Fuel price concerns aired at OFT meeting

High fuel prices and broadband services were among the main points of discussion at a public meeting in Lerwick organised by the Office of Fair Trading last night.

Around 20 people turned up for the meeting in the Islesburgh Community Centre to put forward their views on the prices charged for goods and services in the isles.

The OFT’s representative for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Kyla Brand, said people were not only concerned about high fuel prices but were also puzzled as to what made them so high in the first place.

“On that front we were able to show people we have been looking at the price differential between different parts of Scotland and analysing the make-up of the margins.”

Her comment comes ahead of a visit to Shetland on Monday by the head of GB Oils, Sam Chambers, who will face questions over the high prices that are charged at the pumps, although there is also concern about the price of fuel used to heat homes and other properties.

Other points raised surrounded the question of broadband speeds, and whether customers in the isles were getting the standard of service they were paying for. There was also demand for greater transparency in supermarket prices.

The OFT is also hoping more people will come forward with information about their own experiences on high prices. The body can be contacted by email on remotecommunities@oft.gsi.gov.uk.