PETROL prices across Barnsley have dropped by 11 pence per litre over the last 12 months after a Chronicle petition which was backed by residents and Barnsley South MP Stephanie Peacock was officially submitted to Parliament.

In August 2023, the cheapest petrol motorists in Barnsley could find was 146.9p per litre, whilst residents in leafy Cheshire and the North Yorkshire constituency of then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak were paying considerably less despite the average wage being much higher.

But it wasn’t just the high-end areas of the country who were getting the better end of the deal.

Locally in Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham motorists were still paying less and in some cases they were able to fill their tank for almost 3p cheaper a litre.

This prompted the Chronicle to start a petition which garnered hundreds of signatures from local residents and received the backing from Ms Peacock who subsequently campaigned herself to get locals a fair deal.

She wrote to petrol stations across Barnsley and urged them to lower their prices but the issue got worse before it got better.

In May, the cheapest locals in Barnsley were able to find petrol was 146.7p and you struggled to find anywhere more expensive across the entire country.

Further analysis shows there wasn’t a town or city in either West or South Yorkshire where you were able to fill up your tank for a more expensive price.

In Rotherham prices were just 145.9 pence per litre, and it was even cheaper in Doncaster and Sheffield.

Meanwhile in Leeds there were multiple areas with prices as low as 136.9 pence per litre.

Thankfully the prices are now dropping in Barnsley and fast.

The latest figures show that locals are paying 135.9p per litre for their petrol much cheaper than anywhere else in South and West Yorkshire.

The prices have dropped drastically in the town, but have remained the same elsewhere across the country.

Ms Peacock, who submitted the petition to Parliament before the general election, told the Chronicle: “I was pleased to launch my campaign to lower petrol prices last summer, alongside the Barnsley Chronicle, which called on local petrol providers to lower their prices in line with other comparable areas.

“Barnsley had some of the most expensive prices in the country and often more expensive than central London. Too many local people were facing higher costs in comparison to nearby areas.

‘’The Chronicle launched a petition online and this is something I raised in the Commons numerous times, and presented to Parliament.

‘’Thank you to the Barnsley Chronicle for drawing attention to this issue and supporting the call for lower prices. It shows one of the ways that local newspapers are so important, by highlighting issues and helping to bring about change.”

Current prices

Barnsley 135.9p

Sheffield 137.9p

Nottingham 136.9p

Newcastle 137.7p

Fulham 139.8p

Knightsbridge 136.7p

Cheshire 139.7p

Richmond 137.9p

Prices August 2023

Barnsley 146.9p

Sheffield 137.9p

Nottingham 140.9p

Newcastle 144.9p

Fulham 144.9p

Knightsbridge 142.9p

Cheshire 143.5p