Higher diesel costs could derail ‘go green’ plan

MOTORISTS are being punished by the cost of diesel just as the Government is encouraging motorists to buy diesel-powered cars to help the environment.

Finance Minister Brian Cowen is changing vehicle registration tax from July to reward car buyers who opt for diesel models, which are better for the environment than petrol vehicles.

But diesel has been costlier than petrol since December, and the widening gulf in prices threatens to derail Government plans to get motorists to go green.