Cheltenham drivers get cheaper petrol

There may only be a few miles between them but Gloucester drivers are getting a raw deal at the pumps compared to motorists in Cheltenham.

People in the city are paying an average of almost 2p more a litre for unleaded petrol than their Spa town counterparts, according to price watchdog Petrolprices.com.

Out of 21 retailers in Gloucester and 15 in Cheltenham, the difference between the cheapest forecourts in both areas is 3p per litre.

The best value unleaded petrol in Cheltenham, was at Waitrose in Honeybourne Way, costing 105.9p per litre, while drivers pay 108.9p per litre for the cheapest fuel in Gloucester.

Competitive

Emma Gardner, who owns garages in Cheltenham, Huntley and Hucclecote, said her prices were not different across the area boundaries.

She said the supermarkets were the only petrol retailers able to offer low, competitive prices, and the rest of the business had to try to keep up.

Emma said: "Our prices are only a penny cheaper in Cheltenham than in Huntley and Hucclecote.

"The prices are dictated by the supermarkets. We try to keep up with the competition.

"I don't know why the prices are so different."

Paul Hanlon, manager of Abbey Cars in Gloucester, said: "I think it's a bit like a postcode lottery.

"It's a bit like being charged different prices for the same item at two different Tesco stores, and I don't think it's a fair reflection of the price of fuel.

"If we drop off anywhere near Cheltenham, we do usually nip in to fill up."

One Stroud driver said he timed filling his car with fortnightly trips to Cheltenham.

He said: "Where I live, petrol is always so much more expensive.

"I go over to Cheltenham once every two weeks for work, and I always buy a full tank when I'm there, because I can save so much money.

"It seems ridiculous that drivers like me are being forced to choose Cheltenham businesses over those in Stroud because I can save serious money by doing so."

In a statement made to the Competition Commission earlier this year after a customer complained Tesco benchmarked its prices against rivals within a 30-mile radius, the retailer said on its website: "The entry of the supermarkets into petrol retailing has intensified competition in the sector and brought about significant benefits for customers.

"However, the nature of the petrol business is such that Tesco and other supermarkets are able to exert control over only a tiny part of the retail price.

"The remainder is attributable to the world price movements of what is a commodity product, as well as to duty and VAT."