Yesterday, Mark stepped up the local fuel fairness campaign. Wyre Forest's MP met with Emma Reynolds, a representative from Tesco, to discuss the local petrol price anomalies- anomalies that mean that Tesco in Kidderminster are charging 4p per litre more than the Tesco's Cradley Heath branch just 13 miles up the road.
Mrs Reynolds explained that it has a pricing policy that looks to be one of the most competitive prices within a three mile radius. The supermarket has also tried to become competitive by offering card points and other incentives that could result in up to 50p being knocked off each litre bought with vouchers earned from spending choices.
Mark said: "In all fairness to Tesco, they are the only petrol retailer that has agreed to meet to discuss the local price discrepancy. However, Mrs Reynolds was unable to come up with a solution that can be made without changing the company's national pricing policy. She has agreed to meet with her superiors to discuss what can be done. In the meantime, I am still very unhappy that Wyre forest residents are paying more than 4p per litre more than neighbouring areas. I would urge local residents, unhappy with this situation, to continue to vote with their feet and buy from cheaper retailers, especially Callow Oils at Chaddesley Corbett, who still offer the most competitive price locally. Consumer power is the most effective pressure."
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) recently announced that it did not consider it appropriate to launch a market study into this anomaly and continues to believe that price transparency is the best solution. To help with transparency, Mark has a link to a price comparison website on this wesbite.