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North East charities and businesses struggle with surging diesel costs
Overview
Charities and businesses across the North East of England report facing significant financial strain as the average price of diesel in the UK rises above £2 a litre. Organisations like the cancer charity Daft as a Brush and Teesside Minibus Hire highlight how soaring fuel expenses impact their operations, halt vehicle upgrades, and threaten long-term sustainability.
Key points
- The average price of diesel in the UK has risen above £2 a litre for the first time, driven by disruptions in wholesale oil production and transportation linked to the Iran war.
- North East cancer charity Daft as a Brush is spending £15,000 a month on diesel—£5,000 more than the previous year—using funds raised from donations.
- The increased fuel costs have forced Daft as a Brush to abandon plans to upgrade its diesel vehicles to electric models.
- Teesside Minibus Hire in Middlesbrough warns that soaring prices are unsustainable, as multi-year contracts and struggling customers limit their ability to pass on costs.
- The government has extended a fuel duty freeze, capping the tax at 5p per litre, and maintains that the UK has a resilient fuel supply with no risk of shortages.