"Fuel deserts" spring up across UK

Date: 11/10/2011

Parts of the UK are transforming into "fuel deserts" as the number of petrol stations declines.

This is despite there being 50 per cent more cars on the roads than two decades ago, according to figures released as part of the Palmer and Harvey Forecourt Report.

Using Local Company Data records on 8,873 petrol stations across the UK and comparing this against Nomis population figures and car ownership registrations from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the study found that forecourt numbers are at a new low.

Indeed, over the past 20 years, the number available has slipped from 21,000 to fewer than 9,000, with Torridge in Devon having the lowest ratio of them per motorist on its roads.

Overall, counties in the south of England fare worse when it comes to the availability of pumps.

Chris Etherington, Palmer and Harvey's Chief Executive, says: "These fuel deserts lead to massive inconvenience for the already hard-pressed motorist and also to the loss of a focal point in communities that have often lost their local pub, village shop, post office or even, in the worst cases, their entire high street."

He adds that one of the best ways for operators to attract people to their pumps is to strengthen their convenience store offerings.

Data recently published by British Car Auctions found that one of the top priorities among vehicle buyers is fuel efficiency as a result of petrol and diesel prices rising - which could put more pressure on forecourt owners.

Posted by Mary Treen