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Fuel prices reach record high



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Stephen Briggs
MOTORISTS were left fuming at the pumps today as fuel prices in Peterborough soared to a record high.
As diesel hit almost 126p a litre at some city forecourts, there were warnings that haulage firms and others who depend on fleets of vehicles could be driven out of business.

Hard pressed families will also struggle to run their car as the price of a litre of unleaded petrol soared to 113.9p at at least one city forecourt.

What do you think?
Comment below, email us: news@ peterboroughtoday.co.uk or telephone the newsdesk 01733 555111.
-------------------------------------

Today senior area manager for the south and east region of the Road Haulage Association Peter Butler said each rise was another "nail in the coffin" for the haulage business. He said: "Just one penny added on to a litre of diesel means extra overheads of £15,000 per articulated lorry every year.

"Hauliers are going out of business, and it is not just small firms that are having problems."

Joe Cook of JS Cook and Sons Transport, based in Moulton Chapel, near Spalding, took a coffin to Downing Street in protest at the prices in April.

Now Mr Cook is organising a second high-profile rally on the streets of London on Tuesday, May 27.

He said: "We need as many people to make a stand as possible.

"We need to show our strength."

Chairman of the Hackney Federation of Peterborough Mahmood Khan said: "Some drivers are working 16-hour shifts because of the rise.

"We are in negotiations with the city council for a pay rise or to alter tariffs, but we don't want to hit passengers too much."

Chairman of Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Ian Crighton said: "Petrol, and especially diesel, are very expensive at the moment, especially when compared to prices across Europe and America. It is the consumers who will have to pay for it in the end, either through lack of service or higher costs."

There is no good news on the horizon for people planning to drive on holiday this summer either as the Petrol Retailers Association is warning that prices will keep rising and hit a plateau of about 130p a litre for diesel by July.

Petrol station prices around the city

  • Location - Diesel - Unleaded

  • Sainsbury's, Oxney Road - 119.9 - 110.9

  • Delph, Whittlesey - 125.9 - 112.9

  • Morrisons, Lincoln Road - 119.9 - 109.9

  • BP, Boongate - 123.9 - 113.9


The full article contains 413 words and appears in Peterborough ET newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 15 May 2008 1:20 PM
  • Source: Peterborough ET
  • Location: Peterborough
 
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Hampton Cyclist,

15/05/2008 14:18:49
I notice that all of the motorists still seem to be compliantly emptying their wallets and purses into the petrol companies record profits. While you're still prepared to give them your money, they'll happily ignore all of your toothless whingeing.
2

jacka,

whittlesey 15/05/2008 14:30:08
hampton cyclist some people have no choice but to travel by car our situation is we have no bus routes as we live in the fens so hence the car not every one wants to live in an over populated area so we have to pay for the over priced fuel of stay at home and not work
3

Paul33,

Peterborough 15/05/2008 14:31:06
So what is the alternative ? Do I send my kids off walking the six miles to primary school ? Do I abandon my business customers who I have to travel to ?

4

Dan Jackson,

15/05/2008 14:55:27
It is not the oil companies you should have a go at on their own.

We in the UK pay the highest level of tax in the world on fuel

For an average tank of fuel, the government takes over 70% of the money and the rest is to the garage and oil company.

Oil company's do need to give money back but the government should be forced to stop the high tax and give motorists relief.

Personally I hope a repeat of the 2000 blockades soon and force them into action
5

Hampton Cyclist,

15/05/2008 14:55:50
I wasn't so much implying the driving related to where people live and business that they do, although this can be a reasonable consideration for modal change.

My implication was the costs of paying the more expensive suppliers and failure to forward plan fuel purchases against expected travel (for instance I'll be driving across the country tomorrow but bought the fuel earlier in the week in anticipation of a price increase). Then there is the condition of the vehicle and driving styles. I continually see people driving vehicles with poorly serviced engines, under inflated tyres, driving in an uneconomical fashion and leaving engines running when parked or stopped for long periods of time. These are the ways in which people are basically throwing their money at the oil companies. Do you somehow expect them to refuse?

On top of that there's paying unessecary food miles, driving cars larger than needed for some bizarre notion of image, not pursuing the local authority and bus companies for better transport links, not considering multi-modal travel.......... I could go on.
6

Hampton Cyclist,

15/05/2008 15:00:04
Dan Jackson - That is in fact a myth. Here are the top five countries in Europe according to HM Treasury;

Sweden 64%
Belgium 63%
German 63%
UK 63%
Finland 62%

Looks like we're no higher 4th. Get your facts straight .
7

Claire40,

15/05/2008 15:10:06
@Hampton Cyclist, you DO go on LOL. I'm a little sceptical about your figures though - largely based on the fact that you said they're supplied by the Treasury! I too thought we paid nearer to 70% tax. Have the treasury lost a few percent ...in the same way they have off the 'official' inflation figure?
8

Bucks,

15/05/2008 15:40:12
It is mad now though we had to sell our 2 cars and buy one Diesel instead not just because we can't afford it but because I don't wanna hand over all that money to them but its not always practical something needs to be done also some of us do need to help ourselves a little where we can.
9

Hampton Cyclist,

15/05/2008 15:40:29
Claire40 - It's impossible for the Treasury to lie about this. If you pay £1.09.9 for petrol then the petrol duty of 53p and the VAT of 16p add up to 69p and that is 63% of the total.

Politicians may lie but mathematics doesn't.
10

Dan Jackson,

15/05/2008 15:52:20
Actually Hampton is right having viewed the figures though tax used to be at 81%. However, the 2p surcharge which will be added shortly will take us to the highest taxed in the UK.

Overall it's too hogh so the Government need to reduce it. Stop Biofuels etc as they are a waste.

Get used to higher costs as the price will keep rising for oil and will be 30% higher within 2 years.

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