Drivers all over Britain have been complaining about the price of fuel for months but Scillonians are feeling the tugging of the purse strings a little harder.
Islanders have seen prices of unleaded fuel go up to ?1.12 a litre. That is one of the highest prices in the country. Nationwide most drivers expect to pay about 82p a litre. And islanders already have a rough ride as they pay full road tax for the 9 miles of road on St Mary’s. So residents on the islands are now asking the Government for a tax break.
Richard Larn, from St Mary’s, told the Western Morning News: “It isn’t just the price of petrol, it’s the Government’s tax policy. I think they should make a special case out of the islands and offer some tax relief on fuel.
“We do accept this is the price of living on an island. No one does high mileage but it must be difficult for people who own boats with petrol engines.”
Councillors say they have already tried to get the Government to see Scilly as a unique case.
The shipping in of fuel to the islands is subject to large shipping and insurance costs which makes the price so high.
Scilly’s MP Andrew George told the Western Morning News that he thought they had a good case: “We are not setting a precedent for other areas so it should not be too scary for the Government to come up with special proposals for the Isles of Scilly,” he said.