Pump boycott response 'poor'

A woman tends flowers on a deserted forecourt in Ayrshire

Petrol station owners in Scotland have described the Dump the Pump campaign as a "damp squib".

Douglas Robertson, executive director of the Scottish Motor Trade Association, said the call to boycott stations in protest at high fuel prices had made little impact on the public.

Mr Robertson, whose association represents 200 filling stations, said the organisation sympathised with the campaign.

But he added: "We feel it is wrong to target the petrol retailer, because he is not responsible for the high fuel tax. We feel the campaign should be targetting local MPs and the government."

What we'd say to people is, if you are going to consider doing it, check with your local petrol station if it is one in a rural area

Sue Nicholson, RAC Foundation

The UK-wide action on Tuesday was part of a campaign to persuade the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, to cut fuel duty.

There was a mixed response from 10 stations in Edinburgh questioned by BBC Scotland.

Two, at Barton and Wester Hailes, said they were much quieter than normal. Three, at Niddrie Mills, Meggetland and Newbridge, said they were slightly less busy.

Three, at Musselburgh, Crewe Toll and Canonmills, said sales were the same, and two more, at Little France and Ferry Road, reported being busy.

In the north-east, some filling stations reported business as usual. Only a handful said it was marginally quieter.

Political reaction

Petrol stations in the Highlands reported little impact on businesses.

Out of 16 outlets contacted by BBC Scotland, only one in Caithness said early morning trade had been "significantly down".

Another in Ross-shire reported a slight fall in trade, but all the others said the boycott was having no effect.

Some motorists gave the pumps a miss

Opposition politicians in Scotland have welcomed the campaign.

The action was backed by the Scottish National Party, which said the chancellor was taking 75% of fuel bills in tax. The party wants pump prices to fall into line with Europe.

The Tories said Labour had broken its promise not to increase taxes and that motorists are £350 per year worse off because of higher duties.

However, Scotland Office Minister Brian Wilson said pump prices were actually coming down because of market conditions.

He added that it was vital not to take the cost of petrol in isolation from the other motoring costs.

"If you look at motoring costs throughout Europe you get a very different picture.

Brian Wilson: Defends petrol prices

"The UK has historically loaded taxation onto petrol whereas in other countries such as the Netherlands it costs £720 for your road tax licence.

"If anyone is saying we should have the same petrol tax as the Netherlands, should we also have the same road tax?"

However, the RAC Foundation says that it is worried that rural communities will be hardest hit if the boycott forces petrol stations out of business.

Spokeswoman Sue Nicholson said: "We've got great sympathy with the aims and objectives of the campaign.

"But, we're just a little concerned that what's going to happen is that the very resource we don't want to be affected - the rural petrol station - will actually be hit quite hard by this.

"If a petrol station is little used then it is going to miss even one day's trading and if the boycott continues with regular boycotts - which is one of the suggestions - then it could have quite a significant impact.

Business 'damaged'

"People would perhaps boycott the rural petrol station for one day and that even messes up the delivery system for the petrol station or it may mean that they simply buy their petrol elsewhere.

"What we'd say to people is, if you are going to consider doing it, check with your local petrol station if it is one in a rural area.

"Make sure you are not going to be jeopardising their future."

And Amanda Harvey, chief executive of Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, said: "The price of fuel is damaging business.

"We are paying a large amount more compared with our European counterparts. Businesses are suffering and unless something is done very quickly then they will go under."