National Alliance Against Tolls - Scotland Tolls News 2007 & 2008
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SCOTLAND TOLLS NEWS 2007 & 2008 (up to March)
Scotland News 2006 Edinburgh Toll Poll "News"
The last tolls were removed in February 2008, and any stories about north of the border after March 2008 are on our main news pages.
Tuesday 25 March 2008
Skye campaigners and their fight for justice - BBC - "Anti-tolls group in funding plea".
More chaos - BBC - "Delay while bridge bus lane built".
Tuesday 18 March 2008
Canopy going down - Courier - "Tolls removal work at Forth on schedule".
Friday 14 March 2008
Letter from the alliance in the Courier - "Don’t re-introduce bridge tolls via road pricing".
Thursday 13 March 2008
A Labour MSP moans about the removal of tolls which she blames for problems with high sided vehicles - Courier - "Incident stirs up row over bridge traffic restrictions" BBC - "MSP calls for bridge wind changes". Isn't it amazing that other toll free bridges manage, and in any case the two incidents occured due to "freak" winds when there were no restrictions in place and even if there had been the lorry was travelling southbound where there have no toll barriers since 1997 and on top of that the first incident occurred while the tolls were in place.
Forth refunds - Courier - "Toll drivers still owed £300,000".
Wednesday 12 March 2008
Forth refunds - BBC - "Motorists urged to reclaim tolls".
Tuesday 11 March 2008
Strike warning - Evening News - "Forth Road Bridge workers eye strike vote".
On the Tay bridge the Courier reports that the lane closure will continue to October and though members of the bridge board asked about the effect of tolls removal on traffic flow they were not given an answer - "Bridge works near end-but start soon".
Monday 10 March 2008
The Courier has a short letter today from Judi Martin. She says - "Am I right in thinking there has never been a period with so many days of speed restrictions and closures on the Forth and Tay bridges, as there has been over the last six months? Winds of change, indeed." A new group has been set up to represent users of the Forth and Tay bridges. They have a website including surveys on delays -
FATBUG.
Tuesday 4 March 2008
Courier - "New bridge, same problem" last letter.
Saturday 1 March 2008
Courier - "Park-and-ride plan for Tay". Park and Ride is a good idea. But the suggestion of special lanes for high-occupancy vehicles is nothing but a blatant attempt to create congestion.
Another report that the Forth road bridge will not be falling down soon after all - Courier - "Forth Road Bridge ‘could last for years’".
Friday 29 February 2008
Problem with high sided vehicles - Scotsman - "No tolls . . so no stopping high vehicles" second letter. We wonder how they manage on the millions of untolled bridges round the world?
The FETA Convener inspects the cables - Courier - "Bridge officials confident of success".
Courier - "Salute for Courier tolls campaign".
Thursday 28 February 2008
More tales of increased traffic - Scotsman - "35,000 more drivers use Forth Road Bridge in first toll-free week".
Tuesday 26 February 2008
A letter suggesting height barriers on bridge approaches - Scotsman - "Put barriers on bridges".
Monday 25 February 2008
Believe it or not - Evening News - "Doomed £5m tollbooth canopy in line for major design award".
Yesterday the Scotsman's Sunday paper was telling their readers of the congestion caused by removing tolls, today we are told of new speed limits and cameras in order to reduce traffic speeds! Scotsman - "Road bridge to get speed cameras – and limit may be cut to 40mph".
Sunday 24 February 2008
Tales of congestion - Scotland on Sunday - "Scrapping bridge toll adds half an hour to road misery across the Forth" Evening News - "Beware of vengeful pro-toll operators" second letter.
Saturday 23 February 2008
Blowing hot air - Courier - "Switch-on for bridge dry-out operation".
FETA's new boss in the Evening News - "Challenges on the road ahead for bridge". A few years back he was reported as arguing that the tolls should be kept. Let's hope that he doesn't miss the tolls too much!
