Petrol providers such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, bp and Esso continue to charge higher fuel prices in Newbury when compared to nearby towns

Newbury continues to be a hotspot for higher fuel prices, with petrol stations in nearby towns selling petrol nearly 10p less per litre.

Following a Newbury Weekly News investigation in 2022, we found that motor fuel providers such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco and bp were selling petrol at significantly higher prices to customers in the Newbury area, with the businesses offering little explanation for the price hikes.

Three years on, it seems not much has changed.

As of January 17, the cheapest local price for unleaded fuel at 138.9p per litre can be found at both Sainsbury’s petrol stations in Newbury, at Tesco Extra in Pinchington Lane and at the Murco Fuel Station in Long Lane.

This is 8 pence more expensive per litre when compared to the cheapest provider within a 20-mile radius, with Murco in Andover charging 130.9p per litre.

Tesco Extra Reading West just 14 miles away from Newbury charges 131.9p per litre, and in Basingstoke the supermarket charges 133.9p per litre, both significantly less than what is charged at the Pinchington Lane store.

In response to our enquiries, a Tesco spokesperson said: “We regularly monitor fuel prices throughout a local area to ensure we’re providing competitive prices for our customers.”

This is the exact same response they provided in 2022.

We asked the supermarket to further explain this seemingly blanket statement, and we have had no response.

At Sainsbury's in Calcot, the supermarket charges 132.9p per litre of unleaded fuel, and in Wantage, Didcot and Kempshott, it charges 133.9p per litre — 5 pence less per litre when compared to Newbury.

We reached out to Sainsbury’s but the company refused to comment, instead referring us to the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) which Sainsbury’s said could “provide context on behalf of the industry”.

However, in response to our request to explain why petrol prices are so much higher in Newbury, a PRA spokesperson said: “Unfortunately the PRA can’t comment on the pricing strategies of individual forecourts, especially those that aren’t members.”

bp and Esso also charge higher prices at their petrol stations in Newbury.

At the bp garage on London Road unleaded fuel costs 141.9p per litre, but at another bp in central Reading it costs 133.9p.

With Esso it is the same story. The fuel provider charges 141.9p at its premises in Colthrop, and 132.9p at another station in Southcote just 10 miles away.

Neither bp nor Esso have responded to our requests for comment.

Newbury motorists continue to be frustrated by the higher prices and the lack of explanation from fuel providers as to why they charge more here.

Paul Searle said: “We are all being ripped off as all the Newbury petrol stations seem to be working together to keep prices high.

“I try to travel to Calcot Sainsbury’s just to get cheaper petrol even if I have to use more fuel. With the money I save I then give these petrol stations my business.

“I definitely think there is some form of price fixing going on as Tesco and Sainsbury’s [in Newbury] as they seem to change prices together at the same time.”

Pip Piper was critical of the supermarkets and the prices they charge in Newbury. They said: “Supermarkets push prices up, as they have squeezed out most of the competition in Newbury and many other towns.

“They should not have been allowed such control and monopoly over towns.”

Lee Moustafa believed that the people of Newbury were partly to blame for the higher fuel prices.

He said: “People in Newbury like to be ripped off. Tesco takes advantage of Newburians not bothered to complain.

“Tesco here doesn’t reflect the cheaper prices to people. It is their culture. Sainsbury’s is the same. Both of them should be boycotted.”