Join our campaign to drive down petrol costs in Bedfordshire

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Published on 12/01/2012 16:37

TODAY your Times & Citizen launches a campaign for Bedford motorists to start paying a fair price at the petrol pumps.

We are calling on YOU to help us pressure fuel companies into charging Bedford drivers the same for petrol as they do for motorists in other neighbouring areas.

We want your support in writing to petrol firms, and we want you to help keep other T&C readers informed about where the best petrol prices in our area are.

According to national figures, drivers who stock up in town pay on average £40 more per year for their fuel than those in Luton, and £31 more than the national average.

Just this week, the cheapest unleaded fuel in Bedford was 134.9 pence a litre - more expensive than 15 different petrol stations in nearby Milton Keynes.

One independent petrol station operator, who asked not to be named, admitted that garages do price-match.

He said: “They try to stick with the local competition and match their prices as much as possible.

“At the moment most supermarkets nationally are selling fuel for 3p per litre below what they buy it for wholesale, and use it as a loss-leader to get people into the shop.

“That makes it very difficult for independents to compete, because if they did they would go out of business within weeks.

“The key is competition. If you have no competition in an area then there is nothing to push prices down, even though they might be cheaper in another town that’s quite nearby.”

According to the Whatgas.com website, on Tuesday this week petrol stations in Bedford had unleaded prices ranging from 134.9 pence per litre at six filling stations, to 138.9 pence per litre for unleaded petrol at Gulf in Clapham Road.

Milton Keynes had five petrol stations selling unleaded for 129.9 pence per litre, and seven with prices of 130.9 pence per litre.

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Join our campaign to drive down petrol costs in Bedfordshire

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