Newbury MP Laura Farris continues fight to lower fuel prices in Newbury after prices drop at Tesco and Sainsbury’s

Newbury MP Laura Farris is continuing her campaign to lower fuel costs in Newbury after a fall in prices at Tesco and Sainsbury’s petrol stations in the town.

Ms Farris wrote to both supermarket retailers in October to raise concerns about high prices for fuel in Newbury compared to surrounding areas.

Fuel prices at Tesco and Sainsbury’s in Newbury have since dropped and now fall in line with the prices in Reading.

As at December 21, the price of unleaded petrol was £136.9 at Sainsbury’s and Tesco in both Newbury and Reading.

Ms Farris said: “I am very pleased that Tesco and Sainsbury’s have now lowered their fuel prices consistently across the board after previously charging six to eight per cent higher for fuel in Newbury, and I am now encouraging other fuel retailers to do the same.

“I remain concerned that some providers are taking advantage of the constituency’s reasonably rural location, the high level of car use, and the considerable distances required to travel to larger conurbations for cheaper prices.”

Ms Farris has also written to BP, Shell and Esso to highlight that their petrol prices remain disproportionately higher in Newbury, and copied the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into her letters.

As at December 20, Esso unleaded petrol in Wantage cost 129.9p, whereas in Newbury it cost 138.9p, nearly 10 pence more per litre.

Shell sold unleaded petrol in Reading for 138.9p per litre, while it Newbury it was sold for 141.9p per litre.

The CMA is to be given new powers through the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill and will become the body responsible for closely monitoring road fuel prices and reporting any sign of malpractice to the Government.