The Council has expressed its disappointment that Cornwall has been omitted from a list of areas being put forward by the Government for inclusion in the island fuel rebate scheme.
To date, the scheme, which allows for a 5p a litre reduction in fuel duty, has been piloted on the Isles of Scilly and the Scottish islands.
The Government has applied to the European Commission (EC) to extend that to ten other rural communities in the UK, seven of which are in Scotland. Hawes in North Yorkshire and Lynton in Devon are also included, but not Cornwall.
“I am very disappointed that Cornwall has not been included in the list of areas being considered for inclusion in the possible extension of the island fuel rebate scheme,” said Julian German, the Council’s cabinet member for economy and culture.
“The aim of this scheme, which has been piloted in the Isles of Scilly and some of the Scottish highlands, is to help keep fuel prices down in areas where the costs of transporting fuel means that prices are much higher. As we have some of the highest fuel prices in the UK this reduction would have made a big difference to hard pressed drivers in Cornwall.
“We will now be working with our MP’s and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership to ensure that Government understands this issue, particularly highlighting the need for affordable and secure transport routes across road, rail and air.”