Thursday 21 February 2008
Letter in the Evening News from an Edinburgh man who wanted to keep tolls, does not want a new bridge and if one is built then he wants it to be a tunnel for trains - "Don't build a monument to the past".
Progress on new Kincardine bridge - Courier - "Final move bridges estuary".
Tuesday 19 February 2008
Short but sweet - Scotsman letter - "Bridge".
Monday 18 February 2008
From the Courier - "No return this year of cross-Forth hovercraft" "Gale damage set to delay bridge painting".
Friday 15 February 2008
From the Courier - "Bridge cable failure could cost £1 billion" "Is it really necessary?" 3rd letter.
A dubious honour! Arbroath Herald - "ARBROATH STUDENT LAST TO PAY A TAY TOLL".
Thursday 14 February 2008
Praise for the Courier campaign - Hold the Front Page - "Newspaper celebrates two-year fight for free roads" Allmedia Scotland - "Courier Celebrates Tolls Victory in Style".
In Fife Free Press - "Cross Forth and Tay bridges for free".
Reply to the letter ruing the end of tolls - "Bridge funding is not unique" 5th letter.
Repair work on the bridge - Courier - "Bridging gap to keep Forth traffic moving" BBC - "Mini-ramps to help bridge traffic".
On a new Forth bridge - Evening News - "Preparations begin for new £4.2bn bridge" Scotsman - "Work to pave way for new £4.2bn Forth road bridge begins".
Wednesday 13 February 2008
Another letter in the Courier ruing the end of tolls - "Tolls provided some revenue" 3rd letter.
Also from the Courier - "Call for clarity on condition of cables" "Land surveys for new Forth bridge to start".
Tuesday 12 February 2008
The day after-
- From the Courier - "Smooth start for most at toll-free crossings" "Public salutes end of an era" "Campaigner realises dream".
- and two letters, one thanking the Courier for their major part in the camapign, the other prophesying doom - "Thanks for campaign help" and "General public not behind it".
- From other papers, including the Scotsman group who campaigned to keep the tolls and must now be hoping that the Forth bridge authority manages to engineer continuing congestion to keep the barbarians out - Evening News - "'How do they plan to pay for a new bridge?'" Daily Record - "Motorists Take Advantage Of Toll-Free Bridges" Scotsman - "Roadworks put brakes on drivers' first toll-free crossing of bridge" Herald - "Traffic flows as last bridge tolls in Scotland scrapped" Scotsman Opinion - "No tolls - and we're paying for it" Arbroath Herald - "Toll-free traffic flows freely".
Monday 11 February 2008
Scotland is at last free of tolls as the Act abolishing them came into force at midnight last night
- NAATS Press Release.
- From the Courier - "Free at last! Drivers say farewell to bridge tolls" "Alliance delight after long fight" "‘Great day’ heralds a fresh start".
- Some of the limited reports from outside of Fife and Tayside - Evening News - "Drivers hail first toll-free day of crossing Forth bridge" Evening Times - "Joy for drivers on toll-free bridges" Scotsman - "Congestion alert as bridge tolls scrapped". The BBC made a splash of it - "Scotland becomes toll-road free".
Later report - Evening Telegraph - "Toll-free Tay Road Bridge racetrack". And one on American website - newspaper.com - "Scotland Abolishes Tolls".
Letter in Courier about cause of delay on Forth bridge approaches - "Delay caused by new layout" 3rd letter.
Saturday 9 February 2008
Tom Minogue our alliance's main spokesman in Scotland tells Gary Fitzpatrick of the Dunfermline Press how it really was - "Poll and tolls".
From Evening News - "Warning of bridge delays as toll removal brings confusion".
From Evening Telegraph - "First free crossing down to luck".
From Courier - "Ferry bell sounds end of tolls" "Monday D-Day for new bridgemaster" "Hopes of reduced traffic congestion".
Friday 8 February 2008
Courier - "Frustration for drivers at bridge" Falkirk Herald - "End of tolls 'could end bridge jams'" BBC - "Bridge tolls' demolition begins".
