NEWS RELEASE

Wednesday 20th December 2006

FORTH ROAD BRIDGE: CABINET MEETING

Groups opposed to the construction of a Second Forth Road Bridge, today (Wednesday 20 December) said that any decision made by the Scottish Cabinet on the Forth Road Bridge must be transparent and made on the basis of published reports. The groups also called for a full Strategic Environmental Assessment to ensure that all reasonable alternatives are considered.

Speaking before today's meeting of the Scottish Cabinet, at which it is understood there may be a discussion on the status of the current bridge, Paul Tetlaw, Chair of TRANSform Scotland, said:

"If the existing bridge can't be maintained then it is vital that any new crossing is a replacement of the existing bridge, and not additional to it.

"We need clarity on plans for the existing Forth Road Bridge. It is essential that there is complete transparency in the decision making process, and that all reports considered by the Scottish Cabinet are published in full."

Duncan McLaren, Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said,

"Ministers must not approve any additional crossing that results in increased road capacity across the Forth. Doing so would increase traffic volumes and undermine Scotland's climate change programme. If a replacement crossing is genuinely needed, a full Strategic Environmental Assessment must be undertaken to ensure that all reasonable alternatives are considered."


NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Last Friday the Executive said that the Transport Minister had been briefed on the emerging findings of work he initiated on the Firth of Forth crossing - these findings "indicate a replacement crossing is required".

ENDS