People in Forfar rushed to pledge their support for The Courier’s Fight for Fairer Fuel campaign on Monday and to demand action is taken to curb spiralling petrol prices.
Hundreds of shoppers queued up at a special Courier stand in Haldane’s in Castle Street, Forfar, to sign the 8000-strong petition and urge the government to introduce a fuel duty regulator.
Average petrol prices have now reached an all-time high of 128.81p a litre, with diesel at a record 134.01p a litre. The clear message from hard-pressed motorists in Forfar is, “Enough is enough.”
Pensioner June Wilkie is making regular car journeys to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, where her husband is receiving treatment for cancer, and she said the pain at the pump is eating away at her pension.
“My husband’s not at a pensionable age yet so it’s difficult,” she added. “I usually fill my car up £20 at a time but it doesn’t go as far as it used to.
“Something has got to be done because everyone’s going to suffer.”
Mother-of-two Joan Middleton said she now only makes essential journeys because of the cost of fuel. Signing our petition and picking up her free car stickers to display, she said there was also a knock-on effect for her 17-year-old son.
“My husband works in a garage and he says people aren’t using the car as much as they used to,” she said. “We’re exactly the same I used to take the car to the shops but now I will just walk because it’s too expensive.
“My son is 17 and we’re deciding whether or not to give him driving lessons because the price of lessons has gone up because of the cost of fuel and it could be quite expensive.”
Marian Riddoch and partner Bruce live in Forfar but both work in Dundee and travel by car every day.
“It has a knock-on effect on everything,” she said. “We are a two-car family and we are certainly feeling the pinch.”
Shop assistant Aileen Harper also signed our petition, saying she had downgraded her car because of the cost of fuel.
“It works out at £10 more every time I fill up and that’s a lot of money over a year. I think it’s time we got a fair deal from the government.”
Celia Marshall was another motorist who talked about the “knock-on effect.”
“I’m not exactly chuffed at all because it’s never easy,” she said. “It doesn’t just put the petrol up but it puts everything else up with it.
“It’s hard enough managing in this day without having to pay extra. I’m paying £10 a week more than I used to.
“The government must take action but I’m not sure if they are listening. Will they just wait until the country grinds to a halt?”
Pensioners David and Gertie Piggot said they were now having to cut down on car journeys.
“We just don’t use the car a lot now – you can’t when you are a pensioner,” said Mrs Piggot. “If you spend more money on petrol then it means you have less to spend on the everyday essentials.”
Beverley Williams from Kirriemuir works in Forfar but travels to Arbroath on training courses and said she is having to top up her car three times a week.
“Petrol just isn’t going as far as it used to,” she said. “I’m feeling the pinch on my budget but you have to buy petrol.”
Irene Milne believes the fuel situation has gone too far.
“It’s costing me a fortune to fill up my car – £35 used to fill up my tank but now it’s less and less,” she said. “I’m happy to support The Courier’s campaign because things are out of control.”
Pensioner George Foreman certainly pulled no punches as he signed our petition, saying, “It’s getting beyond a joke.
“I’m backing the campaign because I think the prices are too high. My daughter drives and finds it’s too much money now to fill up the car.”If you want to support the Courier’s call for a fuel duty regulator, click here to add your name to our petition.Pensioners David and Gertie Piggot said they were now having to cut down on car journeys.
“We just don’t use the car a lot now – you can’t when you are a pensioner,” said Mrs Piggot. “If you spend more money on petrol then it means you have less to spend on the everyday essentials.”
Beverley Williams from Kirriemuir works in Forfar but travels to Arbroath on training courses and said she is having to top up her car three times a week.
“Petrol just isn’t going as far as it used to,” she said. “I’m feeling the pinch on my budget but you have to buy petrol.”
Irene Milne believes the fuel situation has gone too far.
“It’s costing me a fortune to fill up my car – £35 used to fill up my tank but now it’s less and less,” she said. “I’m happy to support The Courier’s campaign because things are out of control.”
Pensioner George Foreman certainly pulled no punches as he signed our petition, saying, “It’s getting beyond a joke.
“I’m backing the campaign because I think the prices are too high. My daughter drives and finds it’s too much money now to fill up the car.”If you want to support the Courier’s call for a fuel duty regulator, click here to add your name to our petition.