Business drivers should be concerned by the demise of the filling station

Are drivers facing increasing rural fuel challenges?

National newspapers have long carried articles about the declining presence of various institutions around the UK, particularly focusing on those that serve rural communities. In years gone by, the Post Office was the most frequent recipient of this concern, with hundreds of column inches being dedicated to the closure of yet another village outlet.

Now, there is another threat to many rural communities. While perhaps they are not seen as central to communities or indeed as emotive, the growing rate of closure for rural petrol stations should be a cause for concern. The number of forecourts in the UK has halved in under 20 years. There are now 11,000 fewer filling stations across the country, and the squeeze is being most acutely felt in rural areas furthest from major thoroughfares.

Petrol station closures are, in part, the result of greater fuel efficiency in modern vehicles – a positive development for business drivers and the environment. Nonetheless, with fuel prices still at exceptionally high levels, the knock on effect of forecourt closures is driving prices even higher in rural communities. Business drivers are also likely to be affected by the closures. They often have to drive in unfamiliar rural areas, where the chance of being caught between stations is becoming ever more acute.

Journey Times Affected

GPS systems have gone some way to alleviate the problem of finding the nearest filling station, but the continuing decline is likely to result in less price competition and lengthy detours to refuel. Fleet managers and business drivers alike should be concerned about the potential additional miles, time and cost this could add to journeys.

It remains to be seen if the government will act on the problem. While there have already been several discussions in parliament about some sort of rural fuel rebate, nothing has yet been agreed and the UK’s crucial network of filling stations is set to shrink further. Maintaining this infrastructure remains important when trying to ensure that business is still practical across the length of the country and to stimulate economic growth outside of major cities.