'Nightmare' for taxi drivers as fuel prices soar

Businesses across the West of England say they are struggling to make a profit as petrol prices soar to nearly £2 per litre.

Disruptions around critical shipping lanes like the Strait of Hormuz have tightened global oil supplies amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Retailers facing higher wholesale prices for fuel deliveries are given the choice of passing this increase onto the customer, or forfeiting their profitable margins.

Pieter-Jon Allis, owner of Stroud Taxi in Gloucestershire, said it was a "complete nightmare" as he faced "continual pressure to lowball" his prices to stay afloat.

The increase comes as conflict in the Middle East has pushed the global oil price to above $108 (£80) per barrel, up from $70 (£52) in June 2026 - a roughly 50% rise.

Petrol prices across the region vary, but rural areas are more expensive due to higher transport costs, lower sales volumes, and a lack of local competition.

Filling up your tank in Bristol would currently set you back an average of £1.70 per litre, while some petrol stations in Hullavington in Wiltshire are charging £2.40.

Elsewhere, a petrol station in Upton Noble, Somerset, has increased their prices to £1.86, and another near Whaddon will cost you £1.96 per litre.

"Obviously it's a concern because our chief business cost on a day-to-day basis is fuel. I think we're headed for pretty tough times ahead," Allis said.

He added at least 50% of the calls he receives are requests for quotes, as customers compare his pricing with other services, such as Uber.

"We're under a continual pressure to lowball ourselves and do prices we were doing 15 years ago, even though fuel prices are at an all time high," he said.

"It's just a complete nightmare in that respect."

Susannah Moffat, who runs Ledbury Road Services in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, said "the last thing we want is to lose more trade" by putting the prices up.

"The only thing we can do is keep cutting our margin, time and time again, to try and keep the price increases to a minimum," she said.

Moffat said the petrol station was now "relying" on income from shop sales instead.

"It's a difficult business to be in at the moment. Seems like there's no end in sight really, but hopefully it won't be forever," she added.

Meanwhile, volunteer blood bike charity Freewheelers, which supports the NHS by delivering lifesaving medical products, said they are "sucking up the impact in our reserves".

The organisation covers an operational distance of more than 220,000 miles (354,055 km) per year across Bristol, Somerset, Bath and west Wiltshire.

"We've spent £17,000 on fuel per year over the last couple of years," said Chris MacDonald, chair of the Bristol branch.

"This current year it's heading towards £22,000, so it's a significant jump."

The charity relies solely on public fundraising, and said if fuel prices continue to rise, they would have to reduce the number of "low priority" callouts.

"But we're not there yet. We can sustain the current situation for a while by digging into our reserves," MacDonald assured.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.