INVERCLYDE'S MSP has opened talks with BP bosses over the prices they are charging motorists in the district.

Stuart McMillan met with representatives from the company to discuss the higher-than-average fuel pump prices facing customers here.

The SNP man says he also reiterated the 'consistent price differentiation locally compared to nearby areas'.

The talks were held following letters sent from the MSP to fuel retailers asking them to meet with him to explain the rationale behind the unfair prices facing drivers, businesses and public services in the constituency.

During the meeting, BP outlined their pricing strategy in relation to the Branchton site, as this is BP-owned while the other local garage on Regent Street is a franchise.

Mr McMillan said that while he was pleased to make the breakthrough of having talks at last, he wasn't happy with their pricing policy explanations.

And he has also called on Tesco and Morrisons to put someone up for him to speak to.

Mr McMillan said: “I’m grateful to BP for finally agreeing to meet with me. It’s been a long time coming but they at least were prepared to discuss this matter with me while Tesco and Morrisons have continued to refuse to meet.

“That’s why I again wrote to Tesco and Morrisons last week to ask for a meeting with senior management – especially given the latest update from the Competition and Markets Authority which the RAC believes has embarrassed retailers into lowering diesel prices.

“As expected however, BP referred to local competition as being a major factor in how they determine what price to charge at their pumps. I refuted this and stressed that my constituents are fed up of hearing this as a reason for them being sold fuel at an extortionate price compared to people living in the likes of Renfrew and Paisley only a few miles up the A8.

“I urged BP to be market leading because if its accurate that local competition is such a big driver of prices, then surely if they lower theirs other retailers in Inverclyde will follow suit.

“I’ll be honest though and say I don’t hold out much hope on this happening. However, to be fair to the BP representatives on the call, they did appear to take what I had to say on board – particularly when I outlined the deprivation levels in Inverclyde as background to why local people are shocked by the fact we continue to be one of the highest areas for fuel prices."

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Mr McMillan now hopes that the other operators will at least follow BP's lead and open a dialogue on the prices being charged in the area.

He said: “I truly hope that Tesco and Morrisons will agree to meet with me to discuss these issues in more detail and failing that, that the upcoming CMA Road Fuel Market Study will lead to changes to stop local forecourts from ripping off my constituents.”