The FTA backed campaign FairFuelUK has been recognised for its work in lobbying the Government in order to stop planned fuel duty increases and fight for lower fuel prices.

In the same week that the campaign sees MP’s from various political parties uniting at Westminster in an urgent call to scrap the August 3p fuel duty rise, the organisation created by Peter Carroll Associates won the CIPR 2012 Excellence Award for Public Affairs which applauded the organisation’s work and credited its achievements in the category which acknowledged ‘a campaign designed to inform the public policy agenda or influence the legislative process.’

Peter Carroll, national organiser of FairFuelUK said: “The FairFuelUK team were delighted to accept this prestigious award which recognises the vision and commitment of the organisations that back us.”

Carroll added: “FairFuelUK has managed to defeat over 9p per litre of fuel duty rises over the last 15 months. These rises would have caused severe financial distress to families, general UK business and the road freight industry in particular.

FairFuelUK is supported by over a quarter of a million members of the public, and was created by road hauliers and motoring organisations as a result of spiralling fuel costs which have a devastating impact on haulage businesses, their customers and ultimately everyone through the prices on the shelves.

The campaign began as a result of the cost of fuel soaring over the course of 2011, and with the impending threat that the Government is set to raise fuel duty by 3.02 pence per litre on 1 August 2012, FairFuelUK is working with supportive MPs who are aiming to table a new clause which would see the rise abandoned.

James Hookham, FTA managing director policy & communications said: “FTA is thrilled at the well deserved CIPR award being given to FairFuelUK and continues to support their work, as we know how important this is to our members, with fuel now representing around 40% of annual hauliers’ operating costs compared to around a third just three years ago, meaning they have now reached an all-time high.”