NEWS RELEASE

For immediate use: Wednesday 1st March 2006

Forth Road Bridge charges:
Scottish Executive failure to support road pricing further undermines commitment to sustainable transport

TRANSform Scotland today criticised the Scottish Executive's unbalanced Tolled Bridges Review statement made in Parliament this afternoon. TRANSform Scotland regards the Executive's failure to support FETA's road pricing proposals as a further damaging blow to its credentials on transport and the environment.

The Transport Minister's statement removed bridge tolls from the Erskine Bridge, rejected FETA's proposal for a road user charge on the Forth Road Bridge, and committed itself to development work on a Second Forth Road Bridge - despite admitting that it knows neither the condition of the existing bridge, nor how much a second bridge would cost.

Colin Howden, Director of TRANSform Scotland, said:

"For the second time in a year, a Scottish local authority has come forward with practical proposals for road pricing and yet again the Scottish Executive has failed to support the plans. Last year, the Executive went into hiding when City of Edinburgh Council's presented its congestion charging scheme. Now it has thrown out FETA's proposals because of interventions from Westminster politicians - Gordon Brown and Alastair Darling - who have no jurisdiction in Scottish transport policy.

"If the Scottish Executive is not prepared to support local plans for tackling traffic congestion, it is their responsibility to come forward with a national road pricing scheme for reducing traffic levels and pollution."
TRANSform Scotland are also critical of the Executive's decision to commence work on planning for a Second Forth Road Bridge despite admitting that it doesn't have the full facts at its disposal on the condition of the current bridge.

"The Minister's decision to commence design work on a Second Forth Road Bridge simply pours oil on the flames. There is simply no prospect of tackling Scotland's crisis of congestion and pollution when the Executive allows itself to get bounced into supporting such destructive projects."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] TRANSform Scotland

TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance, campaigning for a more sustainable and more socially-just transport system. Our membership includes bus, rail and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, consultancies and local transport campaigns.

[2] ForthRight Alliance

TRANSform Scotland is a member of the ForthRight Alliance, a coalition of groups who successfully fought a second Forth road bridge proposal ten years ago reformed in 2004 to fight plans for a new crossing. See http://www.forthrightalliance.org/members.html

Earlier this week the ForthRight Alliance lodged with the Scottish Parliament the following petition:

"A petition by the ForthRight Alliance calling upon the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Executive to desist from spending taxpayers' money on preparing for the construction of a Second Forth Road Bridge before having at its disposal all the facts regarding the condition of the existing Forth Road Bridge; on the grounds that any
such expenditure would both environmentally irresponsible and fiscally imprudent."

END OF NEWS RELEASE