FUEL PRICE HIKE IN RURAL AREAS UNACCEPTABLE

Alison McInnes <info@alisonmcinnes.co.uk>

FUEL PRICE HIKE IN RURAL AREAS UNACCEPTABLE - MCINNES

August 11, 2010 12:00 AM

Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson and MSP for the North East Alison McInnes MSP has expressed concern over the vast differences in petrol prices in the North East of Scotland compared to central belt locations like Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth.

In Macduff, Braemar, Huntly, Banff and Turriff, the average cost for a litre of petrol is 119.9 pence but in Edinburgh and Glasgow prices average out at around 114.9pence per litre with Perth prices averaging out at 113.9 pence a litre.

Commenting on these differences in the prices of fuel, Mrs McInnes said:

"The increasing cost of fuel continues to have a negative effect on many people in the North East.

"People in remote or rural areas depend much more on a car where public transport options are limited and travel by private car is a necessity not a luxury.

"Journeys that people in other parts of Scotland take for granted like the daily commute can cost much more because of the increase in the cost of fuel.

"Scottish Liberal Democrats are pleased that the Treasury has committed to piloting lower rates of fuel duty in remote rural and island areas but they must press ahead with this pilot urgently.

"Labour wasted 13 years doing nothing about the hike in the cost of fuel for consumers in remote or rural areas. We need to see action now to ensure that hardworking people in the North East are not penalised."