'Lib Dems are calling for Fuel Duty Relief for Medway's rural areas'

*pic by Alan Wells

The UK operates a Fuel Duty Relief scheme designed to cut petrol costs in rural areas where public transport is less reliable and car dependency is higher. This was introduced by the Liberal Democrats in Government between 2010-2015. Currently only the very remotest areas of Britain benefit from fuel duty relief - such as Orkney & Shetland, the Hebrides and the Isles of Scilly - and the current saving is just 5p per litre.

The Liberal Democrats have called for Fuel Duty Relief to be extended to cover most rural areas in Britain - where residents are disproportionally affected by fuel price increases - and for the relief rate to be doubled to 10p per litre. Research by the Countryside Alliance has found that rural households spend an average of £2440 a year on filling up their car, £800 more than households in urban areas.

Alan Wells, Medway Liberal Democrats candidate for Strood Rural said, "Medway Liberal Democrats believes that more should be done to support residents in our rural areas with rising fuel prices. Given the current crisis, the Government should operate a Fuel Duty Relief scheme for rural areas, such as the Hoo Peninsula.

Local Liberal Democrats recognise that, because of it's rural nature, residents in Medway have been disproportionately affected by the steep rise in fuel prices over the past year. Car journeys in our towns rural areas are in general longer, and public transport services less frequent, than urban areas.

Rural communities like ours are struggling with rising fuel costs, but the Government is failing to help. That's why - calling for a fuel duty cut in rural areas to offer help would benefit residents."

The Early Day Motion (EDM) tabled by Richard Foord MP (Lib Dem, Tiverton & Honiton) calling for Fuel Duty Relief to be extended to cover most rural areas in Britain, and for the relief rate to be doubled from 5p to 10p per litre. Coupled with a 2.5% cut in VAT, also called for by the Liberal Democrats, would save the average driver in Medway £7.60 each time their fill up their car (and over £200 over the next year).

We are urging Medway Council to instruct the Chief Executive to write to Chancellor of the Exchequer Nadhim Zawali MP to express our support of the Lib Dem proposal to extend fuel duty relief to more rural areas, including Medway, and for the relief rate to be doubled to 10p.

ENDS