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Stornoway, Lewis
Fuel price concerns 7/10/11
A number of readers gave their views over high fuel prices in light of Scottish Fuels agreeing to discuss the controversy with MP Angus Macneil. Typical comments express puzzlement over the large difference between mainland pump prices and the cost of filling your tank on the islands, particularly when it is the same coastal tanker which delivers fuel to Inverness as the islands.
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Why, when the price of Brent crude oil has dropped from 120 $ to presently just over 100$ per barrel has there not been a significant drop in the price at the pumps. Is the 2p this week a sop to take the heat off Scottish Fuels when they meet the council on Friday. Why do Scottish Fuels supply Uist with road tankers when there is a depot at Loch Carnan, are we paying for this? KM.
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Why is the price of fuel in Lochboisdale more expensive than at (nearby) Daliburgh when it is the same road tanker which deliver s from Lochcarnan to all filling stations on Uist. Fuel is even cheaper on Barra than on South Uist yet it is the same road tanker which drives past Lochboisdale and Daliburgh petrol stations and even has to pay for the ferry across to Barra.
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I would like to ask Sam Chambers the following questions:
1. Why are fuel prices in inland areas, many miles from refineries and depots, much
less than Stornoway, which is less than one mile from port of landing, and the depot?
For example today, the price of fuel in Hawick is 132.9p Unleaded and 136.9p Diesel.
Hawick is 74 miles from the Grangemouth depot and port of landing. Fuel here is 149.9p
Unleaded and 153.9p Diesel.
2. The Hebrides have a population of 27,000 approximately.
If the islands had only 5,000 cars (a gross underestimate) and filled up once a week
with 50 litres (another gross underestimate) then over £2.6 million a year more profit
would be made here compared to mainland prices. The truth is a far higher margin
possibly four or five times more. Who is getting this money and how do you justify
it?
These next two questions are for the MP:
3. Because the population of the islands is limited, there seem to be a presumption
that their rights are also reduced. However on a percentage of population objection,
I would estimate a near 100% protest against the monopoly on supply. Why have our
MP's failed to get a reaction from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission?
4 As fuel
duty and VAT are charged as a percentage of fuel costs, the treasury is taking a
far higher slice from Hebridean residents. Duty and VAT should NEVER exceed the actual
amount taken from mainstream UK garages. We do not have direct access to the UK road
network either and should not be charged full UK road tax. Why are our MPs not taking
this to the European Commission on Human Rights?
John Malone, Breasclete, Isle of Lewis
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Why are the fuel tankers sailing from Immingham, Linconshire, to the islands instead of a Scottish port e.g. Grangemouth. Is there a port on the west side of Britain (maybe Liverpool) which could supply the Western Isles, thus reducing the sailing time and delivery cost.
Why do the tankers sail from Immingham to Shetland then to the Stornoway and Loch Carnan and back to Immingham in one trip. Would it not be cost effective to travel to Stornoway and Loch Carnan in one journey from Immingham or a west coast of Britain port, and Kirkwall and Lerwick in a separate trip.
M MacDonald
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I am just back from the mainland (1st Oct), the fuel price in inverness is 131.9 for unleaded and 136.9 diesel and its the same in Glasgow. But if you go to the Asda in Linwood in Glasgow the price is 131.8 for unleaded and 135.7 for diesel,
Just a thought? What are the government doing about the price of fuel in the Western Isles?
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This is the very first time that I have been motivated to air my views on certain subjects within the Western Isles since I arrived here seven years ago and it is a subject which is disturbing me big time.
We are all aware that the residents of the Western Isles are being taken for granted regarding higher fuel prices for a very long time simply because the majority of the islanders do not know any other way than to take the facts as they are put in front of them and accept them.This is not a slight at the islanders. Quite the opposite. Somewhere, someone is saying “oh well we(fuel suppliers) can get away with charging a premium in the Western Isles.”
I have and still stand by my e-
I ask the question which has been asked on numerous occasions before: who is dictating to me and all the other people of these islands what I pay at the pump for my vehicle fuel and also for my heating fuel?
Again, as I have reiterated and accepted before, the islands would incur extra transport/ delivery costs because of there geographical locations but let us draw the line at the massive difference in fuel prices here compared with other areas in the UK that are as difficult to deliver to as the islands and are much cheaper across the board.
TL
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