Thousands of households who rely on heating oil could face a fresh squeeze on their finances this winter as global tensions continue to push up fuel prices, a councillor has warned. Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Devon County Council's cabinet member for rural affairs and broadband, said rising oil prices were creating anxiety for families already struggling with the cost of living. The warning comes after reports highlighted how the conflict in Iran had driven up heating oil and fuel costs, with the price of heating oil rising from about 60p a litre before the conflict to about 97p a litre, external according to price comparison website Boiler Juice.
Cottle-Hunkin, a fifth-generation farmer from near Great Torrington, said the increases had also hit farming businesses. "These aren't just minor increases, they're quite severe shocks," said Cottle-Hunkin. Speaking about her family's farm, she said higher fuel costs affected agricultural vehicles used every day, while larger farms running heavy machinery faced an even bigger challenge.
She said 41,000 households in Devon relied on heating oil as their main source of heating and warned many were vulnerable to sudden price spikes. Her concerns come as fears grow about the impact of rising oil prices on rural communities. "The price can double overnight," Cottle-Hunkin said.
"There's no equivalent Ofgem price cap on the heating oil." She said uncertainty was one of the biggest concerns for rural residents. With colder weather approaching, she said many households could face difficult decisions over heating their homes. "It's like hundreds of pounds that people have got to find," she said.
"To fill up a tank with oil, it might be like £500 more that they've got to find that they weren't expecting." The Liberal Democrat councillor urged anyone facing financial hardship to seek help through Devon's Crisis and Resilience Fund, available through local district councils. The fund is available to low-income households across Devon who experience a sudden financial shock, such as an unexpected bill, a drop in income, or difficulty paying for essentials including food, energy, water, housing costs or heating oil. The fund can also provide wider support and advice to help people improve their financial resilience and avoid future crises, according to the council's website.
The scheme is delivered through Devon's district councils and Citizens Advice Devon. Across Cornwall, more than 34,500 households are thought to rely on oil for their central heating. Mark Clews, who lives near Callington, said he had delayed filling his tank this summer while arranging a replacement.
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