Fair Fuel Petition reaches 15,000 signature mark in days

The Fair Fuel UK Campaign -  www.fairfueluk.com  - which is being backed by the Freight Transport Association, the Road Haulage Association and uShip, has gathered over 15,000** on-line signatures  (in a matter of days) :in support of the government abandoning the fuel duty increase planned on 1st April. Peter Carroll is coordinating the Campaign and says: "It is not just motorists that are being hit in the pocket, the cost to business of above inflation prices is disastrous. This extra pressure will result in job losses and even business insolvencies. We are asking all road users to back the Fair Fuel UK Campaign and make their voices heard. Please sign the petition at www.fairfueluk.com. "

 

The Fair Fuel UK Campaign is getting many emails and letters from businesses and the public as to how the Fuel prices are impacting on their lives. Here are just 7 of the hundreds of experiences we have received.

 

4 from the public

•  “I live in a semi rural area; the nearest shop is 5 miles away.  I have to have a car just to survive; I can't afford petrol at £1.26 per litre.  I am particularly annoyed that when the VAT was returned to 17.5% from 15% that the fuel duty increase to compensate for the drop in VAT was not cancelled.  The price of fuel must be reduced significantly and quickly.”
• “I live in Nottingham (a mature student at University) and my husband runs our small business in Hampshire, this increase has had a double impact on our lives, my husband can no longer afford the fuel to come and see me every weekend, and as his is a small transport business the fuel increase is eating into his already small profits making it even harder to see me and pay the bills”
• "I am a care worker and need my car to get around calls i am now having to cut the calls I do and choose call not by need but by distance I do get a tax rebate for travelling but it is the same now as it was when fuel was much cheaper am having to rethink if it is going to be worth it to work"
• "Being a disabled pensioner and living in a remote rural area of Powys,Mid Wales,I rely totally on my car to shop for groceries,travel to doctors or attend at any hospital appointments,social visits to family and friends are  no longer possible as petrol in this area is  1.30 a litre and being on a low pension I can no longer afford to buy it. I find that I`m now forced to stay at home more than in the past and this is having a definite effect on my health as I can`t walk without the aid of crutches and the area I live in is unsuitable for walking,so I would plead with the present Government to help in this dire situation before the country comes to a standstill and every haulage company goes into liquidation because of the fuel prices,already this is happening in my area."

3 from businesses

• " Yes the increase of fuel prices has affected the business as we have to review and put up our prices to cover the fuel increase and it is getting too much out of hand we can not cope any longer and our local business may be closing its doors this year if we cant get the fuel prices to come down??"
• “I run a petrol forecourt in Northern Ireland and this fuel increase has hit our business hard about 40% down as people in Northern Ireland are going to the Rep Of Ireland to buy fuel at 15-20ppl less. At the minute we make 1.9ppl.”
•  "I am a sole trader operating vending machines. I barely make a living at the moment and need to grow my business in order for me to maintain a sustainable living in the future. Fuel costs are a big part of my outgoings each month. Raising them in this current manner is hurting my chances of improving my business and contributing to society. If my business fails, I will be forced to claim benefit, which would be terrible for me to bear

**(number does not include  1000 petition forms downloaded for those wishing to collect hard copy signatures in their communities and workplaces. e.g. One of these downloaders has already collected a further 2000 signatures in 24 hours)