Haulier backing fight to scrap rise in fuel duty
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A haulage firm boss is appealing to motorists to sign a
petition to get a better deal on fuel pump prices.
Mike Presneill, who is the managing director of Sheerness firm
Presneill Tipper Contractors, is backing the FairFuelUK
campaign.
It is calling on the government to scrap the 4p fuel duty
increases scheduled for January and August next year and create a
price stabilisation method that smooths out fluctuations in the
pump price.
Campaigners also want pressure put on big oil companies to pass
on cheaper oil to motorists and set up a commission to look at
market competitiveness and new ways of cutting fuel taxes long
term.
The group needs 100,000 signatures on the government’s
epetitions site for the issue to be eligible for debate in the
House of Commons.
Since going live eight weeks ago, more than 89,700 people have
signed it.
The 64-year-old, who has 16 vehicles in his fleet, said: “We
need to get the government to address the issue of fuel prices and
fuel duty because we have the highest fuel costs in the world.
“It’s having a crippling effect on the industry and a crippling
effect on everyday motorists. At the moment a litre of fuel costs
about 1.37p so to fill up one of my trucks costs over £450 a
day.
“There are businesses going to the wall every week – it’s a real
bad time in the industry.
“If we benefit from getting the prices down, then so will the
public.”
The campaign is supported by the RAC, Freight Transport
Association and Road Haulage Association and is now working in
partnership with the House of Commons all-party working group led
by MP Robert Halfon.
TV presenter and motoring expert Quentin Willson is the lead
spokesman for the group.
Campaign founder Peter Carroll said: “The petition is for
everyone to sign, van drivers, lorry drivers, taxi drivers.
“We have to have this debate because at the moment the
politicians aren’t talking about fuel and it’s filling the petrol
tank that’s really hurting people.”
- To sign the petition click here
- For more information on FairFuelUk visit its
website
Friday, September 23 2011
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