Minister backs WI price check

COMMERCE and Employment has welcomed publication of petrol prices. The amount garages charge for premium and super unleaded, along with diesel, will be monitored monthly until January.

The survey was carried out by 30 members of the Women's Institute at the request of the Guernsey Press.

Minister Stuart Falla said he wanted greater transparency for consumers.

'Whatever happens in the Budget, there is likely to be a price rise and we want to ensure that retailers don't profiteer when the taxes come in,' he said.

'We don't think it should be margin-driven. Currently, garages are not obliged to display the lowest price and so people may feel too embarrassed to leave the forecourt once they enter it and find out the price.

'Why should consumers pay? The main thing is to be transparent.'

The comparison shows a difference of 7.1p in the price of premium unleaded, with Braye Road Garage, Vale, the cheapest at 58.9p a litre and Maryland, Cobo, the most expensive of those surveyed at 66p.

Diesel has a price range of 11.5p, with Granada Motors, Vale, the cheapest at 45.5p a litre and Freelance Motors/Vale Garage, just across the road, the most expensive at 58p.

L'Aumone and Doyle Motors are the only two that do not offer discounts or dividends to everyone, although L'Aumone does pay 4p in the pound dividend to Co-op members.

Deputy Falla said certain garages that continued to sell fuel at higher prices remained reasonably busy.

'There is a whole range of different prices, but some people continue to get discounts while others do not and that is part of the problem,' he said.

'It is up to consumers to make the choice of where they buy their fuel.

'If they want to travel to the cheapest garage or to the closest, it's their decision. We just want more awareness for them so that they can make the most informed decision.'

WI island federation chairman Ann Robilliard said she was surprised by the wide range of prices.

'The two garages that I go to are quite similar in price, so I didn't expect there to be such a variety,' she said.

'We think there are about 30 garages in Guernsey and that surprised us as well because it seems a lot for such a small island.

'I shouldn't think there are many English towns with 60,000 people that have such a high number.'

* The survey was carried out in the first week of October and then collated by the WI for publication.