Letter in Courier - "Rewriting of history?".
Thursday 7 February 2008
The authorities say why the traffic going on to the Tay bridge will be restricted when the tolls go - Courier - "Removal of Forth toll booths starts".
Wednesday 6 February 2008
The authorities say why the traffic going on to the Tay bridge will be restricted when the tolls go - Courier - "Two single lanes for bridge approach". Traffic needs to merge at some point, but we hope that this is not an attempt to engineer congestion.
Tuesday 5 February 2008
From Courier - "Seeking buyers for Forth bridge booths".
Two letters in the Courier. "Ulterior motive?" expresses concern that the authorities are engineering continued congestion on the Tay bridge. "Bridge users should pay" wants the tolls kept!!
Saturday 2 February 2008
Following Thursday's story about "u-turn" and the suggestion that FETA has been backing the removal of tolls since the Erskine bridge tolls were removed, here is the recent series of events:-
1 March 2006 - Announcement by the Minister that the Erskine bridge tolls would be removed before the end of the month. The Minister
at the same time rejected an application from FETA for tolls of up to £4 in peak periods.
20 March 2006 - The minutes of FETA meeting show that they were disappointed about the rejection of the toll increase proposal and
also records that the "Scottish Executive Ministers had, following a request by the Authority, extended the tolling period for the
bridge." The Forth tolls had otherwise been due to end in March.
30 March 2006 - A motion by Shona Robison to remove the Tay tolls was debated (the motion did not mention the Forth tolls). The MSPs
instead called for another "study" of the tolls.
16 August 2006 - FETA made their submission to the new study. They did not ask for the tolls to be removed. Instead they warned of
congestion and environmental damage if the tolls were lifted. They also said that they believed that their recommendations for the
package that included the £4 tolls was "still valid".
16 May 2007 - SNP form a new Government after promising (as did the Tories) in the election campaign that they would abolish all
tolls.
1 June 2007 - FETA agreed a motion submitted by SNP Councillor Chapman which said that FETA "supports the initiative announced by
the Scottish Government which seeks to remove tolls".
Friday 1 February 2008
From Courier - "Fury that lorry caused ‘standstill’" on Forth bridge.
Thursday 31 January 2008
More on the last day for tolls (Sunday 10th February) - Courier - "End to tolls burden welcomed" Courier - "Convener’s ‘irresponsible’ U-turn".
Wednesday 30 January 2008
The last day for tolls will be Sunday 10th February - Courier - "Tolls off on February 11" Courier - "Removal of bridge tolls hailed"
BBC - "End date for road bridges' tolls".
Saturday 26 January 2008
Report of yesterday's meeting of Tay bridge board - Courier - "Last days of tolls on Tay Bridge".
Friday 25 January 2008
The Aboliton of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Act got the royal assent yesterday (24th). We now have to wait for the Minister to "sign" the Order setting the date when the Act will come into force - i.e. when the tolls will at last be removed.
Wednesday 23 January 2008
Follow up to Saturday's story - Courier - "MSP calls for update on road bridge".
Tuesday 22 January 2008
Letter in the Courier - "Let us stick with a bridge".
Saturday 19 January 2008
Now that a new bridge has been agreed, the prospect that the old Forth road bridge will have to be closed seems to be disappearing in the mist - Courier - "Salmond gives hope to hauliers".
Friday 18 January 2008
BBC - "Bridge ban for lorries 'delayed'" on Forth road bridge.
Thursday 17 January 2008
BBC - "Bridge wires snap 'one a month'" on Forth road bridge.
A couple of letters in the Courier. "Bridge not the answer" is from a cyclist who instead of another Forth crossing wants more trains for those who travel with their push bikes. "Would extra piers not help?" suggests that the ailing road bridge be propped up!
Wednesday 16 January 2008
Courier - "Preparing for toll removal" on Tay bridge.
Monday 14 January 2008
Courier - "Why not a tunnel?" (3rd letter).
