After 60 years of serving the Island, Isle of Wight Fuels (IOWF) will close on 7th August 2020.
IOWF are fuel distributors and owners of the Island’s only fuel oil storage terminal, based in East Cowes.
“Not viable for the business to continue to trade”
A statement from the parent company, Motor Fuel Group, reads,
“Following a detailed examination of the trading options of IOWF together with individual consultation with all members of staff, Motor Fuel Group announces that it is not viable for the business to continue to trade.
“Accordingly, and with regret, the IOWF business will close on Friday 7th August 2020.
“No fuel deliveries will be made or customer orders accepted after this date.
“We would like to thank our customers for their loyal patronage and our staff for their professional and dedicated service.”
Knock-on effect
The closure not only means job losses for those working at the depot, but will have a knock-on effect for all those small businesses who provide services to IOWF.
Love: Many concerns
Karl Love, the Isle of Wight councillor for East Cowes, told News OnTheWight,
“I’m incredibly concerned about the impact which the closure of Island fuels in East Cowes will cause to so many businesses on the Island.
“It’s incredibly important to get this news out quickly so that alternative arrangements can be made by Island businesses. For instance Island farmers rely heavily upon maintaining supplies in order to bring their crops in at this time of year.
“I am also concerned about the supply of heating oil and the supply of domestic fuel to homes and customers across the Island. It would seem that there are lots of different companies and organisations that use fuels from this company.”
Love: A skilled job requiring lots of safety training
He went on to add,
“It is important to understand the supply chain and impact. It’s not a simple case of bringing other suppliers to our Island, because they will have to learn the delivery routes and routines of Island people in making that delivery.
“I would hope that someone might purchase the company and consider introducing the supply of fuels by ships rather than carrying it in small tankers across the Solent on passenger ferries.
“We should not forget the loss of these jobs and its impacts on families. It is a skilled job requiring lots of safety training in order to handle inflammable fuels.”
