind waiting just a few minutes to refuel, to allow social distancing, as I was almost finished refuelling my car. The response was "
No - I don't care!" Yep, that is actually what he said and there was, as a result of the "I don't care" a very acrimonious verbal exchange between myself and the f*ing idiot. (I regret to say that his children heard their father being called all sorts of things - I hadn't noticed, at first, that he had children on board and then that they had the car windows open - oops!)
Anybody have any thoughts on this generally and has anybody come across a forecourt that prevents side-by-side refuelling at a double-sided pump or might have installed extra shielding between each side of a double-sided pump station ??
In meantime, I have sent a request to my MP for clarification on any Gov' advice on this matter (as there is nothing on Gov web-sites) and I've suggested that there seems to have been an oversight as regards guidance about maintaining social distancing on 'garage' forecourts.