- Rural residents spend around £465 (56%) more a year on petrol than those living in towns and cities, according to new Countryside Alliance analysis
- People in rural areas travel 7,821 miles a year, 50% more than urban residents, and pay 6.5p a litre more for unleaded petrol at rural forecourts
- With diesel passing £2 a litre for the first time this month, the Countryside Alliance is calling on Chancellor John Healey to make the 5p fuel duty cut permanent and introduce a temporary cut to VAT on fuel in the Budget on October 28
People living in the countryside spend around £465 a year more to fill up than those in towns and cities, according to new analysis from the Countryside Alliance.
The analysis found that the average rural resident spends around £1,300 a year on petrol, compared with £835 for someone in a town or city. That is almost £9 a week more, with rural families, farmers, and businesses bearing the brunt.
Two factors drive the gap. Department for Transport figures show people in rural areas travel 7,821 miles a year, compared with 5,216 miles in urban areas, which is 50% more. Rural drivers also pay more to fill up. A survey of petrol stations across England using the Government’s Fuel Finder data found unleaded petrol cost 175.3p a litre at rural forecourts, 6.5p more than the 168.8p paid in urban areas.
Tim Bonner, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: “Anyone who lives in rural communities knows a car is a necessity simply to get to the nearest supermarket, GP surgery, school, or work. Rural residents have to drive further and pay more for every litre, which is why they are spending nearly £500 a year more than people in towns and cities.
“With diesel now above £2 a litre, simply holding the 5p cut will not be enough. The Chancellor should make it permanent and give drivers immediate relief with a temporary cut to VAT on fuel. If the Government wants growth in rural postcodes as well as urban ones, this Budget is the place to show it.”
Fuel duty has been set at 52.95p a litre since March 2022, when it was cut by 5p in response to rising prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The cut was due to start being reversed in September, but in May the Government postponed the rise and extended the cut to December 31. Under current plans, duty is expected to rise by 3p on January 1 and a further 2p on March 1, reversing the cut in full.
The Countryside Alliance argues that making the 5p cut permanent would be a practical first step towards a rural reset. Through its Campaign for the Countryside, supporters in 95% of UK constituencies have written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham calling for the Government to work with, not against, rural communities.
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