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| Harriett Baldwin MP |
Local MP Harriett Baldwin has called on local petrol companies to keep prices under control as pump prices reach record highs.
Harriett has referred the issue to the Office of Fair Trading in recent months and is keeping a close eye on pump prices as supply issues ease.
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150.9p
Diesel 2/4/12 Tenbury
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She commented: “I would be very angry if petrol companies have used this situation as an excuse to lift prices and keep them high.
“As supply levels are back to normal, I hope that prices will return to the pre-budget levels and no company starts profiteering.
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29 comments:
Most of the cost is duty and VAT.
If you pay £1.50/litre, 83p goes to the government in duty and VAT. If the government wanted cheaper fuel prices, and a more vibrant economy, they would cut duty.
Rather than cut it, the government plans to increase the cost of petrol/diesel by 3.5p/litre on August 1st.
That ill doesn't alter the fact that the local garage really is exploiting its position. I bought diesel this afternoon in Stafford for 143.9p - a difference of more than £4 on a tank-full. Sorry . . . despite what has been said in the past, that is just too big a difference ignore.
Wow, it's surprising to see Harriet put her head above the parapet on this.. It is after all a pretty contentious issue.. As I recall, she shied-away from any real engagement with the town's Tesco issue when asked at her surgery or in e-mails. All I recall being told by individuals who'd tried to ascertain her stance then was her occasional blurred and non-committal returned comments..
Maybe the fuel cost subject is more of a sure-fire vote winner though.. Let's hope that this is a sign of things to come then - an MP with teeth?
Ian, I don't think the local garage is "exploiting" it's position.
I think the "problem" lies with the fuel company. They decide how much to charge each retailer. I guess that is the free market economy.
That said, if there was local competition they might well charge the retailer less, but then arguably the volume would be less if split over two retailers so each might charge equally high prices.
Bumble,
Not really surprising. Fuel costs are not in the remit of local council's whilst local planning issues are not the responsibility of MPs.
Somebody needs to ask her where are flood defences are - we have been waiting long enough Harriet .
WR15 - fair point! So we're being exploited by Texaco. It feels just the same though!
What we need is a government that supports rural areas.
Lower fuel duty or discounted business rates for petrol stations in rural areas?
While we are about it, lower beer duty for pubs in rural areas?
We can't "compete" with Telford or Stafford or the like, as we only have a few thousand residents, so don't have the turnover.
I agree. Ultimately this can only be resolved by the intervention of central government, so it's good to know our MP is taking an active interest.
I tend to agree, it's only by legislation and a will by central government to put a package of measures together to best 'assist' rural economies and make them more sustainable that can help with the fuel issues in the medium to long term..
The government thinks the countryside is a rustic theme park, where people can go for a walk at the weekend, after a week in the office.
Consider the steady transfer of jobs from the rural areas into urban areas.
Rural pubs, shops, petrol stations, post offices - the losses in the past 10-20 years have been huge, while new shopping centres, supermarkets, retail parks, business parks and industrial estates are built in urban areas. Look at the investment in places like Kidderminster, then consider what has happened in Clifton upon Teme or Martley or Clee Hill or Newnham Bridge.
' Look at the investment in places like Kidderminster, then consider what has happened in Clifton upon Teme or Martley or Clee Hill or Newnham Bridge.' . . . not quite sure what comparison is being made here. What investment in Kidderminster could, instead, haver been made made in Newnham Bridge?
As Harriet' s (notionally) come down on the side of supporting the public's concerns over rural fuel costs.. Couldn't we arrange/promote a petition related to these concerns to be presented to parliament by her then? Surely (given her apparent stance) she'd be willing to do so? A petition could be promoted locally and regionally by a wide variety of simple methods as well as social media etc..
My link above gives you a summary from the UK Parliament site around setting up a petition in this manner for handover by an MP.
And could the MP visit our local petrol station to see what help can be provided, given how much they lost while the bridge was being painted........
That wouldn't normally fall to the local MP. As the garage is in Shropshire that would fall to Shropshire Council The MP might be able to influence national policy, but I doubt there is anything they can do for an individual business. Shropshire Council can offer rate relief subject to the garage meeting the necessary criteria.
Re the garage.. That's if Shropshire CC take responsibility for that section of the county.. It seems it depends on the way the wind blows whether they do or don't..
In a recent enquiry about the Teme Bridge, they said that it wasn't their responsibility and that WCC were fully liable for it right up until it joins the A456 - technically well over the county boundary.
Has the councillor visited our local petrol station to tell them what help can be provided, given how much they lost while the bridge was being painted?
The Cllrs from Shropshire Council and the Chairman of Burford Parish Council were both at the official opening & Shropshire are paying half the cost of the repairs.
