FERMANAGH retailers are losing out in a cross-border fuel war as motorists here continue to opt for neighbouring southern towns for cheaper petrol, according to a Fermanagh MLA.
Despite Fermanagh experiencing some of the lowest fuel prices in almost fours years, cash-strapped motorists are still drawn to border towns where they can save in the region of 20p per litre.
Phil Flanagan, MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, has called for the rate of tax fuel to be harmonised on a “all Ireland basis” to help local struggling businesses whose main source of income stems from their petrol pumps.
The cheapest unleaded fuel – as of Friday, September 5 – within a 20 mile radius of Enniskillen is ASDA at 125.7p per litre while the most expensive was Lakeside Service Station at 136.9p per litre with a potential saving of 11.2p a litre.
The cheapest place to purchase diesel at an independent filling station, according to a petrol prices comparison website, is Dolan’s filling station on the Dublin Road, Enniskillen which stands at 130.9p per litre while the most expensive is 139.9p per litre.
ASDA diesel prices sits at 129.9p per litre and remains the cheapest place to buy diesel in the county.
Despite the fall in prices, local retailers still face a pump price war with their southern counterparts.
“One of the problems for border towns is that so many people chose to cross the border to get their fuel and if they can get it 20p cheaper they will go there,” the Sinn Fein MLA added.
“The rate of duty on fuel needs to be harmonised which will stop people from crossing the border. I have asked the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) to do some work on what it would cost and what the benefits would be if the petrol prices were harmonised.
“You see so many filling stations closing because people are going elsewhere and we all do it. We need to match the price of fuel here to that in the south and have it on an all Ireland basis.
“It’s very difficult for smaller filling stations to make a profit and they have to charge more to stay open because there’s not the same volume of business that bigger retailers would have.
“You often see several pence in difference in some filling stations.
“I go to a number of places including Tempo, Swanlinbar, Belleek and Pettigo, so I generally shop around.
“Action needs to be taken to reduce tax fuel to match the prices in the south to allow businesses to attract more customers, particularly in Fermanagh.”
The Consumer Council also urged motorists across Fermanagh to use its online price comparison table after weekly monitoring showed differences of up to 15p per litre for petrol and 13p per litre for diesel.
Aodhan O’Donnell, interim Chief Executive at the Consumer Council said: “Consumers consistently tell us they are concerned about fuel costs so we monitor prices and publish them weekly on our website to help consumers save money.
“People can check the cheapest and dearest prices in their area so that they know a good deal when they see it.
“The additional benefit of our price comparison survey is that if you live in one town and work in another you can check whether it’s likely to be cheaper to fill up near home or near work.”
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