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Tue, 07 Apr 2026

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 Alderney fuel duty relief proposed as prices rise

Politician recommends fuel duty relief, with Alderney's prices more than 60% higher than UK average.
Alderney politician Alex Snowdon has called on the island's government to consider reducing fuel duty in response to rising prices, which have made Alderney one of the most expensive places to buy petrol in the British Isles. The current price of unleaded fuel is £2.30 per litre and diesel is £2.52, compared to the UK average of £1.82 for unleaded and £2 for diesel. Snowdon suggests that the States of Alderney could set a lower fuel duty than the current rate of 90.5p per litre, which is higher than in the UK (52.95p) and Jersey (64p). The island collected £465,000 in fuel duty last year, and Snowdon warns that if prices continue to rise, it may become necessary to increase income support for struggling residents. Business owners on the island are already feeling the pinch, with Alexandra Rotaru of The Blonde Hedgehog Hotel expressing concern about the impact on her business. "If expenses go up, all businesses will be affected, and it might even be the end for some of the small businesses here," she said. Alderney Electricity's managing director Chris MacGregor has also spoken out about the island's reliance on oil, which is becoming increasingly expensive due to global market fluctuations. He advocates for accelerating the transition to renewable energy to reduce vulnerability to oil price shocks and improve self-sufficiency. Meanwhile, Guernsey Post has already begun making the switch to electric vehicles in Alderney, citing the cost-benefit of doing so given the high diesel prices on the island.