Finlay hits out at fuel price variation

He urged people to make sure to shop around as some outlets were clearly profiteering despite the fact that the price of crude oil has dropped in the last month.

Speaking Cllr Finlay said, “I am well aware of the challenges facing the family budget in the last few years which are stretched even further by the price of fuel at the pumps. The cost of fuel is hitting families hard.

“The variation in the price of fuel at the pumps from garage to garage is stark and I am concerned that many fuel companies are profiteering despite the fact that the price of crude oil has dropped in the last months. Despite this we have seen prices at the pumps rise and level off.

“I would urge the Tory-led Coalition in London to act in introducing a fuel stabiliser in order to protect families from sharp rises in fuel, especially as we enter the winter months when people are more likely to use their car.

“Car users pay an extraordinary amount in tax once everything is taken into account and they should not be targeted in the manner upon which they are through fuel price hikes. A significant amount of this tax revenue is pocketed by HM Treasury in London and ordinary citizens are left to suffer.

“Most of Northern Ireland is rural and people are therefore reliant on cars and cannot rely on public transport. It is therefore vital that drivers are treated fairly at the fuel pump.”