National Alliance Against Tolls - Forth Toll Increase - Press Release December 2004

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FORTH TOLL INCREASE INQUIRY - December 2004
This press release was issued after the first day of the Inquiry:-

The second day of the public inquiry into proposed Toll increase on Forth Road Bridge reconvenes today (Tuesday 7th December 2004 at North Queensferry, Fife.

Tom Minogue founder of FATI (Fifers Against Toll Increase) is due to give evidence in support of George Campbell the "Lone Protester". There will then be closing statements from each side.

Most of the first day of the Inquiry (Monday) was taken up with evidence on behalf of FETA (Forth Estuary Transport Authority) who run the bridge. The Inquiry was told that the bridge makes a profit, has no debts and reserves of nearly £18 million.

FETA said that a toll increase was necessary because a lot of money was needed to pay for extra work including £65 million for extra painting to be carried out between 2006 and 2018.

Campaigners against the tolls may already have won a victory. They had complained about the use of tolls to finance anything other than the bridge. FETA told the Inquiry that they had withdraw one of their planned schemes that they were going to fund from the tolls.
This is the badly needed A8000 / M9 spur.
Part of the national strategic road network which was going to cost FETA £30 million.
FETA are now asking the Scottish Executive to fund the new road.

FETA were asked why the toll increase only applied to cars and light vehicles.
While the toll for heavy good vehicles was not being increased, though those vehicles did the most damage to the bridge.
FETA said that just asking for a toll increase on the cars was a "quick fix".

Evidence was also given yesterday (Monday) by Mr Campbell and the National Alliance Against Tolls (NAAT).

Mr Campbell claimed that the current legislation under which the tolls are collected was not correctly enacted, and that there is no power to collect tolls.

He is also aggrieved because, although he only makes occasional use of the bridge, the tolls should have ended when the debt was paid off 8 years ago. But the tolling period has been extended 3 times, with the last extension taking them to 2006.

Mr Campbell also complained about the authorities criticising him for exercising his right to object to the increase.

NAAT argued that tolls were unfair and quoted from Adam Smith (born at Kirkcaldy, 12 miles from the bridge):- "(tolls are) at the expense of the poor, not the rich; at the expense of those who are least able .., not of those who are most able." Adam Smith had also predicted that once governments got their hand on tolls, it would be difficult to make them let go.
NAAT also said that they were amazed at the timing of the toll increase, as the Scottish Executive were in the middle of a review of all 4 of Scotland's tolls, and have already promised that the Skye bridge toll will be removed by the end of this month (December).
FETA told the Inquiry that despite this review they had recently signed a contract for nearly £5 million to replace the old tolling equipment.

After the first day of the Inquiry closed a bombshell was dropped. A Glasgow evening paper (Evening Times) revealed that one Scottish Executive source has said that:-
"If the Skye bridge tolls go it will only be a matter of time before the others follow." ( http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5033229.html ).

Mr Minogue for FATI said:-
"This latest development is certainly good news for all of Scotland's road users."
"It does beg the question as to why FETA proposed an increase in the first instance while a root and branch review of tolls in Scotland was being carried out by the Executive" .

John McGoldrick for NAAT said:-

"The authority originally wanted the tolls to go up from October 2004, and there have been complaints that the "Lone Protestors" intervention has cost them £1 million."
"The authorities seem to forget that the extra tolls that might have been collected by FETA, is balanced by the saving that users of the Bridge have made by not having to pay an increase."
"An increase which is not necessary at this time, if at all."
"It's better that the money stays in ordinary peoples pockets."
"We are puzzled why they are after an increase when they should have known that there was a good chance that tolls would go.
"Tolls in Scotland are about £30 million a year.
"That is a lot of money to those unfortunate enough to have to pay them, but is minuscule when compared with the £20 billion annual budget of the Scottish Executive or the vast amount that Scottish motorists pay in fuel duty and other motoring taxes."
"Now is the time for Scotland to lead the way and free all Scots from the despised tolls."

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