Rural affairs lead appeals to Chancellor for more help for farmers, rural businesses and communities

Devon County Council’s Rural Affairs lead, Cllr Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, says rising costs are hitting rural areas hard and has written to the Chancellor urging action, warning some residents report heating oil and red diesel prices doubling within days.

Soaring heating oil, red diesel and fertiliser costs are creating a ‘perfect storm’ for farmers, rural businesses and communities in Devon, the county’s rural affairs lead has warned.

Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Councillor Cheryl Cottle‑Hunkin, says rapidly rising costs are hitting rural areas hard and has now written to the Chancellor calling for urgent government action.

In her letter, she highlights the speed and scale of recent increases, with some Devon residents reporting heating oil and red diesel prices more than doubling in just a matter of days, driven by instability in global energy markets.

“These costs are fundamental to both daily life, local businesses and agricultural production in rural areas, and the pace of the increases is deeply alarming for households and businesses alike,” she wrote.

Devon’s rural make‑up leaves it particularly exposed. Around half of the county’s population live in rural communities, many in homes that are not connected to the mains gas network and instead rely on heating oil or off‑grid gas.

An estimated 41,000 households in Devon depend on heating oil as their main source of heating and are not protected by the energy price cap.

“Unlike households connected to the mains gas grid, rural residents are uniquely exposed to sudden shocks in global fuel markets,” Cllr Cottle‑Hunkin said. “For many families, particularly older residents and those on fixed or modest incomes, the sudden spike in prices presents an immediate and serious affordability challenge. But the reality is that due to no energy price cap on heating oil and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) many people are now faced with a huge increase in outgoings, which no-one had planned for, and this is disproportionately affecting people living in rural areas.”

She also warned that farmers are facing rising costs across their businesses, with sharp increases in red diesel and fertiliser prices threatening farm viability, food production and the wider rural economy.

“Farmers across Devon are facing a perfect storm of rising costs,” she wrote. “Devon’s farming sector plays a vital role not only in the county’s economy but also in the nation’s food security.”

Transport costs are adding further pressure. In rural areas, where public transport is lacking, and services are declining, private vehicles are often essential for getting to work, school, shops and medical appointments, with some low‑income households spending up to a quarter of their disposable income simply running a car.

Taken together, Cllr Cottle‑Hunkin warned that these pressures risk creating a ‘severe and immediate financial shock’ across rural Devon unless action is taken.

She is calling for increased support for households that rely on heating oil and LPG saying the current funding and eligibility criteria doesn’t go far enough. She is also calling for urgent help for farmers and rural businesses facing exceptional cost increases.

“Rural communities contribute enormously to food security, the national economy and the care of our landscapes,” she said. “It is crucial that government acts swiftly to ensure rural residents and businesses are not left behind during this crisis.”