Saturday 12 January 2008
Now that a new Forth Crossing has been agreed the forecast closure of the existing road bridge is being reviewed - Courier - "New bridge brings rethink on closure".
Friday 11 January 2008
More on Forth bridge closure - Courier - "Bridge closure shows need for new crossing".
Thursday 10 January 2008
Forth bridge closed - Courier - "Bridge closures hit commuters" BBC - "Chaos as Forth Road Bridge closes".
Saturday 5 January 2008
The Guardian has a comment piece - "If it caters only for cars, the new Forth bridge is a road to nowhere". The reality is that the vast bulk of the "estimated" cost of the new crossing is to pay the mega bills of UK contractors and because it assumes that the crossing will NOT be for road vehicles only.
Friday 4 January 2008
Robbie the Pict is pressing the case for the 130 anti toll campaigners on Skye who were given criminal convictions - Press & Journal - "SKYE BRIDGE CAMPAIGNERS IN PLEA TO JUSTICE MINISTER".
From yesterday's Evening News - "Warning of hold-ups after tolls removal". We agree that traffic has to be monitored and that there may have to be changes where traffic lanes merge. But if the intention of this story is to give the impression that there will be a significant traffic increase then we believe that the figures will prove them wrong.
Monday 31 December 2007
The Evening News has an interview with the leader of the group that campaigned for tolls and against a new Forth Crossing - "Ten Questions". The campaign (whose backers include the Civic Trust, RSPB, and WWF), has for some reason been very quiet over the last year or two.
Sunday 30 December 2007
A report on Forth cable breaks - Courier - Boxing Day - "Number of bridge wire breakages not known". Based on the story, it seems that since they installed the monitoring system they have averaged one new wire break each month. This sounds alarming but at that rate it would be 200 years before the breaks reached 10 per cent of the wires.
A report on naming the Kincardine bridge - Courier - 27th - "Bridge name would be fit for a kingdom". In our view it should be "A Bridge Too Small".
Saturday 22 December 2007
The Evening News printed a few words from our press release on Thursday - "Protesters hail road tolls axe".
Friday 21 December 2007
More on yesterday's tolls vote -
Courier - "Tolls will be gone in six weeks" Courier - "Fife has been imprisoned by tolls—Lib Dem MSP" Courier - "Sense of unfairness united all sides" BBC last night - "MSPs vote to scrap bridge tolls" Transport News Network - "Scottish Tolls Vote".
The Scotsman and most other papers have, unlike the Courier, campaigned to keep the tolls and they seem to have chosen to ignore yesterday's vote.
Official Report of the tolls debate. The one "abstention" on the vote was Margaret Smith an Edinburgh Liberal Democrat. The three votes against came from Margo MacDonald and from the two Greens - Patrick Harvie and Robin Harper.
Thursday 20 December 2007
The Scottish Parliament have passed (at 4.30 this afternoon) their first Bill - to abolish the last two of Scotland's tolls - on the Forth and Tay bridges. The voting was 122 for, 3 against, and 1 abstention. The Bill now awaits the Royal Assent with the tolls expected to go at the end of January.
We issued this press release-
We warmly welcome the result of today's vote by MSPs and thank the 122 MSPs who suported tolls abolition. They have made the right
decision, though if you listened to the debates in the Parliament and the Committee over the last few months much of what was said
by the MSPs and the "experts" was negative. We believe that the forecasts of the effect of tolls removal on traffic were
pessimistic.
All the parties have voted for the Bill, but it is only right that it is primarily the SNP that should be thanked. Those of us who
have campaigned against Scotland's tolls for many years have not forgotten that the SNP was the only party that in September 2001
voted against the reintroduction of the Erskine bridge tolls.
The Fife and Tayside MSPs have of course supported the removal of tolls, and a few went so far as to actively campaign for it! But
we would particularly like to thank Tricia Marwick for her determined efforts to rid Fife and Tayside of tolls.
Many of the MSPs have praised the role of the Courier in getting the Forth and Tay tolls removed, and we endorse that. Without the
Courier campaign many of the MSPs would have ignored the issue.
