Leaded petrol is still available!

There has been a great deal of publicity recently from the Government (DTLR and DOT) and the AA highlighting the fact that the supply of LRP (lead replacement petrol) for over 1.5 million motorists is being phased out by the oil companies.

One of the UKs largest independent oil companies, Bayford & Co, has been supplying leaded petrol to over 170 forecourts throughout much of the UK since January 2000. Unlike LRP the leaded petrol, manufactured for Bayford by Petrochem Carless at their refinery in Harwich, has a British Standard (BS and meets the current Government specification for low sulphur fuels. A
web site - www.leadedpetrol.co.uk - has been created to highlight the availability.

Following the AAs press release last week headed The end is nigh for 4-star, the Department of Transport has itself issued a press release this week. Both highlight the fact that LRP will start to disappear from the UK
forecourts in the Autumn.

There is some deliberate confusion being created by some organisations, Bayford Managing Director Jonathan Turner commented. The AA claim that leaded petrol had been banned when they know this is clearly untrue. When I spoke to them they refused to change the story, explaining that they do not see leaded petrol (which has been sold in the UK since the 1920s) as a fuel for the public! I cannot believe that an organisation such as the AA would seek to deliberately mislead the motorist.

The DTLR have been very supportive of the fact that there are vehicles out there that need to run on leaded fuel which is why we have had an official licence for nearly 2 years. Under European legislation we can only sell 0.5% of the total UK fuel demand. This makes perfect sense given the governments environmental responsibilities. Jonathan told us.

Further notes on Leaded Petrol:

Bayford have also been working closely with The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs and Lord Montagu to obtain a lower duty for leaded fuel. During the Budget 18 months ago duty was cut on all fuels that classified as lower sulphur apart from leaded petrol. They have had meetings with the Treasury and Customs and Excise who have been unable thus far to sort out the apparent error.

Tax on leaded petrol for road use is 64.25 pence per litre (including 54.68ppl duty) for a market of approximately 10 million litres per year, whereas it is only 32.12ppl (including 27.34ppl duty) for aviation gasoline, which has a higher lead content and a market size approaching 100 million litres. The petrol stations that sell leaded are covered by strict legislation that ensures the product is stored and dispensed in an environmentally friendly manner.