More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
The Island’s MP has assured motorists he is doing everything he can to put pressure on the government to introduce a fuel duty stabiliser.
As prices at the pump continue to rocket, Gordon Henderson has said he has signed the two Early Day Motions which have been tabled and has passed on his constituents’ concerns to Prime Minister David Cameron.
The motions are calling for the stabiliser, which would see fuel duty fall when oil prices rise and go back up when the price goes down.
It is hoped a stabiliser can be introduced before another planned fuel duty rise comes in April.
Mr Henderson said he has also written to Chancellor George Osborne and is supporting the fair fuel campaign, which Mike Presneill, managing director of Sheerness firm Presneill Tipper Contractors, is involved with.
Mr Presneill has reiterated his appeal for motorists to sign an online petition calling for the government to take action.
Mr Henderson said: “I know the Prime Minister is actively looking at ways in which help can be given to motorists.
“The government has no control over prices but can influence the amount of excise duty it puts on fuel. It’s having a huge impact – there’s a knock-on effect across the spectrum.
“Businesses which have to pay more have to put their prices up which adds to inflation and we have already reached a stage where people are changing their lifestyles.
“It’s affecting everybody and we have to be conscious of that.
“It’s a very difficult balancing act and their priority has to be to bring down the budget deficit.
“We are all feeling the pain financially.”
Mr Presneill, 64, said how he had seen people filling their cars up £10 a time and when it costs almost £5.82 a gallon, that doesn’t get them far.
He said: “There people are going to suffer – we are all going to suffer badly.
“At £80 to fill up an average 60- litre tank – it’s going to cause the general public severe hardship.
“I heard on the radio it looks like we are heading for a double- dip recession unless they take action quickly.
“The reality is we are going to see a lot more companies go to the wall unless their clients can afford to pay their duty increases.”
He said people are working from home more using the available technology, or abandoning their cars and walking or taking public transport.
While walking is good for exercise, he says more people using public transport will bring the cost down.
Kent County Council says motorists could save up to £800 a year by car sharing.
They run a scheme called Kentjourneyshare, of which there are 67 members of on the Island. There are 3,635 scheme members in total.
It’s not just businesses and everyday motorists that the fuel increases are affecting.
It is also making life hard for charities, such as Sheppey Wheels, which offers transport to local community groups.
The charity was set up in October 2006 as part of Sheppey Matters and after an initial grant to purchase two mini-buses, they now rely on donations.
Assistant manager Amanda Duddle said: “It’s almost going to force us to put our prices up.
“We are working on a strategy to not let that happen but if it carries on going the way it is we are going to have to.
“The groups do pay to use the bus but we keep it as low as we can because they don’t have much money.
“We don’t get our diesel at a cheap rate and they are talking about it going up to £1.50 a litre and before long it will be very difficult.”