Tolls in Scotland were last abolished in an Act of 1878 - the Roads and Bridges (Scotland) Act 1878 - which said that "all highways shall be open to the public free of tolls and other exactions". We hope that this time the abolition of tolls will be permanent and that Scotland can use the freedom from tolls
to promote inward investment and tourism.
Decision on new Forth crossing - BBC - "New bridge to be built over Forth" Courier - "‘Iconic’ new bridge the answer to Forth crisis" (there are links to three other stories on the left) Scotsman - "A £4bn bridge it is - now let's get on with it".
Official Report including the statement from John Swinney.
Wednesday 19 December 2007
According to the papers a decision will be announced today on a new Forth crossing - Courier - "Cabinet reaches decision on Forth crossing" Scotsman - "Bridge beats tunnel in crossing race" Herald - "Swinney to reveal plan for new Forth crossing".
From the Courier - "Councils pushing for hovercraft service" between Kirkcaldy and Leith.
Tuesday 18 December 2007
A story about the Tay bridge toll booths which says that the date of tolls removal will be announced on Thursday - Courier - "Bridge toll plaza to go ‘by March’".
From the Courier "Closure signs are too confusing" on the Tay road bridge.
Saturday 15 December 2007
Courier - "New link cuts out queues on road bridge". No surprises with this story. A pity that the trolls have managed to spin out and delay the removal of the tolls, which is the main cause of the congestion going north.
Courier - "Festive break for Tay bridge roadworks".
Thursday 13 December 2007
Tay toll booths to go - Courier - "Demolition looms for toll plaza".
Monday 10 December 2007
Letter in the Courier about the mega cost of a new Forth crossing - "What are they budgeting for?".
Friday 30 November 2007
From the Courier - "Suspect identified for bridge bomb hoax". We are not often of one mind with FETA, but we think that their decision to search but not close the bridge was the correct one.
Thursday 29 November 2007
Work on the new bridge at Kincardine is well under way - "Bid to name new bridge". A suitable name would be "The Lost Opportunity bridge". A bridge with bigger capacity could have been built at little extra cost or disturbance.
Following the announcement in March 2006 that the two tolls would be kept, we made Freedom of Information Act requests for some of the congestion data. We wanted to know the instructions that had been given to those preparing the data and we wanted the congestion data for the PM peak. (Traffic data for AM peak, interpeak and PM peak was available, but for congestion only the AM peak was available.) The Scottish Information Commissioner has now made his decision.
In brief, he has ordered that the instructions be released (but the Ministers have 45 days to comply). But the Commissioner has turned down our request for the PM congestion forecasts. It has been turned down because the information was "either exempt under section 25(1) of FOISA or not held". In other words we can't have it because either the information is already available to us or it does not exist. In this case the latter applies - whatever claims may be made by those who want to keep the tolls, there are no figures available for predicted PM congestion effects.
We had thought that the PM peak congestion data probably did not exist, but the Executive were reluctant to say so. If the PM data had existed and had taken into account the effect of removing the delays caused by the tolls, then the results should have shown congestion reducing.
We have sent out a message to all the MSPs about this as many of them appeared to accept the claims that removal of tolls would mean a significant increase in congestion.
Thursday 22 November 2007
From today's Courier - "Bridge poised for end to tolls".
Wednesday 21 November 2007
Over the last week there has been a controversy in the letters pages of the Scotsman as to whether FETA and other quangos should be trusted with a new Forth Crossing, part of the argument has been about whether or not it was quick at investigating the question of cable corrosion. This is the position up to yesterday, but it may not be over yet! 20th - "Leaky tunnel argument" 19th - "FETA should not be so quick to blow its own trumpet on bridge management" 16th - "FETA's spin" 14th - "FETA ahead of the game" 12th - "History of failure holds little hope for link".
Tuesday 20 November 2007
Some of the other recent reports on the work to be done on Forth road bridge expansion joints - Scotsman - "Drivers face three months of 24-hour bridge chaos" BBC - "Forth bridge road misery forecast".