Doesn't answer your question, but Shropshire are definitely involved.
Shropshire's exact wording was:
"The situation at Teme Bridge is that although the Shropshire / Worcestershire boundary crosses the middle of the bridge, Worcestershire County Council (WCC) is the highway authority for the whole of the A4112 road up to its junction with the A456 road, including Teme Bridge."
Fine words from an MP who's government racked up prices with the VAT increase earlier this year, induced panic buying and intends increasing the duty again in August.
Ian said...
' Look at the investment in places like Kidderminster, then consider what has happened in Clifton upon Teme or Martley or Clee Hill or Newnham Bridge.' . . . not quite sure what comparison is being made here. What investment in Kidderminster could, instead, have been made made in Newnham Bridge?
My point was actually "consider" rather than "compare" but a comparison is simple. Millions of pounds are invested in various projects which are generally in existing urban centres (such as Kidderminster) not in rural areas (such as Newnham Bridge). Some of this investment should go in the rural areas.
A simple example of investing in rural areas would be to keep Post Offices open (such as Newnham Bridge, or Stanford Bridge, or Knowbury, or.....)
Another example would be to keep buses running - the subsidy on the 758 was axed, so now there are fewer buses from Tenbury to Worcester.
Rather than invest in the rural economy, current planning policy effectively encourages the closure of rural businesses, as then the site can be converted to housing. Examples include the petrol stations at Great Witley and at Holt.
Those local jobs have gone.
Another example of rural investment would be to provide education to age 18 in schools in smaller towns, such as Tenbury.
We are moving into a two-tier society: rural people (minimal services, higher taxes) and town/city people (huge services, lower taxes).
Newnham Bridge is actually well served by major highways (A456, A443) and could easily support many kinds of major development - perhaps starting with a modest business park of starter units (partly to replace the business space that was lost when the previous business area was converted to housing a few years ago).
I'm not too sure about your economics - and
it is simply untrue to imply that urban areas have been unaffected by cuts in public spending. They have and I see it every day in my professional life (health and social services) where it often affects the most vulnerable disproportionately. Rural areas have always suffered from relative underinvestment. It's called economies of scale. The country simply cannot afford the kind of additional public sector investment you are suggesting. However, I'm sure that you're pleased that the private sector is still willing to invest in the rural economy - an example of this is Tesco in Tenbury.
£1.46.9 p/l diesel, Total Filling station, Awsworth, Nottinghamshire, NG16 earlier today. We passed a few £1.45.9 p/l for diesel's too but only realised when it was too late and we'd past them..
Ian said...
...it is simply untrue to imply that urban areas have been unaffected by cuts in public spending.
I didn't imply this.
Rural areas have always suffered from relative underinvestment.
Precisely my point!
The country simply cannot afford the kind of additional public sector investment you are suggesting.
I haven't asked for additional investment, I've just asked for it to be allocated wisely. For example, the council axed the subsidy on the 758, but they still subsidise buses in urban areas.
I'm sure that you're pleased that the private sector is still willing to invest in the rural economy - an example of this is Tesco in Tenbury.
Tenbury is a town, not a rural area. I meant places such as Clifton upon Teme, Martley, Clee Hill or Newnham Bridge.
Tenbury not a rural area? It may be a 'town' in popular speech but it's rural in reality. Lack of subsidised bus routes affects Tenbury just as much as Newnham Bridge. Your human geography seems as questionable as your economics!
'Another example of rural investment would be to provide education to age 18 in schools in smaller towns, such as Tenbury' . . . have you really thought this through? Can you imagine the cost of providing genuine VI Form choices in places the size of Tenbury? It is simply unsustainble - which is why there isn't any post Year 11 education here. Or do you really want our council tax to go through the roof?
'We are moving into a two-tier society: rural people (minimal services, higher taxes) and town/city people (huge services, lower taxes)' . . . but you can't put a price on some of the benefits of living in a place like Tenbury. The most beautiful and peaceful countryside, low crime rates, friendly folk . . . and a brilliant local blog! What more could you want?
Tenbury isn't merely "a 'town' in popular speech" - its charter was granted over 700 years ago and it is actually the second largest town in the Malvern Hills District.
I didn't made any comment about whether or not Tenbury was affected "just as much as Newnham Bridge" by the changes to the 758, but people who live in Newnham Bridge can't shop (or, in general, work) within walking distance of their home so Newnham Bridge is affected more than Tenbury.
BP Great West Rd, Hammersmith, W6 9TQ
£1.48.9 p/l diesel today (17th Apr).
BP Warwick Services, M40.
Diesel £1.46.9 p/l today (17th Apr).
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