Fairer fuel prices (Ian Perry)

We all love having a good moan about the high price of living in Shetland.

Over many years I have read coverage in The Shetland Times and had countless discussions with folk about the pump prices for petrol and diesel. It is a topic of conversation almost as popular in the isles as the weather.

I recall the Office of Fair Trading being involved, our MSPs and MP all looking for openness and fairness on pump prices with denials of any wrong-doing from the fuel wholesalers. A well known campaigner when running Tagon Stores did a lot to highlight the problem.

I also recall the disappointment of many when the government fuel discount subsidy still left a yawning gap between prices in Shetland and those on the mainland.

So when I set off on a journey south last week I followed the usual pattern and left Shetland with as little fuel in my tank as possible.

However, I was surprised to see that mainland prices were identical. Not just in Aberdeen but also right down the road and into Englandshire.

Our politicians get a lot of flack and criticism, sometimes rightly so. But I would say this is an example of them successfully working for us and achieving a fair outcome for people in Shetland.

I can only hope that the current campaign “Loganair, Play Fair”, has such an outcome just as successful.

Ian Perry
Moul View,
Eswick,
South Nesting.

COMMENTS(2)

Add Your Comment
  • Alvin Leong

    • July 19th, 2015 18:19

    I had compared motorway services prices and also the first Shell out of Aberdeen and the prices are very similar to Shetland. Go off the standard route a little bit and the prices are about 9p cheaper. To figure.

    REPLY
  • Grenville Collins

    • July 20th, 2015 12:46

    It is not only Shetland that is subject to the vagaries of the petrol companies. Some fifteen or twenty years ago whilst holidaying in Scotland I noticed that there was a 25p per litre discrepancy between the cost of petrol on the Isle of Arran and those of Fort William.
    Surely it is this type of situation that the Scottish Government needs to keep an eye on and step in where necessary.

    REPLY

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