A garage in Fife has been accused of having Scotland's most expensive fuel after diesel prices surged to nearly £2 per litre. At Shell's Bawbee filling station in Leven, diesel reached £1.99.9 last week, while unleaded stood at £1.76.9. The UK average at the time was £1.69.93 for diesel and £1.58.2 for unleaded.
The garage has since reduced the price to £1.77 per litre for diesel following concerns from locals. One customer expressed disbelief, stating they had never seen prices close to that level despite driving across Scotland for work. The customer called for reason amid rapidly rising fuel bills.
Data from Experian Catalist shows the average cost of petrol at UK forecourts on Sunday was 163.5p per litre, with diesel at 173.4p. A month ago, pump prices were 148.0p for petrol and 151.6p for diesel. A staff member at Bawbee noted that prices fluctuate with the price of a barrel of oil.
RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams said that while further rises are likely, drivers should soon see respite as oil and wholesale prices appear to have settled. He added that the recent hikes stem from an oil price rise earlier this month, but with oil now falling, pump prices may decrease.
A Shell spokesperson clarified that Shell only controls prices at sites it owns, and about half of its UK network is operated by independent dealers who set their own prices. Shell is legally prevented from dictating prices to dealer groups.
