Campaigning for a Fairer Deal on Fuel

The Highland Council is backing the re-establishment of an inter-council action group to press for a fairer fuel deal for rural communities.

The Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee has agreed that their chairman, Councillor John Laing, should join the Highland and Islands Hydro- Carbon Working Group, which also involves representatives from councils in Argyll and Bute, Orkney, Shetland, and the Western Isles.

Councillor Laing said: “The council is acutely aware of the impact that spiralling fuel costs are having on our rural communities.  We welcome the announcement that the 2p increase in fuel duty, planned for October, has been postponed.  However, much more needs to be done to help our rural communities, such as cuts in fuel duty in the remotest areas of the country. The inter-council action group will help keep the pressure on the Government to take decisive action.”

Highland Council Convener Sandy Park has already written on behalf of Highland and Islands Conveners to the Chancellor of the Exchequer highlighting the need for Government action to cushion the significant detrimental impact on remote communities of rising fuel costs.