Case study: ‘I used to go to Glasgow for fruit and veg, but fuel costs too much now’

TOM Lewis, chef and owner at Monachyle Mhor estate at Balquidder in Perthshire has noticed the rising cost of rural life – particularly when it comes to fuel and petrol.

“The cost of fuel and gas has definitely gone up. We have an oil boiler and a biomass burner on site. Last year I spent £28,000 on wood pellets. The rise in prices has been enormous.”

As the owner of a hotel, bakery, tea room and fish shop he has also been hit hard by delivery charges. “We are 17 miles from Callander and we used to get free deliveries. They have changed that – next-day deliveries only go as far as Callander. If you want one you have to pay extra.

“I used to go to Glasgow twice a week to pick up fruit and vegetables in the market, but it is not worth it any more because of the cost of fuel and the wear and tear on the vehicles.”

For people living in rural areas the rise in petrol prices has had a disproportionate effect.

“If any of my staff want to go into town it is a 17 mile trip – you have to have a car. In a place like this you can’t expect the council to run every every 20 minutes.”

And living in a beautiful rural area is not cheap. “In Balquhidder the properties are very desirable, so that also has an effect on the cost of living.”

Mr Lewis believes one way the government could help support the rural economy would be to look at giving concessions for business rates.

“We have our own septic tank, our own private water and our own biomass plant, but there is no concession for that and the rates are going up all the time.

“That is somewhere the government could definitely look to help people running a business in a rural area.”

But despite the economic pressure he is keen to stress the delights of rural life. “You have to have a realistic take on living here. I have been here 30 years now. It’s our choice to live here. When I look out across the glen it is so beautiful.”