Seeking a United Front Against Petrol and Diesel Price Unfairness in Bedford Borough

At tomorrow night's meeting of the Full Council, I will be proposing a motion which seeks a united front across the Council in the fight for fairer petrol and diesel prices for Bedford Borough. The intention of the motion is to bring further exposure to the unnacceptable situation we have whereby local residents in and around Bedford are forced to pay typically around 5 pence a litre more for petrol, and around 4 pence more for diesel, than drivers in nearby towns. I hope that all-party support for a motion highlighting this indefensible situation will put further pressure on fuel retailers to address the shocking disparity in prices between Bedford and neighbouring towns.

Fuel bills make up a large part of many people's weekly household budgets, and as I've said, and it is intolerable that local residents here are forced to pay more to simply get to work and getting around. While there will always be differences in prices, the stark contrast between the high prices here and those charged elsewhere really is glaring. This situation has been highlighted in a campaign by the Times and Citizen newspaper, and hopefully overwhelming Council support for immediate action will help bring pressure to bear on the fuel retailers.

The wording of the motion which will be debated at tomorrow night's meeting is as follows:

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.