Drivers in West Cumbria are paying up to £10 more for a tank of fuel depending on where they fill up, according to new analysis published by a county MP.
A review of petrol stations in West Cumbria by Josh MacAlister, who represents Whitehaven & Workington, found petrol prices ranging from around 136p per litre to 152p, while diesel prices ranged from 148p to 167p per litre.
That represents a 16p difference per litre for petrol and 19p per litre for diesel within just a few miles.
Prices in West Cumbria are already higher than the UK average for petrol and diesel.
Mr MacAlister said: “The findings come at a time when motorists are already facing the prospect of rising fuel costs globally.
“Oil markets have been reacting to continued instability and conflict in the Middle East, pushing international energy prices higher and increasing pressure on household budgets.
“In rural areas like West Cumbria, where many people rely on their cars to travel to work, attend hospital appointments and access essential services, rising fuel costs can have a particularly significant impact.”
MacAlister has written to petrol station operators across the region asking them to explain their pricing and review any significant differences.
He is also submitting a detailed evidence dossier to the Competition and Markets Authority asking it to examine whether competition in rural fuel markets is working properly. This follows the Government’s request for the CMA to consider investigating petrol retailers over potential profiteering.
Mr MacAlister added: “Many people in West Cumbria depend on their cars for everyday life. Whether it’s getting to work, taking children to school or attending hospital appointments, driving is not a luxury here – it’s a necessity.
“That’s why it is so concerning to see such large differences in petrol prices between stations only a few miles apart, with prices in West Cumbria already higher than the UK average.
“At a time when global tensions are already pushing oil prices higher, local motorists are understandably worried about the impact on their household finances.
“I am calling on petrol retailers across West Cumbria to look carefully at their prices and make sure drivers here are being treated fairly.
“I will also be submitting the evidence I have gathered to the Competition and Markets Authority so it can consider whether competition in rural fuel markets like ours is working as it should.”
The evidence dossier highlights significant price differences between forecourts within a short distance of each other and compares local prices with national averages.
