The shape of things to come?

OVER the whole system we hear of businesses stopping selling diesel to boaters, caused by a combination of the low profit margin coupled with increasing bureaucracy and the tax system.

It is the latter that is causing problems to the small retailer, with those adhering to the 60/40% tax split losing out to those allowing the boaters to chose their own split between the higher tax for propulsion fuel and the lower for heating, etc.

Distinct advantage

The bigger retailers with their dedicated digital pumps where boaters can chose their own split have a distinct advantage.

The photograph by Ralph Freeman shows the situation at Fradley, just one of the small retailers who has stopped selling diesel—indeed the shape of things already here.