PRA welcomes Government help with energy costs, but warns more support will be needed

Following Prime Minister Truss’s plans to help businesses with energy costs for the next six months, Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Petrol Retailers Association, said: “We are pleased to see the Government’s recognition that businesses will require support to survive the winter.

“While this is a welcome relief, after the six months elapses further support will be needed for our members. The government must recognise that petrol filling stations are vulnerable businesses, vital to the fuel resilience infrastructure in the UK.”

The PRA will be engaging in dialogue with the Government to ensure that support for petrol filing stations continues after the six months of support elapses. As we have seen during the Pandemic a local filling station is vital for many communities ensuring supplies of food and fuel.

Balmer concluded: “Many of our members are single site operators who have seen 300 per cent increases in energy costs. If Government support is not maintained in the face of huge energy costs it could mean that many will be forced to close their doors. The independent forecourt network comprises 65 per cent of all forecourts in the UK. Without them, the economy cannot function.”