The fuel facts

If all fuel has to be taxed at the same rate, bills for heating oil will triple.

Food was once essential so that is why agricultural fuel has a low tax. Everything delivered and taken away from my farm - and private travel- is carried out using fully-taxed fuel and accounts for more than half of my total usage.

The protest will have failed if fuel tax for business use is reduced but the private motorist still has to pay full rate. Most people were in favour of the protest otherwise it would not have made such an impact and they also deserve to benefit from reduced prices.

A basic principle is at stake here. Fuel has become a necessity for everyone, especially in rural areas. Everyone is affected no matter how great or small their income. A high earner hardly notices but it has a great effect on those on low earnings.

I never thought a Labour Government could tax the poor to benefit the rich. Taxation must be according to a person's ability to pay, not on a basic necessity.

Fred Henley,

Green Farm,

Seaton Ross, York.

I note with regret Mr Rowley's comments about some of my staff at Boroughbridge Road service station.

The petrol crisis put a huge amount of pressure on my staff.

We realised at an early stage that we should try to maintain a 24-hour service to the emergency services and to people in desperate need.

It would have been much easier and less costly to simply have closed the sites after the fuel tanks had run dry, as was the case with most other service stations in York. We rang all the main taxi firms and to tell them we would try to give fuel to any taxi driver with school runs or medical services work.

Most drivers behaved admirably and did not take advantage of this offer, but unfortunately some declared themselves, unilaterally, an 'emergency service' and gave my staff intimidating verbal abuse when they were refused fuel, even though it was obvious their fuel tanks were far from empty.

I am also glad to see Mr Rowley was able to determine the oil company's pricing policy even though we were not!

When BP did clarify their strategy, our pump prices were returned to normal and, as I write, we are selling diesel at the cheapest price in York, which is our normal pricing stance.

My staff did their best in extremely difficult circumstances and I can take comfort from the number of doctors, nurses and other emergency staff who have sent in messages of thanks.

Their kind words made our efforts seem worthwhile.

Graham Kennedy,

Managing Director,

Inner Space Stations,

Bishopthorpe Road,

York.

...AS parents of a BP Inner Space service station worker in Boroughbridge Road, York, I wish to explain some of the problems encountered by the staff which Mr Rowley clearly did not know.

During the petrol crisis the staff were subjected to verbal abuse from a small minority, all believing they were to blame for the crisis and subsequent rationing.

While most customers adhered to the rationing, a few filled up their cars blatantly flaunting the signs on display throughout the whole service station.

Panic-buying and some selfish customers resulted in the garage restricting fuel to emergency services only, as did most others. Yet customers still tried to obtain fuel and, on being refused, insulted and harassed the staff. I wonder if Mr Rowley would like any member of his family treated this way?

Mr and Mrs Smith,

Sitwell Grove, York.

...I WORK at the Inner Space service station at Boroughbridge Road and find Mr Rowley's comments very insulting and upsetting. The fuel crisis was not the fault of the garage - although you would think so by some people's attitude towards us.

We had the most difficult job trying to keep the emergency services supplied with fuel; to keep doctors, nurses, police, firemen and ambulance drivers on the road. We limited petrol to keep as many as possible supplied and got very little thanks for it. The abusive language we received was unbelievable and at one point a member of staff was in tears.

Mrs H L Gibbons,

Sitwell Grove,

Acomb, York.