Last updated at 21:03, Thursday, 17 September 2009

MOTORISTS in West Cumbria are being taken for a ride when it comes to paying for fuel with car owners being forced to fork out up to six pence more per litre than their neighbours in Carlisle.

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The Times & Star carried out a special investigation this week into why we pay more for fuel than the north of the county.

Our survey, carried out on Tuesday, and covering petrol stations from across the area, proved that the difference in petrol prices was as much as six pence per litre at filling stations in Maryport than it was in and around Carlisle.

In Carlisle, the Shell garage on Hardwicke Circus, Morrisons in Stanwix, Asda at Kingstown and Tesco on Warwick Road all priced their unleaded petrol at 102.9p/per litre and diesel at 103.9p/per litre.

While in Maryport, the BP garage on Curzon Street was selling the fuel at 108.9p/per litre for unleaded and 109.9p/per litre for diesel.

With supermarkets across the county selling goods at the same prices, why is it that people in West Cumbria are made to pay more for fuel?

There was a difference in the price between the two Morrisons filling stations too with the Workington branch selling its fuel three pence more per litre than in Carlisle with unleaded petrol costing 105.9p/per litre and diesel at 106.9p/per litre.

The firm declined to comment.

Workington MP Tony Cunningham said he has already written to the Office of Fair Trading and insisted he will be doing so again to ask why West Cumbria is being penalised for buying fuel.

He also said that he would be writing to Morrisons to ask why there is a difference in fuel costs.

West Cumbrian residents resent having to pay more of their hard-earned cash for fuel.

Ian Atkinson, of Lowca Lane, Seaton, said: “Supermarkets charge the same price at each of these stores for groceries, milk and bread, so why oh why do they charge us West Cumbrians more for our petrol and diesel?”

Allan Foster, 43, of Senhouse Street, Workington, said: “It is annoying when you hear that the same product is so much cheaper just 30 miles up the road. I don’t know why we are being penalised but it isn’t right.”

Tim Houghton, 24, of Maryport, said: “Petrol prices around here are astronomical. There should be a set price, that is sensible because right now we are getting ripped off and it just isn’t right.”

According to figures on Petrolprices.com, unleaded petrol within a five mile radius of Carlisle is on average 106.8p/per litre, and diesel stands at 106.9p/per litre.

While within the same radius of Workington, unleaded fuel is more expensive, standing at 108.1p/per litre and diesel at 108.4p/per litre.

Workington: Morrisons - 105.9p/per litre of unleaded and 106.9/per litre of diesel. Lillyhall’s BP garage - 106.9p/per litre for unleaded and 107.9p/per litre of diesel.

Maryport: BP on Curzon Street - 108.9p/per litre for unleaded and 109.9p/per litre of diesel.

Cockermouth: Esso garage at Marvejols Park - 105.9p/per litre of unleaded and 106.9p/per litre for diesel. Gulf Garage, Station Road, was selling its unleaded fuel at 105.9p/per litre and diesel at 106.9p/per litre.

Flimby: Texaco - unleaded 108.9p/per litre for unleaded and 108.9p/per litre of diesel.

Dunmail Park: 108.9p/per litre of unleaded and 108.9p/per litre of diesel.

n Prices correct on Tuesday.

First published at 19:35, Thursday, 17 September 2009
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk