Allow carnival clubs to use cheaper red diesel - MP

A Somerset MP is lobbying the government to ask it to allow carnival clubs to use red diesel as a cost-saving measure.

Conservative MP for Bridgwater Sir Ashley Fox believes allowing the clubs to use the fuel, which is taxed a lower rate, could prevent some clubs from folding due to costs.

Guy Fawkes Carnival said it welcomed the support, and added that it wanted to find ways to make their carnivals cleaner and more sustainable in the future.

In response, a Treasury spokesperson said the government is already helping with fuel costs by extending the 5p fuel duty cut, but said it keeps all taxes under review.

"We know how important carnival season is to communities across Somerset," the spokesperson said.

"By extending the temporary 5p fuel duty cut until the end of 2026, leaving diesel 11p per litre cheaper than it would otherwise have been."

Red diesel is a type of fuel used by farmers and it has a lower tax rate than regular diesel.

Sir Ashley said the change in fuel would help the carnival, which he said makes "such a fantastic contribution" to Bridgwater.

"Each year the costs go up and it becomes increasingly more difficult to put on the carnival," he said.

"In Bridgwater, we have 15 fantastic carnival clubs and my fear is as the costs go up each and every year, we might see one of those smaller clubs call it a day."

He said the carnival should be supported because it brings communities, charities and local businesses together.

Duncan White, of Guy Fawkes Carnival, said that using red fuel to power the carts generators and their towing vehicles would save a significant amount of money.

"One of the things that burns the most fuel is the generator to power all the lighting and the technical equipment on the cars," he said.

"During a carnival season it's not just the two hours that the club are going around the procession route, it's the preparation too. And these big generators powering the cars use a lot of fuel."

The club is less than a month away from technical rehearsals, ahead of the annual event in November.

White said since changing to using LED lights on the floats, it has helped lower fuel consumption, but other costs have risen.

"We're still seeing clubs having to bear a large cost and they could use that money for other things if red diesel was permitted."

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