RISING FUEL DUTY WILL PUT PLUMBERS OUT OF WORK NOT ON THE BUS, SAYS PLUMBING ENTREPRENEUR.

Plumbing entrepreneur Charlie Mullins has joined calls for the planned 3p rise in fuel duty to be scrapped to preserve the UK’s army of ‘man in a van’ businesses.
The Managing Director of Pimlico Plumbers, which has a fleet of more than 120 vans, cars and bikes operating in Central London. In the last year, its annual fuel costs have risen from around £800,000 to almost a million pounds.
Charlie said: “Fuel costs are already hitting businesses hard - another rise will push many over the edge. We have seen our costs rise by £150,000 in the last year and we’re working hard to prevent the rise being passed onto our customers.
“That will not always be possible for some self-employed people and small firms. If there is another duty rise they won’t be driving to jobs they’ll be driven out of business.”
He added: “This debate also gives environmentalists a platform to encourage people to get rid of their vehicles. Efforts can be made to reduce fuel usage and the environment, for example, at Pimlico Plumbers we have the most efficient vans available and use low-fuel consumption motor scooters to transport parts around London.
“On the whole though, for the sake of the economy, we have to put some of the environmental arguments to one side. How can a mobile business like plumbers operate without their vans? I can’t really see tradepeople travelling to jobs on the bus or tube with their tools in a rucksack.”
ENDS