March 30, 201016 yr Budget 2010 for motorists: Reprieve on fuel duty rises merely staggers the pain By STEPHEN WOMACK Last updated at 10:13 PM on 27th March 2010 Comments (0) Add to My Stories Drivers were given a partial reprieve last week after rising oil prices prompted the Chancellor to phase in a planned duty increase. Duty will rise by 1p a litre from Thursday with a further 1p rise this October and the balance of 0.76p per litre from January next year. Previously, the whole increase was due to apply from Thursday. Alistair Darling also announced a £100 million pothole fund to help repair roads damaged by the winter's big freeze. Pumped for cash: Paul Jackson with his 4x4 Jeep Adrian Tink, motoring strategist at the RAC, says: 'The Chancellor has done little more than stagger the pain at the pumps. 'Average petrol prices are heading towards the record high of 120p a litre and the 1p fuel duty increase on April 1 will only make this happen more quickly. This staggered approach to the fuel duty rise will ultimately cost Britain's motorists £1 billion.' More... Budget 2010: How tax bills are set to surge Budget 2010: What it means for you (thisismoney.co.uk) Paul Jackson is one motorist facing rising fuel costs. Paul, 36, drives more than 18,000 miles a year, much of this on the 52-mile round trip between his home in Lingfield, Surrey, and his job running a timber merchant in West Kingsdown, Kent. He drives a Jeep Compass 4x4 with a two litre diesel engine that he and wife Zoe, 31, bought last year. The couple used to have a Mini, but needed something with a substantial boot when they took on ninemonthold border collie Molly last year. Although he can average about 36 miles to the gallon, Paul says: 'It already costs me £60 every time I fill up. Any change in fuel and petrol duty will hurt and this staggered rise isn't really any better. It just delays the impending doom for a bit longer. 'There is no option to do the trip by public transport so this is a tax rise I cannot avoid.' Even if Paul moved closer to work, Zoe would end up doing the high mileage instead as her job, working as a PA for insurer esure, is based in Reigate, Surrey. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1261267/Budget-2010-motorists-Reprieve-fuel-duty-rises-merely-staggers-pain.html#ixzz0jcZrrJ2M
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