All PRA articles – Page 8
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NewsPRA chief issues warning over proposal to mandate EV chargers on forecourts
The PRA chairman Brian Madderson has warned the transport secretary Grant Shapps that speculation about mandating electric charging on petrol forecourts is not feasible for both safety and financial reasons. The warning came after press reports surrounding the proposal to bring forward the cut-off date for sales of new internal combustion engine and hybrid cars from 2040.
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NewsDfT corrects error in Covid-19 guidance over motorists using petrol stations
Clarification from the Government that motorists and shoppers should be visiting petrol stations during the latest period of caution over Covid-19 has been welcomed by PRA chairman Brian Madderson. He explained: “We noted the misleading advice from the Department for Transport (DfT) for travellers which was reported by the Evening Standard in their Wednesday 23rd edition.
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NewsPRA demands corrections after press claims motorists advised use petrol stations only if they “really need to”
The PRA is demanding corrections from two major regional newspapers after they wrongly claimed the government was advising motorists not to stop at petrol stations “unless you really need to”. The Evening Standard in London and the Liverpool Echo both carried stories about the tightening of restrictions and new advice from the Government aimed at clamping down on the spread of Covid-19.
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News100% business rates relief should continue beyond April 2021, says PRA
Current rules on business rates relief should be retained beyond next April, according to the PRA in response to the first part of the Government’s Consultation on Business Rates.
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NewsPRA goes online as pandemic forces cancellation of Business Breakout events
The PRA is introducing a series of online Business Bulletins after the coronavirus pandemic forced it to cancel its autumn programme of Business Breakouts.
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NewsPRA condemns RTFO proposal as hidden green stealth tax on members and drivers
The PRA has accused the government of imposing “hidden green stealth taxes” on its members and drivers after it unveiled proposals to increase the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) buy-out price for fuel suppliers. It also said the existing scheme was not fit for purpose and called for it to be reformed.
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NewsPRA refutes claims by Which? that drivers were overcharged during lockdown
The PRA has refuted claims by Which? magazine that drivers were overcharged for fuel during lockdown. The magazine claimed its research showed that in March, when oil prices and then wholesale fuel prices plunged, rather than passing on full savings dealers were pumping up their margins. It used this as a basis for claiming there should be a fuel price regulator.
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NewsPRA slams proposals to bring forward ban on new petrol and diesel cars and vans
The PRA has voiced strong opposition to the proposal to bring forward the ban on sales of new petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars and vans from 2040 to 2035 or earlier.
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NewsPRA urges chancellor to cut excise duty to spark economic recovery
The chairman of the PRA Brian Madderson has written to the chancellor urging him to cut excise duty to boost the economy after the Covid-19 lockdown. In his letter Madderson said independent petrol retailers were concerned that the high levels of excise duty and VAT were constraining the prospects of a significant recovery in the economy.
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NewsNorthern Ireland Assembly extends rate relief after intervention by PRA
The Northern Ireland Assembly has extended its rates relief scheme to more forecourts after an intervention by the PRA.“We are extremely pleased that following constructive discussions, the Northern Ireland Assembly has confirmed that its Covid-19 business rates relief, originally limited to forecourt shops up to 300m2 of selling space, has now been extended to forecourts with a shop area up to 500 m2,” said PRA chairman Brian Madderson.
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NewsPrax Group to acquire Total’s Lindsey Oil Refinery
The Prax Group has signed an agreement with Total to purchase Lindsey Oil Refinery and its associated logistic assets, with the deal subject to the conditions of sale being met.
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NewsPRA welcomes Chancellor's measures to stimulate the economy
The PRA has welcomed a package of measures to stimulate the economy announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in his Summer Economic Update.
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NewsPRA questions ‘dash to EVs’ as government loses out on £2.5bn fuel duty during lockdown
The PRA has questioned the government’s “headlong dash for EVs”, and “no confirmed replacement for hydrocarbon excise duty”, as the latest HMRC figures reveal a 52% drop in fuel duty revenue for the past two months.
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NewsACS welcomes minister’s letter praising retailers
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has welcomed a letter from the minister for small business, consumers and labour markets, Paul Scully, which highlights the vital and positive role that the retail sector has played during the coronavirus crisis.
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NewsPRA challenges NI government over unfair rates relief
The proposal to exclude petrol station operators in Northern Ireland with more than 300sq m of selling space from the business rate relief is ill-thought-out, according to PRA chairman Brian Madderson.
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NewsPRA urges government action as forecourt crime up nearly 40%
The PRA is pushing the government to help stem the soaring crime rates on forecourts during the pandemic as thieves use face masks to prevent identification. Amid reports of a 37% increase in the number of drive-offs and no means to pay for fuel - with many perpetrators wearing protective ...
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NewsPRA calls for clampdown on ’non-compliant’ hand car washing
The PRA has called on the government for an urgent clamp-down on the re-opening of “endemically non-compliant” hand car washes (HCW) following the lockdown. Earlier this month chairman Brian Madderson wrote to Secretary of State Alok Sharma about the “reliability of this sector to adhere to the clear guidance and ...
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Analysis
Ray Blake: PRA technical director
The Petrol Retailers Association and Car Wash Association teams are now ensconced in their own homes but continuing to represent and advise their members. Members can now access the ’Coronavirus’ section on our website, which is continuously updated to reflect the latest advice on the operation of all aspects of ...
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NewsKay Group praises PRA help to avoid car-wash closure
The PRA has been praised by the Blackburn-based Top 50 independent, the Kay Group Ltd, following the enforced closure of one of its car wash operations by the local Environmental Health Officer. Paul Blackmore, The Kay Group’s non-executive chairman, said the company greatly appreciated Brian Madderson’s intervention when it had ...
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NewsPRA slams ’sickening’ charges of profiteering levelled at fuel retailers
Branding petrol retailers as “damning and criminal” in these immensely challenging times is “sickening” and “desperate knee-jerk journalism”, stressed PRA chairman Brian Madderson in response to a tweet and subsequent press release from Howard Cox of FairFuelUK. The FairFuelUK media communications claimed that fuel wholesalers and oil companies were still ...