Petrol discount schemes introduced to the strath
HARD-pressed motorists in Badenoch and Strathspey have welcomed a fuel discount scheme brought in by the strath’s largest petrol station operator which will cut up to four pence off a litre of fuel.
Two fuel discount offers are now available at MHR Retail Ltd’s three filling stations in the area – at Grantown, Newtonmore and Aviemore.
The two schemes were introduced earlier in the week and staff at the garages said locals filling their fuel tanks already seemed to be in a happier mood.
The first offer involves a loyalty scheme with local drivers getting one pence off per litre for their first visit, two pence on their next and up to a maximum of four pence on their fourth visit, before starting again with a penny off.
Those who can prove that they are locals can also collect a sheet of three pence off per litre vouchers which run for a week at time up to August 21.
The discounts mean that in most cases it is now cheaper to fill up locally than in Inverness for residents.
They have been introduced a little more than a week after MHR Retail Ltd – the UK’s largest service station operator – rebranded their three local outlets as TORQ.
Instead of being tied to ESSO as previously or any other major oil companies, the firm is dealing directly with the Grangemouth refinery under the new forecourt name.
The three local filling stations are the only ones so far to be branded as TORQ with the only other operating so far at Gordon, in Aberdeenshire.
Motorist Margaret Gaughan, from Dulnain Bridge, was one of the happier locals filling up in Grantown yesterday (Tuesday) where unleaded was selling at 136.9 per litre and diesel at 140.9 per litre – prior to the discount.
She said: "I think it is a great thing for the local community because otherwise they have to go up to Inverness to the likes of Tesco for a discount.
"It will certainly encourage residents to use their local filling station – and we’ll keep a few extra pennies in our pocket."
Filling her fuel tank in Aviemore was Marilyn Morrissey, who lives in Dalfaber and runs a mobile hairdresser’s.
She was pleased to with the discounts now on offer.
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"I spend about £40 to £50 per week on petrol. I can’t really recoup the cost of petrol because I would have to push it onto the customer," she said.
She added that she too was inclined to wait until she was in Inverness to fill up the car but would be more likely to use the local petrol stations.
Mr Fergus Ewing, Inverness and Nairn MSP, welcomed the initiative.
He said: "Since this issue was first highlighted by the Strathy I have met with Mr Paul Whiston (north regional manager for MRH Retail) at which meeting he explained that in other parts of the UK fuel discount schemes for locals were operated.
"Obviously my question to him was why were they not operating in their three filling stations in Badenoch and Strathspey.
"He said he would take away this issue and think about it.
"I am therefore pleased that this local discount scheme has been brought forward and await feedback from locals as to whether it is fair and sufficient.
"That said, I am, however, pleased that the company has responded with these two discount schemes and large credit goes to local people who have raised this matter with me and to the Strathy for highlighting the issue of local fuel prices over several months."
Local MP Danny Alexander said discounts at the pump was welcome news for local people.
He commented: "The government has taken steps to reduce fuel duty and it is good to see local suppliers willing to do the same.
"We need to be constantly vigilant to make sure that fuel suppliers are treating their customers fairly, so that every bit of help can be passed on to families."
Mr Whiston was not available for comment yesterday.
MRH Retail said that the deal with Grangemouth would allow them to further challenge the dominance of the major multi-national oil companies. They currently operate 320 forecourts across the UK.
The two offers can not be run in conjunction with one another and the fuel on sale meets all product quality requirements of the British Standards Institute.
