BUSINESSES had been hoping for a delay in the 3p increase in fuel duty planned for August. But they were disappointed.

Ashley Mason, owner of independent ambulance service, YorMed, said the increase would now cost the small company thousands of pounds over a year’s worth of business, especially at the rate they are expanding and buying new vehicles.

He said: “It’s having a knock on effect when we’re entering into contracts and pricing things up. They’re changes we can’t account for or do anything about and it’s the business that’s having to take the brunt of it.

“It soon adds up to lots of money and we’re having to think about passing those costs onto the customer. When you do that you’re going to lose business.”

He said they have looked at training staff in more fuel efficient driving techniques, but as an ambulance service often dealing with emergencies, it’s just not practical.

“A lot of the time there’s nothing we can do about it,” he said.