Shropshire motorists suffer as petrol prices reach record high
Shropshire motorists will be digging deeper into their pockets from today as petrol prices reach an all-time high.
The average price of a litre of petrol on Wednesday this week was 137.34p, with the AA predicting that the record high of 137.43p, achieved last May, would be passed later today.
Diesel has already passed its all-time high and on Wednesday stood at an average of 144.60p a litre. Two years ago petrol cost "just" 112.74p a litre, with diesel at 113.79p.
Overall, UK drivers are spending £6.81 million extra a day on fuel compared to a year ago, and £24.2 million more a day than they were two years ago.
As prices continue to rise over 200,000 drivers have signed campaign group FairFuelUK’s petition calling for a 5p cut in duty in George Osborne’s Budget.
Jan Stevens who commutes daily from Ludlow to Shrewsbury said:”I increasingly have to think about my journey and how I can save fuel.
“When I drive now, I’m more aware of saving fuel by breaking less harshly, regularly checking tyre pressure and trying to use the gears correctly, something I would not think of before.”
Average cost of fuel in Shropshire
According to fuel comparison site petrolprices.com, Shrewsbury motorists can expect to pay an average of 136.9p per litre of unleaded and 143.7p for Diesel.
The Average price in south Shropshire is around 139.4p for unleaded and 146.4p for a litre of Diesel.
Telford motorists can expect to pay 136.1p for Unleaded and 143.2p for Diesel.
Whilst in north Shropshire, prices per litre for unleaded average at 137.2p and 144.2p for Diesel.
Rural motorists pay more
A survey by the Countryside Alliance has revealed that the price of diesel in rural filling stations was, on average, 4p more than in urban areas. The alliance said cars were becoming an "unaffordable necessity" for many living in rural communities.
Countryside Alliance executive chairman Barney White-Spunner said: "Not only do people living in rural areas have to drive further to go to work, further to access essential services like schools, doctors and the supermarket, but they have to pay a lot more for their diesel to do so.
"The cost of fuel is a major concern for everyone who lives in the countryside, and cars are fast becoming an unaffordable necessity for many rural families. We urge the Chancellor to help the rural economy get back on its feet and to cut fuel duty in his forthcoming Budget."
The alliance survey follows findings earlier this week that UK motorists pay more in fuel tax than any other drivers in Europe. And a report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has said that cutting fuel duty would create thousands of new jobs and could be done at no loss to the Treasury.
