Mayor Dave Hodgson- Unfair Fuel Prices Need to Stop!

Mayor Dave Hodgson is calling on all Councillors in the Borough to back him in asking the Chief Executive of Bedford Borough Council to write to fuel retailers and suppliers in Bedford to ask them to reduce the price of their fuel for residents in Bedford Borough.

Mayor Hodgson said, "Fuel prices change all the time but despite going up and down I want to know why Bedford Borough residents always have the highest prices locally. At its worst there have been days when the lowest price in Bedford is higher than the highest price in a nearby town. This is wrong and must be addressed by fuel retailers and suppliers."

The problem of the fuel price discrepancy was highlighted by the Times and Citizen Newspaper. Mayor Dave Hodgson has now put a motion forward to Full Council. If supported by the Borough Councillors it will mean the Council will write to all petrol retailers and suppliers asking them why the fuel in Bedford is higher than elsewhere and asking them to reduce their prices to a comparable level. This could save Bedford Borough residents as much as 6p per litre and would result in a saving of up to £93.60 per year if someone uses 30 litres of fuel per week.

Notes:

The wording of the motion is as follows-

TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING NOTICE OF MOTION SUBMITTED BY THE MAYOR:

This Council notes with concern the higher price of petrol and diesel charged by fuel retailers in Bedford Borough in comparison with those in nearby towns. Council recognises that fuel costs can make up a significant proportion of household budgets, and believes that it is unacceptable that drivers who use local petrol stations are forced to pay higher prices than in neighbouring towns in the area. Council further notes that drivers in Bedford Borough purchasing 30 litres per week of the cheapest unleaded petrol available locally (Source: petrol.com, 19/1/12) are forced to spend £62 more on fuel per year than their counterparts in Luton, £78 more than Milton Keynes, £47 more than in St Neots and nearly £50 more than the national average figure.

This Council believes there is no justification for forcing Bedford Borough residents to face higher costs for getting to work and other day-to-day use of their cars.

This Council therefore resolves:

• To ask the Council's Chief Executive to write to all fuel retailers in Bedford Borough requesting an explanation as to why Bedford Borough residents are paying more for their fuel,

• That the letter demands Bedford Borough residents no longer be penalised and that action is taken immediately to bring fuel prices down to a level comparable to those charged in neighbouring towns,
• That a letter also be sent to the Chief Executives of major fuel retailers with multiple outlets in the Borough in order to seek an explanation and their support in bringing prices to a level comparable to nearby towns.