Diesel and smoke alarms add misery
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by Karen Miles • Diesel prices are set to rise by 4p/litre (15p a gallon) next month as hauliers take the brunt of tougher environmental taxes.
Chancellor Kenneth Clarke is already committed to a rise of at least 2p/lit or (9p/gal) at next month's Budget. But the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, which is due to report next week, wants even higher fuel prices. It says hauliers should pay an extra 3.4p/lit (15.5p/gal) in order to slow down the growth in traffic volumes.
This rise would take the price of diesel, excluding VAT, to £1.82/gal (40.5p/lit).
Customs warns that this might encourage some hauliers to run illegally on red diesel. And the Road Haulage Association calculates that fuel costs for a 38-tonner covering 70,000 miles a year at 7.3mpg would rise by at least £1,200.
Hauliers will have to wait for the Budget on 29 November to see if Clarke accepts the Royal Commission scheme to increase fuel costs The Government is likely to be attracted by higher taxes designed to improve the environment. But the RHA and Owner Operators UK have accused the Government of milking hauliers under the guise of environmental concern. They say it is time for the industry to stand firm on demanding higher rates from customers.
El Transport Secretary Brian Mawhirmey says that over the next two months the Vehicle Inspectorate must "blitz" city centres to take the worst polluters off the road.