Cheaper fuel for remote regions

Tax rebates, that mean cheaper fuel at garages in some of the most remote areas of the UK from Sunday (31 May), will make a real difference to people who live and work in those areas, says the Countryside Alliance.

The project, which will apply to garages in 17 postcodes across the Scottish Highlands and Argyll and Bute, and in Cumbria, Northumberland, North Yorkshire and Devon, will allow those petrol stations to claim back 5p per litre in fuel duty, allowing them to drop the price of their fuel.

Countryside Alliance head of policy, Sarah Lee, said: "Having a car is a necessity not a luxury for country dwellers and they drive around 45% more miles each year than the average1. But, as there are fewer petrol stations and less competition in rural areas, they can pay as much as 10p more a litre for their fuel.

"We are delighted that people living in these 17 areas will see a drop in their fuel costs and welcome this attempt by the Government to make rural living more affordable.

"However we would like to see more areas included in the project. The scheme is set up in such a way that no areas in Wales qualified for the rebate and 31 further rural areas, which were considered by the Government, did not meet its criteria."