Politician calls for Newbury petrol boycott - but will YOU join?

Newbury has long been a loser in the forecourt postcode lottery.
Prices in the town for both diesel and unleaded petrol are routinely higher than in surrounding towns - a phenomenon known as a price jam.
And we want to know your views - would you join a boycott?
Is that the most effective way of bringing local fuel prices down and what lengths do you currently go to for cheaper fuel?
Email your views to reporter John Garvey at john.garvey@newburynews.co.uk
Julian Swift-Hook (Lib Dem, Greenham) said: “Prices in Newbury are 6p per litre higher than in Reading or Woking – but why? It’s the same fuel from the same refineries, being sold by the same companies.
“I think Newbury fuel buyers should boycott Newbury’s petrol stations and supermarket forecourts until they bring their prices down in line with the prices they charge in surrounding towns.”
He added: “It’s an obvious way of hitting these fuel companies in their pocket. That way we might get something done about it. For many people, fuel is an essential item.”
President of the AA, Edmund King, said: “Supermarkets generally dictate the cost of fuel in towns, with other retailers setting theirs accordingly and creating a localised price jam.
“Petrol in towns with less competitive supermarkets is as much as 5p more expensive than neighbouring communities.”
But the motorists’ advocacy group stopped short of backing a boycott.
Spokesman Luke Bosdet acknowledged Newbury’s problem and said: “It’s known as a price jam where supermarket forecourts refuse to lower their prices. If an independent retailer does so, the supermarkets reduce temporarily and he loses his competitive edge. Pretty soon you’re back where you started.
“Newbury drivers tend to get around and, rather than a boycott which could drive smaller retailers to the wall, we suggest just filling up with small amounts until you’re in another town where it’s cheaper and filling up there.”
Earlier this year Newbury MP Richard Benyon wrote to filling station owners to highlight the fact that fuel was more expensive in West Berkshire than in areas such as Reading and East Berkshire.
He said: “They replied that this was due to a lack of competitive pricing incentives in this area.”
Mr Swift-Hook and Mr Benyon both advocate using the petrol price comparison website www.petrolprices.com
As our sister publication, the Newbury Weekly News, went to press, the cheapest prices for unleaded within a five mile radius of the town centre were as follows:
Shell, Bath Road, Speen: 132.9p
Sainsbury’s, Kings Road, Newbury: 133.9p
Tesco Pinchington Lane, Newbury: 133.9p
Falkland Service Station, Andover Road, Wash Common: 133.9p
Chieveley Motor Company, Cold Ash, Thatcham: 133.9p
Average prices in Reading were 128.8p
Spokeswoman for Shell, Claire Scotter, said: “Prices can vary from region to region. If this happens, this is due to a range of factors such as distance from the refinery or distribution terminal to the petrol station and the number of customers in the region.”
Total and Tesco had not responded as the Newbury Weekly News went to press.
Spokeswoman for BP, Sheila Williams, said: “Prices are set on a siter by site basis taking into account local market conditions.”