A WYRE FOREST District Councillor has called for parity on fuel prices between this area and the surrounding ones after he found that charges in neighbouring towns were considerably cheaper.
Coun Leigh Whitehouse, who represents Blakebrook and Habberley South, spoke out after some of the prices in Kidderminster, Bewdley and Stourport came in around 8p to 10p per litre more expensive than neighbouring towns.
We – the Standard – looked at the cost of fuel in the local area at filling stations across north Worcestershire, using petrolprices.com – the comparison website – to examine prices for both petrol and diesel.
In Kidderminster, supermarket prices, such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, range from £1.37 to £1.39 per litre of standard unleaded petrol. Esso came in as the most expensive – as high as £1.41 and £1.43 per litre.
Prices are around the same in Bewdley and Stourport.
What are the cheapest in North Worcestershire?
In comparison, in Redditch, the cheapest petrol available – at several stations, such as Sainsbury’s and Morrisons – is around £1.30 to £1.31 per litre.
Petrol stations in Bromsgrove district are slightly more expensive than Redditch but not as high as Wyre Forest.
Rubery is on a par with Redditch with prices at Morrisons there coming in around £1.31 per litre.
The cheapest petrol in the Wyre Forest is at Chaddesley Corbett garage – that is £1.29 per litre.
There is a similar gap in diesel prices where Wyre Forest stations again are among the most expensive in north Worcestershire.
For example, the cheapest diesel prices in Kidderminster are around £1.44 per litre (Tesco Stourport) and £1.45 (Tesco Kidderminster) but these can spiral as high as between £1.48 to £1.51 at Esso.
In Redditch, diesel prices are again several pence cheaper – at £1.37.9 (Morrisons) and £1.38.9 (Sainsbury’s).
That means, people in Kidderminster, Bewdley and Stourport – with the average car fuel tank being between 50 and 60 litres – could be paying around £5 more to fill up their tank than people in Redditch.
Call for action
Coun Whitehouse said: “People in Wyre Forest are feeling the strain.
“When fuel prices rise sharply, it affects everything – from commuting to work and supporting local businesses, to simply being able to get around.
“For many residents, there is no realistic alternative to driving.”
Coun Whitehouse has written directly to major fuel retailers Tesco and Sainsbury’s, calling on them to review fuel pricing at their Wyre Forest stores and to consider the impact current prices are having on the local community.
He said he was awaiting a response.
“I believe large retailers have a responsibility to the communities they serve.
“I have asked Tesco and Sainsbury’s to explain their pricing and to consider what can be done to ease the burden on local motorists.”
Coun Whitehouse is continuing to work closely with residents, listening to their experiences and raising the issue on their behalf.
He has encouraged people to share their concerns so they can be collectively represented to retailers and decision makers.
“This is about standing up for our community – by working together and making our voices heard, we can push for fairer treatment and real change.”
We contacted Tesco and Sainsbury’s – the latter told us to contact the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) which represents forecourts in the UK.
Gordon Balmer, PRA executive director, cited the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Road Fuel Monitoring Annual Report 2025 and said: “Operating costs alone do not account for higher fuel margins, yet retailers continue to face steep rises in labour, taxation, energy and crime – pressures that make it increasingly tough to operate.”
He added he was disappointed that the PRA was disappointed the CMA has stated it would not include operating costs in its analysis over the next five years.
“A more balanced and consistent approach is needed to reflect the real challenges facing the sector.
“We will continue to work constructively with the CMA to bring greater clarity and balance to future reports and will engage with government on the forthcoming Fuel Finder Scheme, due to be implemented early in the new year.”
