Rural households 'suffering the most' as fuel and energy costs soar

They have raised concerns about the soaring price of fuel, especially for the vulnerable in those areas which do not have mains gas. They are calling for the government to step in and look at scrapping the planning National Insurance rise or to lower VAT for a year.

Heather Kidd, Shropshire councillor for Chirbury and Worthen division, said: “Not far outside our major towns mains gas supplies stop. Although the cost of all fuels are rising, the cost of coal, bottled gas and especially fuel oil are soaring – the very fuels many rural householders are dependent on.”

Councillor Kidd said there were some 1.5 million rural households that rely on oil deliveries to heat their home.

"Many of them have seen prices more than triple over the past six months and that is before the impact of the war in the Ukraine.

"People using oil to heat their homes are not covered by Ofgem’s price cap – leaving them exposed to oil price rises. The vast bulk of these in Shropshire live in rural locations, often in older, poorly insulated properties. Others use LPG and that has soaring costs too and there are delivery issues owing to a lack of drivers.

“One resident of mine had to pay £4,000 to have their oil tank filed whilst our local coal merchant has told me that a cost of a bag of coal will rise from £15 to £35 over the next few weeks. This will be a hammer blow to many on low to medium incomes. Some will just cut back on their heating and food with all the health implications that it entails. This is a perfect storm for rural residents and then they are faced with mounting petrol and diesel prices too."

Ruth Houghton, councillor for Bishop’s Castle Division added: “The Government really needs to take significant action to lessen the impact of these rises. The Chancellor could scrap the proposed increase in National Insurance next month. Alternatively, the Government could take up the Liberal Democrat suggestion to lower VAT to 17.5 per cent for one year. That would put £57m back into Shropshire's economy and help a great many residents struggling to pay their heating bills.”

Commenting on the spring budget, Conservative Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard said: "The national books need to be balanced but so to people's domestic income and expenditure.

"I hope there will be additional support for households for rising costs, but the underlying causes also need to be addressed."

Meanwhile Liberal Democrat North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan called for "meaningful intervention" from Rishi Sunak.

She said: "First and foremost The Chancellor must tackle the energy price hike by implementing a windfall tax on rich oil and gas companies and giving the worst hit households an additional £1,000 a year to help them through this crisis.

"The Government should also announce a temporary VAT cut to save hard working families hundreds of pounds across the board.

"People can't solve this crisis simply by turning the thermostat down or switching to supermarket own brands. It needs meaningful intervention from the Chancellor.”