NEWS RELEASE
Thursday 8th February 2007

WELCOME FOR DEFEAT OF SNP BRIDGE TOLLS MOTION

TRANSform Scotland (1), the campaign for sustainable transport in Scotland, today (Thursday 8th February 2007) today welcomed the vote against the SNP parliamentary motion to remove tolls from the Forth and Tay road bridges.

Colin Howden, Director of TRANSform Scotland, said:

"The SNP motion was totally ill thought-out and counter-productive. Removing the tolls would only increase traffic levels on the bridges and worsen congestion.

"Removing bridge tolls would have meant the general taxpayer having to pay for the costs of bridge maintenance. It's well known car users tend to be more affluent, so this would have meant the poor having to pick up the tab for car commuters from Fife.

"It is unfortunate that the constructive proposals the Greens came forward with were thrown out by the Parliament. We would have expected the Executive to have supported their proposals for discounts for multi-occupancy vehicles during peak hours."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. TRANSform Scotland campaigns for a more sensible transport system, one less dependent on unsustainable modes such as the car and the heavy lorry, and more reliant on sustainable modes such as walking, cycling and public transport. Its 64 member organisations (see: <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/members/members.html>) include local authorities, national environmental organisations and local cycling and rail campaigns.

2. A copy of the briefing TRANSform Scotland sent to all MSPs before the debate is available.

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