Changes to how red diesel can be used in the UK due to come into force on April 1 could "devastate" local businesses in Co Fermanagh , a local councillor has said.
From next month it will be illegal for many businesses to use heavily rebated red diesel, with construction and manufacturing businesses among those who will be affected.
Those in the agriculture industry will still be allowed to use the much cheaper fuel option, but Fermanagh and Omagh District council vice chair Chris McCaffrey says it will be "the worst tax inflicted on rural communities in a lifetime".
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Cllr McCaffrey said: “It stands to be the worst tax inflicted on rural communities in our lifetime.
“By ending the red diesel entitlement for sectors like manufacturing, construction and quarrying it is once again the ordinary people who will bear the cost of this policy.
“There is already enough pressure with the inflated cost of materials and now in addition to this, construction work is drying up across the six counties as after April it will simply not pay any contractor to take on jobs.
“This will devastate counties like Fermanagh by suffocating one of our main sectors.”
The Erne West councillor said one local contractor will see their fuel bill rise by £60,000 per month.
“It has been reported that ending the diesel rebate will cost the construction and manufacturing sector £25million per year.
“I have been speaking to local contractors across Fermanagh, one who employs over 20 workers told me this change will cost them an additional £60,000 a month on fuel and expressed serious concern as to how their business will survive and how they will afford to keep on staff.
“While there are of course urgent environmental aspects that must be considered in all government policy, the reality is that this slash by the British government will not reduce carbon emissions by one iota, but it will increase revenue for the British treasury.
“They know that they are inflicting the cruellest of taxes on to ordinary people.”
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