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Petrol, diesel HGV ban ‘completely unrealistic’ – PRA
Following the Government’s decision to ban new diesel or petrol heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) sold after 2040 as part of a plan to decarbonise the transport sector, the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) has described the announcement as “optimistic but completely unrealistic.”
PRA slams government road pricing proposal
The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) has reacted with a mixture of horror and dismay to the suggestion that road pricing could be introduced to cover the loss of revenue from fuel taxation when petrol and diesel cars are phased out. PRA chairman Brian Madderson said: “We are deeply concerned about the government’s potential road pricing proposals. It is unfathomable that the government would introduce a measure that would only succeed in discriminating against the poorest in society.
PRA calls for clarification from the Welsh government on car washes
The Petrol Retailers and Car Wash Associations represent the 5,350 independent forecourt operators and specialist car wash companies across the UK. This covers 65 per cent of the total fuel outlets (PFS). Many of these sites have Automated Car Washes (ACW). The PRA does not represent the standalone Hand Car Washes (HCW), which on occasion may breach Covid-19 regulations as well as ones covering tax, employment and the environment.
PRA welcomes landmark Supreme Court ATM decision
The Supreme Court unanimously decided in favour that ATMs at existing shops should not be subject to separate business rates assessment on 20 May. “We are delighted that the Supreme Court has ruled in favour of retailers, meaning that they will now be rightly owed around £500 million in business rates refunds,” said Brian Madderson, chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA).
Positive reactions – UK automotive industry upbeat about 2020 budget
As we have seen, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, presented his first Budget to Parliament it contained a number of potential automotive demand drivers. But how has the industry responded to the proposals? Here are some of the reactions of the various sectors of the automotive industry.
PRA appeals to government for ATM fee reform
The PRA has sent the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and the Right Honourable the Lord Tyrie, chairman of the CMA, the case for government intervention in the reform of unfair changes to ATM usage fees. Many other organisations have also raised their concerns, including the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the Association of Convenience Stores, and consumer group Which?
PRA urges Chancellor to cut road fuel tax by 2ppl
The PRA has written to Sajid Javid MP, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a case for cutting road fuel duty by 2 pence per litre in the first Budget of the new Government.
PRA welcomes the prospect of Budget fuel duty cuts
Senior sources have confirmed that the Government would announce the 2ppl fuel duty cut later this year – the first reduction of the motoring tax in eight years. “The PRA has welcomed hints carried by national media that the Treasury may be considering fuel duty cuts in the upcoming Autumn Budget”, said Brian Madderson, chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA).
PRA ‘disappointed’ by Supreme Court decision on ATMs and rates
“The PRA is disappointed to see that the Supreme Court has agreed to allow the government’s Valuation Office Agency (VOA), the right of appeal against last year’s defeat in the long-running dispute with major supermarkets over business rates and ATMs.”, said Brian Madderson, chairman of the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). In November 2018 the Court of Appeal ruled that ATMs located both inside and outside of stores should not be assessed for additional business rates on top of the normal store rates costs, retailers are already facing. The VOA appealed on the grounds that ATMs facing outward shouldn’t be exempt, and should count towards overall business rates, making the bills higher.
PRA urges Treasury to clarify new small business rates relief scheme
The Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) is seeking urgent confirmation from the Treasury that petrol filling stations (PFS) will be eligible for small business rates relief announced in the Budget. This request comes after some confusion in the 2013 Budget, when the Treasury did not specifically include PFS as one of the eligible business categories. The PRA had to intervene to obtain formal confirmation that, subject to State Aid de minimis limits and the rates threshold, the discount scheme was applicable.
PRA, CWA urge crackdown on tax evasion in the hidden economy
In their joint budget submission, the PRA and CWA have highlighted concerns that the hand car wash sector should be paying up to £1.45 billion per year in tax, and this is not being collected by HMRC.
PRA calls for investment in charging infrastructure
The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) is calling for government to offer grants to retailers for investment into charging infrastructure, following news that the Automated and Electric Vehicles (A&EV) Bill has passed its third reading in the House of Commons.
Strong sterling protecting motorists – for now
The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) has warned independent forecourt operators, that a fall in the strength of sterling could potentially see petrol back to 130ppl in the spring.
Chancellor “is planning tax hike for diesel” says PRA
Drivers of diesel engine cars are likely to face a hike in fuel price, according to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA). Chairman Brian Madderson states that the association “has been informed by a well-placed parliamentary source, that the Chancellor is likely to announce a 1ppl increase to fuel duty for all diesel drivers in this week’s Autumn Budget. This would be a thinly disguised tax grab using air quality issues as justification.”
