Boost for drivers as prices fall

Buy photos »

DRIVERS who have been forced to pay over the odds for fuel in Rugby are celebrating the driving down of prices following the arrival of a petrol station at Asda.

Shortly after the supermarket giant opened a petrol station opposite its Corporation Street store a fortnight ago, its rivals slashed their prices to compete.

It comes after people filling up in Rugby have been forced to pay as much as 6p a litre more than drivers in neigbouring towns and cities such as Leamington, Coventry and Leicester.

Driver Rob Eduljee, who has contacted the Observer in the past about fuel prices, questioned why rival supermarkets and petrol stations waited until now to drop their prices.

"It is very good news Asda has arrived and the other big sellers of fuel have suddenly and miraculously reduced their prices to compete overnight.

"As all of the important supermarkets must be buying fuel at about the same wholesale price, why did they not reduce prices before, the same as Asda has everywhere else?

"If they can afford to do this now, why has it taken so long? The answer is obviously greed.

"The residents of Rugby have suffered long and hard because of this."

Sainsbury's have in the past told us it is their policy to charge for fuel according to what their competitors are charging, explaining why it dropped its prices after Asda's arrival.

Nationally Asda was recently charging 128.7p for a litre of unleaded and 135.7p for diesel, having dropped its prices to help people over the festive period, a spokesman said.

RAC technical director David Bizley said: "Not only have we persuaded the Chancellor to scrap the January 3p fuel duty increase, but now Asda are making festive travel more affordable.

"The icing on the cake will be if other retailers follow where Asda leads."

Regional news »