Rising fuel costs hitting businesses and customers

Businesses and consumers in a town say soaring fuel prices are having an impact on both their day-to-day operations and spending power.

Hayle in Cornwall is home to a range of independent businesses that rely on regular deliveries, tourism and customers travelling from across the region.

Petrol prices rose to an average of 161.3p per litre between July and August, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the highest level recorded since November 2022, and diesel is expected to top £2 per litre in the coming days

Mark Nicholas, who runs flower shop The Big Pink Tree, said: "The fuel increase has really affected really how far we can deliver to serve our customer base."

Nicholas added: "Because of the increase we've had to pull back slightly from the area that we deliver which upsets me because I can't serve every customer that we used to serve."

Local residents said filling up their vehicles was also putting pressure on household finances.

One worker drives an eight mile round-trip between Carbis Bay and Hayle every day and said fuel costs had become "extortionate". She said she no longer considered making extra journeys at weekends because of the cost.

Businesses are also seeing wider knock-on effects. Hairdresser Emma Crossley said customers were waiting longer between appointments than they had previously.

She said: "Since the fuel prices went up I have noticed a difference in how often people have their hair done. About five years ago it would have been about six or seven weeks - it's more like 10 to 12 weeks now."

Tourism operators have also noticed a change. Pauline Ellis of the Mad Hatter bed and breakfast, said some visitors had cancelled trips because travel costs had become too expensive.

She said: "We are a long way down here and I think it has made an impact on whether people can afford to come this far down, with the prices as they are."

At Down the Line Surf Shop, owner Justin Lapskas said the higher fuel costs affected the import and transportation of products.

"We bring in products from around the world, so for us, the increase in fuel prices has an effect and something that we've kind of got to deal with moving forward," he said.

"So yeah, I'd say fuel has an impact across the board for us."

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