Fuel Price Hikes Impact UK Coach Business
"Last year it was national insurance, now it's the fuel and you get to a point where you think how long can we keep this going for."
Those are the words of Ann Meek, director of Maghull Coaches in Merseyside, in the wake of a week of punishing fuel cost rises linked to the war in Iran.
Since the US and Israel launched air-strikes on the Iranian capital Tehran on 28 February, the price of oil has surged, causing sharp increases in petrol and diesel costs.
Meek explained that her family-run business, established around 1970, has been particularly affected by these rising costs.
"The prices, I was looking, since this time last month, they've probably gone up about 9p or 10p a litre.
Some of these vehicles, the big ones, they're only doing about seven or eight miles a gallon."
Maghull Coaches holds contracts to operate City Explorer open top bus tours as well as a Beatles Tour, setting prices at the start of the season.
Much of the company’s other revenue comes from school contracts, with costs largely pre-agreed.
"It's a very tricky conversation because at the moment everything is just going up," Meek said.
"Everything the government seems to do, you're going to have to put your prices up, and your staff want more money, but you get to a stage where you can't charge enough, really, to cover everything.
This industry is very, very tight, especially the type of work we do, because we're aware that most of our customers are on a limited budget anyway."
Taxi Drivers Also Feel the Strain
Cab driver Arthur Grimes shared his perspective on the ongoing fuel price challenges faced by him and his colleagues.
"It goes up like a rock, it comes down like a feather," he said.
"It's been going on for years. This is not new, is it? Diesel should be cheaper than petrol, anyway, because it's easier to refine."
He described the fuel market generally as a "rip off".
Industry and Government Discussions
The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) convened a meeting with ministers at Number 11 Downing Street earlier in the day. The meeting had been at risk of cancellation due to the PRA's concerns over what it termed "inflammatory language" from politicians.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves emphasized to retailers their "shared obligation" to keep prices reasonable for motorists.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband added, "We won't tolerate unfair practices either here or anywhere else in the industry."
Following the meeting, Gordon Balmer of the PRA commented:
"We engaged in constructive discussion with the government on this, and we are working collaboratively with them."
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