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Moto Washington Services defends £2 per litre fuel costs on A1(M) | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Motorists stopping at the BP garage at Washington services on the A1(M) can expect to pay more than £2 a litre for fuel | Motorists stopping at the BP garage at Washington services on the A1(M) can expect to pay more than £2 a litre for fuel |
Fuel prices have topped £2 a litre at a service station on the A1(M). | Fuel prices have topped £2 a litre at a service station on the A1(M). |
The BP garage at Moto Washington Services, in Birtley, Gateshead, was charging drivers 202.9p per litre for petrol and 204.9p per litre for diesel. | The BP garage at Moto Washington Services, in Birtley, Gateshead, was charging drivers 202.9p per litre for petrol and 204.9p per litre for diesel. |
Although the site is BP branded, the pump prices are set by the service station operator Moto Hospitality. | Although the site is BP branded, the pump prices are set by the service station operator Moto Hospitality. |
A spokesperson for Moto Hospitality said the price included "several elements" including oil price and tax. | A spokesperson for Moto Hospitality said the price included "several elements" including oil price and tax. |
"We recognise fuel prices are higher than customers would like," the spokesperson added. | "We recognise fuel prices are higher than customers would like," the spokesperson added. |
They said wholesale oil prices had gone up by about 6% in the past week, and the company had held off passing the rise on to customers in recent days "in the hope that prices would dip". | They said wholesale oil prices had gone up by about 6% in the past week, and the company had held off passing the rise on to customers in recent days "in the hope that prices would dip". |
"However, no such price drop has occurred, and we have now had to start reflecting some, but not all of the increased wholesale costs in our forecourt prices," they said. | "However, no such price drop has occurred, and we have now had to start reflecting some, but not all of the increased wholesale costs in our forecourt prices," they said. |
'Desperately worrying' | 'Desperately worrying' |
Paul Robinson, a Newcastle-based taxi driver, said fuel prices were "astronomical" at the moment and it was having a "massive effect" on his business. | Paul Robinson, a Newcastle-based taxi driver, said fuel prices were "astronomical" at the moment and it was having a "massive effect" on his business. |
"We're paying too much, prices are going up on a daily basis, it might be 4p rise one day then a 6p increase the next," he said. | "We're paying too much, prices are going up on a daily basis, it might be 4p rise one day then a 6p increase the next," he said. |
"Our meters used to start at £2.40 now it's £4.00 - and I'm scared that's going to put people off using a taxi." | "Our meters used to start at £2.40 now it's £4.00 - and I'm scared that's going to put people off using a taxi." |
Charlie Adams, from JR Adams Haulage which operates 50 vehicles from its depots in Gateshead and Newcastle, described the fuel hikes as "desperately worrying". | Charlie Adams, from JR Adams Haulage which operates 50 vehicles from its depots in Gateshead and Newcastle, described the fuel hikes as "desperately worrying". |
Mr Adams - the fourth generation of his family in the haulage industry - said: "We've never had this situation before. | Mr Adams - the fourth generation of his family in the haulage industry - said: "We've never had this situation before. |
"We're buying in diesel at up to £1.54 a litre and using about 30,000 litres a week and unless we top this up we'll soon be running at a loss and it's showing no signs of slowing down. | "We're buying in diesel at up to £1.54 a litre and using about 30,000 litres a week and unless we top this up we'll soon be running at a loss and it's showing no signs of slowing down. |
"I honestly don't know what can be done about it, without passing it on to the customers, who are of course worried about rising costs for everything else themselves." | "I honestly don't know what can be done about it, without passing it on to the customers, who are of course worried about rising costs for everything else themselves." |
Reacting to the increasing prices at Moto Washington, Phil, a BBC Radio Newcastle listener, said: "I have no idea where they dream it up from, it's gone up from £1.99 per litre after staying at that price for about three weeks. | Reacting to the increasing prices at Moto Washington, Phil, a BBC Radio Newcastle listener, said: "I have no idea where they dream it up from, it's gone up from £1.99 per litre after staying at that price for about three weeks. |
"Unfortunately the North East seems to be the dearest as far as I know." | "Unfortunately the North East seems to be the dearest as far as I know." |
Fellow driver Steven branded the charges "absolutely disgraceful". | Fellow driver Steven branded the charges "absolutely disgraceful". |
So fuel prices have gone up yet again. 5p since Friday. Most expensive I've seen and it doesn't come as a surprise if you pass it everyday is BP garage at Washington Services. Petrol £2.02. Diesel £2.04. Absolutely disgraceful charging that. | So fuel prices have gone up yet again. 5p since Friday. Most expensive I've seen and it doesn't come as a surprise if you pass it everyday is BP garage at Washington Services. Petrol £2.02. Diesel £2.04. Absolutely disgraceful charging that. |
It comes amid news the average cost of filling a typical family car with petrol could exceed £100 for the first time. | It comes amid news the average cost of filling a typical family car with petrol could exceed £100 for the first time. |
Data firm Experian Catalist said a litre of petrol cost an average of 180.7p on Tuesday, an increase of 2.2p compared to the previous day. | Data firm Experian Catalist said a litre of petrol cost an average of 180.7p on Tuesday, an increase of 2.2p compared to the previous day. |
Government figures showed the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts on Monday was a record 175.6p, up 6.6p from 169.0p seven days earlier. | Government figures showed the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts on Monday was a record 175.6p, up 6.6p from 169.0p seven days earlier. |
Average diesel prices increased by 3.7p per litre over the same period, reaching 185.3p. | Average diesel prices increased by 3.7p per litre over the same period, reaching 185.3p. |
The RAC says motorists are being warned average fuel prices will hit £2 per litre this summer | The RAC says motorists are being warned average fuel prices will hit £2 per litre this summer |
That was the largest weekly increase for both fuels since March. | That was the largest weekly increase for both fuels since March. |
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: "With analysts predicting that oil will average 135 US dollars a barrel for the rest of this year, drivers need to brace themselves for average fuel prices rocketing to £2 a litre, which would mean a fill-up would rise to an unbelievable £110. | RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said: "With analysts predicting that oil will average 135 US dollars a barrel for the rest of this year, drivers need to brace themselves for average fuel prices rocketing to £2 a litre, which would mean a fill-up would rise to an unbelievable £110. |
"The wholesale price of diesel is fast approaching 160p a litre which, when you add 7p retailer margin and 20% VAT, would take the pump price over the £2 mark. | "The wholesale price of diesel is fast approaching 160p a litre which, when you add 7p retailer margin and 20% VAT, would take the pump price over the £2 mark. |
"We strongly urge the government to take drastic action to help soften the impact for drivers from these never-before-seen pump prices." | "We strongly urge the government to take drastic action to help soften the impact for drivers from these never-before-seen pump prices." |
The Treasury cut fuel duty by 5p per litre in March. | The Treasury cut fuel duty by 5p per litre in March. |
Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC North East & Cumbria on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. |
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