Garages forced to 'play it by ear' as prices rise

Petrol stations on Guernsey are "playing it by ear" as the US-Israel war on Iran pushes fuel prices up globally after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, which is a busy oil shipping route.

Motorists have told the BBC fuel prices are affecting them.

Mike Lucas, manager of the Vale and Cobo service station, said: "Like all of us, we don't know how far this is going to go. We're playing it by ear."

His said his supplier held a big stock "so they can keep their prices fairly competitive" while some garages had "big increases because they get price changes by the day".

Petrol currently costs anywhere from £1.57 per litre to £1.73 and diesel can set motorists back between £1.60 and £1.82 per litre, according to BBC Guernsey research.

Lucas said his garage usually got prices increases once a week on a Friday.

He has just had a 3p price increase, which is "the biggest one we've had in this situation - hopefully there won't be any more this week".

Lucas added: "Our volumes haven't really dropped with the price increases - people still need fuel.

"Of course we're worried about it."

"If prices go stupidly high, then people ae just going to leave their cars at home and walk or cycle or bus or whatever."

Motorists in St Peter Port said prices were affecting their transport decisions.

Paul Cunningham, who drives a petrol vehicle, said: "I was going to fill up earlier today, actually, and I saw the price was 1.70 at the Co-op, so I've given up on that and I just use my car less."

"Ultimately, we have to get round. We'll have to consider buses and the like.

"I have two young children who I have to drive with, so it may be a case of finding bus routes or investing in a cargo bike."

Joe Thornborough, 73, who drives a hybrid vehicle, said "I'm certainly not making as many journeys as I used to do because of it."

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