Battle to tackle rural fuel costs (From Gazette & Herald)

Battle to tackle rural fuel costs

2:04pm Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News

 A 1p a litre rise in fuel prices is costing the police in Ryedale and North Yorkshire an extra £14,280 a year based on current mileage – just when they are having to cut costs because of the Government squeeze on public spending.

Businesses involved in deliveries in Ryedale are also facing mounting costs which can be traced back to escalating fuel rises.

Now, Anne McIntosh MP for Thirsk , Malton and Filey , is stepping up her campaign in a bid to persuade Chancellor George Osborne to provide some form of fuel relief for rural areas such as Ryedale.

This week she spoke of her “very real concern” over the current fuel price increases and their effect on services.

Miss McIntosh said: “This information highlights the pressure that the public services are under with increased fuel costs. The same standard of service is expected from the emergency services. This is putting very real pressure on delivering public services in rural areas.

“I am carrying out a sustained campaign against high fuel costs and in favour of a remote rural fuel duty rebate to get the best possible deal for those living in the constituency.”

Earlier this year she wrote to Mr Osborne asking him to extend the special 5p a litre fuel relief being piloted in remote northern areas of Scotland and the Scilly Isles.