Scottish hauliers hit by filling station closures
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• Remote Scottish hauliers will face longer journeys to refuel over the next five years as up to 100 rural filling stations are forced to close due to financial A report, commissioned by the Scottish Office, reveals that as of early 1998 there were 815 rural fuel stations in Scotland—down from 841 in 1997.
Higher fuel prices—up to lOpilit more at rural stations compared with those in urban areas—were a factor in the closure of these stations (CM 2.8 April), and problems will continue in the future.
Donnie Macleod of Skye haulier N&D Macleod says more closures will have an impact on rural hauliers as they have to travel further afield to find stations. "It won't affect us as we have our own fuel tanks and pumps," he says. "But it will hit others."
An SO spokesman says that the Government has recently made available £400,000 for each of the next three years through the Rural Transport Fund to help rural fuel stations to meet the costs of replacing old tanks.
He says the Government is also looking at the possibility of giving the rural stations more assistance via business rate relief and capital grants.