Fuel hike madness

Rural watchdog body, the CLA, says that the hike in fuel duty is madness.

Tim Barnes-Clay, the rural watchdog’s motoring correspondent, said: "Remoteness, dispersed communities and lack of practical alternatives all mean that rural people are more dependent on their vehicles. It can therefore be argued that this taxation bites them deeper.

"To begin with, fuel is often more expensive, and people and goods have to travel greater distances. Businesses, including farms, are dependent on road transport bringing materials in and finished products out. Lack of affordable housing in the communities where they work means longer commutes. Children sometimes need lifts to get as far as the school bus and when local shops, and post offices close, their customers are forced to travel.

"Often, vehicle users are hit with a double whammy. If, like farmers and other essential rural workers, they need larger vehicles to do their jobs safely and effectively, they pay higher vehicle tax.

Mr Barnes-Clay, who has a monthly motoring column in the national magazine ’Land and Business’ added: "We have few alternatives to our own vehicles. Bus services can be infrequent or non-existent. And even if we’re not moving people or goods, it’s not as if we can all conduct our business or do our shopping via the internet, as we have too many areas where we have ineffective broadband access.

"If fuel gets to £1.10 a litre, that is over £5 per gallon and, with more rises in the pipeline, that significant price point will soon be broken. While we are so dependent on this mode of transport, let’s ensure some degree of proportionality so that rural enterprise isn’t stifled," he said.