Inexplicable price increase (Colin Hunter)
I note with interest that our esteemed fuel suppliers have, once more, recently increased the price of our diesel and petrol by, at first four, and then another one pence a litre, over and above the already outrageous premium we pay here.
This despite the fact that there have been no such increases on the mainland for some months and crude oil prices appear to be quite stable. Had such an inexplicable price increase been foisted upon our counterparts on the mainland, they would have heard the hue and cry in New Zealand and Japan! There would have been protests and demonstrations at the very least, and possibly blockades of refineries as well.
What happens in Shetland? Nothing it would seem. Is it that we are now so used to being taken to the cleaners by those nice Irish people that we don’t even comment on it any more?
What’s the matter boys? Did the wife’s Christmas present cost more than you thought and you have to make it up somehow, or is it that with the government’s 5p fuel duty derogation looming large (at last) you thought you’d stick it on and just trouser the lot? Nah! That can’t be it, can it?
Colin Hunter
Brecknaheim,
Brae.
Gordon Harmer
Ah Colin this must be what Terry Wogan meant by well trousered sir, they would need to be wearing these modern jeans with massive pockets to trouser all they make off us.
I wonder what our nice MSP is doing about it, after all his bluster before the election I would have thought we would have heard something from him.
Just how much more evidence does he and any other official need to see how we are being ripped off. I don’t hear our SNP representative who got in on a by saying very much either, in fact has she been back here since the election?
Do the fuel suppliers not own Leasks service station, if so maybe its time we all boycotted those particular pumps. We should fuel at pumps where a good service is provided ie East Yell and Brae and any other local service station who try to keep prices down.
Ron Stronach
I dred to think what you are paying in Shetland as the fuel is always more expensive there, but we have had fuel increases too in the Southeast, Diesel in particular has increased from 139.9 prior to Christmas to 141.9 today, and that is at Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
So its not just in Shetland its happening, but like you have suggested, if its Leask’s garage charging the most, dont go, if everybody does likewise they may get the message.
Jim Leask
I refulled in East Yell this weekend and Diesel was 3p per litre cheaper than I had paid in Lerwick 2 days before. I have stopped using Leask filling station since I was informed they are owned by our monopolistic overlords, GB oils.
Since our political representitives seem to be unable to live up to their pre election claims, how’s about the Shetland public vote with their feet (or wheels in this case) and make a stand against GB oils. They will continue to make inflated profits, no matter which shop, garage or filling station we use, but until we see a fairer, more realistic price at the pumps, why not stop lining GB oils pockets further and give Leask’s filling station the cold shoulder.
What alternative options are available to us? Keep on lining the fat cat companies wallet? Save money by minimising the use of our vehicles (as many are having to do anyway) or to take to the Town Hall, Holyrood or Westminster to protest? It surely can’t have come to the time to dust of our placards and blockade Leasks filling station, can it?
Chris Williams
Well said Colin, I have just returned from south after spending xmas & new year with my family in Derbyshire. On my arrival back in Shetland the first thing that came into my mind was who is ripping us off!!! The Fuel station proprietrs or the Supplier, why 20pence per litre extra, yes 20 pence. Is it not time that so called Scottish mp got off his backside and did something about it? Why should he, he’s got his expenses to cover it. Yes Colin you are right some intends pocketing the proposed fuel subsidy that has been negoiated for the people in the outer isles, its either the fuel pump owner or Scottish Fuels.
Another point of interest Domestic fuel oil 28 pence per litre cheaper down south!!!
Allen Fraser
The online petition organised by the national Fair Fuel campaign forced a debate in Westminster that resulted in the 3p January rise in fuel duty by the government being scrapped.
If you’d like to join the national campaign to scrap the proposed 3p rise in August then visit the FairFuel website http://www.fairfueluk.com/index.html
Remember that this 3p rise, which will be a 4p rise in Shetland, is to be introduced by the government of which our MP Alistair Carmichael is a prominent member. He has been he-hawing about his exploits to the EU to get a 5p reduction for Shetland for years but we are still waiting for the implementation of this. In fact his government could have cut the cost of fuel in Shetland at a stroke without going to the EU simply by cutting the VAT rate on fuel for remote areas.