'We must keep going' says charity hit by fuel prices

'We must keep going' says charity hit by fuel prices

Alex Wood (R) says Yeovil Freewheelers are having to fundraise more to keep going

Businesses and charities are being affected by soaring fuel prices driven by the Iran war.

Last week, diesel hit a record high and is now around £2 a litre after climbing more than 40% since the end of February, while petrol has risen by nearly 34% over the same period.

BBC analysis has pinpointed the priciest fuel stations across the West, with prices differing between more urban and rural areas.

Alex Wood, from the charity Freewheelers, which delivers medical supplies, said it has had to use reserves to stay afloat. Somerset-based Berry's Coaches has urged the government to freeze fuel duty next year after its fuel bills rose by half since the Middle East conflict started.

Petrol prices have gone up by 8% to 174.8p per litre in the last month, while diesel has increased by 9% to 200.1p per litre.

But over the seven months since the US-Israel conflict with Iran began, the rise is even greater - almost 34% for petrol and more than 40% for diesel.

In cash terms, that means an extra 42.5p per litre for petrol and 59p per litre for diesel.

There is also variation between different stations in the West - sometimes as much as 11p per litre for petrol - even after excluding motorway service stations, which usually charge more.

Alex Wood of the Yeovil branch of Freewheelers, which transports blood samples and other medical supplies by motorbike, said the effect has been "huge".

"This year since January, it's gone up 20% so it's quite a big increase across our operational costs. It's so unpredictable too."

Both petrol and diesel prices have risen by a third or more in just the last seven months

The charity is now drawing on its reserves to stay afloat.

"We're having to do a lot more fundraising so that we can keep operating," Wood said.

"We just have to keep going as best we can, we have to keep plodding on."

A taxi firm in Stroud, Gloucestershire, previously told the BBC the situation was a "complete nightmare" because it faced "continual pressure to lowball" its prices in order to survive.

James Berry said the government needs to step in to ease the burden

Berry's Coaches, which operates five services from the South West to London every day, said its costs have increased by £750,000 this year because of rising fuel prices.

Berry said it has had "a big impact", but he was confident the company could "weather the storm" as it had done before in its 100-year history.

"We've absorbed a lot of that cost ourselves but unfortunately we've had to apply fuel surcharges across a number of our services - a £2 surcharge on each leg of the journey to London," he said.

"The government have delayed the rise in fuel duty but relatively that's quite a small impact - it will go up by 5p at some point by 2027.

"Really what we would like to see if further fuel duty cuts. That would be a huge benefit from the industry."

Chancellor John Healey said he was "very conscious" of people being hit by spiralling fuel prices caused by international factors.

He said he was "glad" to have frozen fuel duty until the end of the year and introduced 'fuel finder' apps to help people locate the cheapest petrol stations.

"I'm very aware as I prepare the budget - I'll deliver it a month today - that this needs to be a breathing space budget, recognising the cost of living and the cost of business pressures," he said at the Labour Party Conference.

Even after excluding petrol stations at motorway services or right beside motorway junctions, which are often far more expensive than average, prices still vary from place to place.

Some towns such as Clevedon, Portishead and Weston-super-Mare are consistently pricier than other towns and cities in the region.

Inside Bristol

176.9p – EG, Gloucester Road and Texaco, High Street, Shirehampton

175.9p – BP, Falcondale Road, Henbury, Esso, Henleaze, Esso, Gloucester Road, Esso, Hartcliffe Way, Esso, York Road, Bedminster and Sainsbury's, St Philips Causeway

Near Bristol

180.0p – Markham Filling Station, Easton-in-Gordano

179.9p – BP, Tickenham Road, Clevedon, and Pace, Lodgway Garage, Pill and Shell, Harbour Road, Portishead

Somerset

186.9p – Stanmoor Garage, Burrowsbridge, Bridgwater and Phillips Tyres, Castle Carey

181.9p – Shell, Horton Cross, Ilminster and Shell, Bournville Service Station, Weston-super-Mare

179.9p – Misterton Garage Ltd, Crewkerne, Bridgwater Self Serve, Bristol Road, Bridgwater, J Plimley & Son, Brean and BP, Trowbridge Road, Bath

Gloucestershire

179.9p – EG, High Street, Cinderford; Motorhouse, Mushet Industrial Park, Coleford; and Gulf, Parkway Garage, Ledbury

178.8p – Gulf, Steam Mills Road, Cinderford; Essar, Brierley, Drybrook; BP, Main Road, Lydney; Valero, High Field Road, Lydney; Gulf, Mitcheldean; and Texaco, the Homend, Ledbury

Wiltshire

185.9p – Esso, A303, Warminster

179.9p – BP, A303 Westbound, Weyhill and Shell, Shaw Road, Swindon

178.8p – BP - Malmesbury Road, Chippenham

Inside Bristol

202.9p – BP, St Andrews Road, Avonmouth; Texaco, High Street, Shirehampton; Esso, 410-422 Gloucester Road

Near Bristol

203.9p – Esso, Westerleigh Road, Yate; Esso, Old Church Road, Clevedon; BP, Tickenham Road, Clevedon; ASDA, Bath Road, Marksbury; BP, London Road, Wick

Somerset

208.9p – Shell, Bournville Service Station, Weston-super-Mare

205.9p – Central Convenience, Minehead; and Bason Bridge Garage, Highbridge

205.0p – Keenthorne Garage, Nether Stowey, Bridgwater

Gloucestershire

203.9p – BP, A417 Gloucester Road, Circencester; Texaco, A435 Roundabout, Teddington

202.9p – Esso, London Road, Fairford; Motorhouse Service Station, Coleford

202.7p – Gulf, New Road, Mitcheldean

Wiltshire

230.0p – Kinch Fuel Oils Ltd, Malmesbury

208.0p – F G Bond & Sons, Marshfield, Chippenham

207.9p – Shell, Shrivenham Road, Swindon; Shell, Rodbourne Road, Swindon; BP, Warminster Service Area, Warminster