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Fuel the fightback
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How price rises hit punters
BELOW readers from different walks of life describe the impact increasing fuel costs have on their business - and why they are fighting to freeze duty on petrol.

Medical air rescue boss
HELENA Holt, 45, is boss of the Devon Air Ambulance Trust.
She said: "We are a charity and do have to pay VAT on fuel. There is no exemption for emergency services. I hope the Government don't put up duty on fuel in April.
"From 2009 to 2010 the difference in fuel cost for us has been an increase of nearly £10,000.
"Devon is a very big county with a rural population so there is a huge demand for the service."

The small firm owner
WINDOW fitter Gregg Price, 42, said: "This really could be the final nail in the coffin for small businesses like mine."
Gregg, of Luton, Beds, explained: "To remain competitive with the big companies, we have to absorb additional costs like these.
"We have five company vehicles which cost £1,250 a month to fuel. Eighteen months ago we would have been paying £850."

The driving instructor
SELF-EMPLOYED Julie Hartigan, 52, said: "A rise will put a lot of driving instructors out of work.
"I put my prices up only every two years so the fuel prices affect my wages. But even if I did raise my prices again, most people here couldn't afford it."
Julie, of Clacton-on-Sea in Essex, added: "I just hope the Tories honour their promise on the fuel stabiliser."

The haulage firm chief
NEIL Letton, 44, said: "We've seen our bulk diesel bill rise by 20 per cent in the last year alone. But if you put your own prices up in response, other companies will undercut you."
Neil, of Sheffield, added: "The only way to survive is keeping our profits at a bare minimum.
"Many drivers have to multi-function in other roles to keep the company going."

EXPERTS last night backed The Sun’s efforts to help hard-pressed motorists
* The Sun Says
* Petrol chiefs urge fuel duty freeze
* Poorer families priced off roads
* Cameron signals fuel tax hope

Sign our petition to freeze petrol tax
Fuel the fightback
By STEVE HAWKES, Business Editor, CLODAGH HARTLEY, Whitehall Editor, and GRANT ROLLINGS
Published: 14 Jan 2011

BRITAIN'S biggest supermarkets threw their weight behind The Sun's war on fuel prices last night - as the nation urged the Chancellor to help motorists.
More than 20,000 readers - backed by celebrities - signed our petition calling on the Government to freeze duty or bring in a fuel stabiliser.
Our call for George Osborne to Do His Duty was immediately backed by High Street heavyweights TESCO and MORRISONS.
Tesco finance chief Laurie McIlwee told The Sun: "There's a lot of talk about VAT but the largest effect on the consumer at the moment is petrol.

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"And it's having a disproportionate effect on families from a less affluent background.
"The Prime Minister has said he's looking at the idea of a fuel stabiliser again - I hope it's more than a look. We need to see fundamental change."
Morrisons boss Dalton Philips - a key figure at the PM's Job Summit this week - said: "People need help with the rising cost of petrol as they go about their everyday lives. That's why Morrisons backs The Sun's campaign."

The Sun revealed on Tuesday that fuel prices could hit 140p a litre if yet another duty hike goes ahead as planned on April 1.

The 1p rise would actually trigger a 5p jump in pump prices as it includes inflation.
Celebrities including TV's Jeremy Clarkson and Vernon Kay, Ann Summers supremo Jacqueline Gold and singer Jay Kay pledged their support for our Keep It Down campaign.
People who depend heavily on fuel - such as hauliers and other business bosses, driving instructors and even air ambulance trusts - are deeply worried.

Thousands of readers have been signing The Sun's petition.
MySun users revealed how the spiralling price of fuel hits their everyday life.
One called "Grahaminleeds" said: "I have had to ditch the car. Using a motorbike saves me over £40 a week in petrol."
And "Rmp253" said: "I'm disabled and use a wheelchair, I need my car but I just don't know how much longer I can afford to keep paying these prices."
The AA revealed unleaded petrol is now an average 127.98p a litre and diesel has hit 132.40p. Motorists are now spending £12million A DAY more than a year ago.
The PM yesterday hinted a fuel stabiliser - designed to cut duty when oil prices soar and increase duty only when prices fall - COULD be part of the Chancellor's March Budget.
But crucially Mr Cameron stopped short of pledging firm action. He said at a Downing Street press conference: "We have to look very carefully at exactly how much revenue that does mean for the Treasury - what the effect is of a higher oil price.
"But should we look at this and find a way of helping people? That is exactly what the Chancellor and the Treasury are doing."

Our cabbie challenges Chancellor
By KEVIN SCHOFIELD, Political Correspondent

SUN cabbie Grant Davis yesterday demanded Chancellor George Osborne keep the promise he made to him to stabilise petrol prices.
He told drivers including Grant last May that he wanted to bring in a fuel stabiliser.
Grant, 46, was among cabbies who converged on the Treasury yesterday to sign The Sun's petition demanding the Government gives drivers a break.
He met Mr Osborne after being chosen by The Sun to grill politicians in the run-up to last year's General Election.
Grant, of Bromley, South London, said: "George looked me in the eye and said he would help people like us who rely on fair prices at the pumps.
"If he doesn't come good on that, it will be a betrayal. It is time the Chancellor put the brakes on fuel duty." Mr Osborne met the drivers at a London cab shelter.
Grant, chair of the London Cab Drivers' Club, said: "He had his tea and bacon sandwich and said he understood our concerns."