BOLTON’S motorists have their say on petrol prices, as the average spend to fill up a family car exceeds £100 for the first time.
Figures from data firm Experian show the average price of a litre of petrol at UK forecourts reached a record 182.3p on Wednesday (June 8).
That was an increase of 1.6p compared with Tuesday, taking the average cost of filling a 55-litre family car to £100.27.
The average price of a litre of diesel on Wednesday was 188.1p.
With the cost-of-living crisis showing no signs of improving, we asked drivers on the forecourt how they are managing with the ever-increasing fuel prices.
Foster Carer Sharon uses her car everyday as part of her job.
She said: “As you can imagine, foster carers are forever running children about everywhere – appointments, school, after school clubs and things like that. So, when we’ve not had a wage rise for such a long time, it will affect what we provide for our children.”
She has just filled up her family-sized car about half way, to the tune of £46, so she will be one of those who will be pushing the £100 mark for a full tank of fuel.
She said: “It has to be manageable in my job. It has to be. I need to car.
“I don’t make sacrifices elsewhere, it’s just that we’ll have less savings.”
Abdur Rahman is a delivery driver, so his work also centres around his ability to drive a car.
He said: “I do a delivery job. Of course, it affects my work.
“It’s very hard. I don’t have any higher education so I can’t get a good job – I just do the delivery job so I spend a lot on petrol.
“But we have to carry on.”
The price of fuel is not just affecting those who rely on their cars for work.
Fran Robinson is retired, but needs her care to get to and from town so she can do her shopping, as well as looking helping with childcare by babysitting her grandchildren.
“It is getting ridiculous,” she said.
“I don’t use it that much really, but it’s still gone up. Extremely.
“It does, definitely affect my daily budget. I just top it up, I don’t let it go. Just now it’s like £15.”
That £15, Fran reckons, will last her just three days, despite limited use of her car.
“I’ll try not to use it, but I’ve got to come to town.
“They’ve got to do something about it.”
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