Three for the price of one in the Courier - "Misery ahead for bridge traffic" "Cable report due before year end" "Now second cross-Forth link mooted".
Saturday 17 November 2007
Report in last night's Evening News on the two Edinburgh Lib Dem MSPs who abstained during the vote on the Abolition of Tolls Bill - "City MSPs refuse to back tolls abolition". Many other Lib Dem MSPs did vote for the bill, though there were quite a few who didn't even turn up for the debate or vote.
Friday 16 November 2007
Yesterday's debate on the Abolition of Tolls Bill - Parliament - Official Report Courier - "MSPs back Courier’s campaign to end tolls". For some reason the Scotsman did not bother to report the debate on this historic bill - the first to be placed before Parliament by the SNP.
A bit of older history - Courier - "Bridge restoration work uncovers lost tollhouse".
Thursday 15 November 2007
MSPs debated the Abolition of Tolls Bill this afternon - BBC - "MSPs to vote to axe bridge tolls". Despite repeated misgivings, the MSPs again backed the Bill though not unanimously. On motion 780 - "That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Bill" - 107 voted for with 4 against and 2 abstentions.
Comments from MSPs included this from Tricia Marwick - "This is the first SNP Government bill through Parliament and I congratulate the Government on starting with a bill of such importance. Scrapping tolls on the Forth and Tay Bridges marks the fulfilment of a promise I made and the SNP made to people across Fife and Tayside....".
Monday 12 November 2007
The Evening News has another piece on the tolls canopy - "Residents back demolition of tolls canopy". When the piece was in the EN last Tuesday, one of those commenting said of the plaza and barriers - "Leaving them in place, and maintaining them to a decent level would ensure they are present for future use if required." A very good reason for making sure that the whole lot goes - a.s.a.p.
The Scotsman has a piece on Forth road bridge - "History of failure holds little hope for link". The writers may have correctly given an account of the problems of the Forth bridge over the last 8 years or so, but they may not have arrived at the correct conclusions. The Scotsman report says that traffic crossing the bridge will soon grow from 75,000 vehicles a day to 100,000, "mostly in the (morning) rush hour" - The facts are that the average daily traffic (including weekends) is 33,000 vehicles each way and there are no signs of this increasing. The report also says that a crossing must have rail - This might be nice, but the fact is that the existing rail bridge is not in the sorry state that the road bridge is claimed to be, and including provision for rail would almost double the costs.
Thursday 8 November 2007
Courier report on yesterday's story about the committee of MSPs endorsing the Tolls Abolition Bill - "Support for scrapping “unfair” tolls".
Wednesday 7 November 2007
The committee of MSPs looking at the Tolls Abolition Bill today endorsed it, albeit that many of them were reluctant to do so - BBC - "MSPs support bridge tolls removal" Midlothian Advertiser - "Ministers debate scrapping toll" Edinburgh Evening News - "MSPs warn end of tolls will worsen pollution".
Those livid at the news include the editor of the Evening News. The Scotsman group papers had campaigned to keep tolls, they seem to prefer to keep those north of the Forth at a distance - Edinburgh Evening News - "'Taxpayers will bear the cost of bridge toll axe'".
The abolition of the tolls was proposed by the SNP and got 100% backing from the Scottish Tories. The party that seems to be most upset that the tolls will go is the Lib Dems.
Scottish Parliament - today's report.
Tuesday 6 November 2007
It is reported that the tolls canopy will go - let's hope that the FETA members agree this - Evening News - "Bell tolls for bridge canopy".
Wednesday 31 October 2007
Since their public evidence session on the 3rd, things appear to have gone quiet with the committee of MSPs who are considering the Bill to abolish the tolls. There have however been two further meetings of the Committee - on the 23rd and yesterday. The meetings were held in private but they were discussing their "Stage 1 Report on the Bill", and have apparently now agreed their report. We don't know what it will say, but assume that they will have agreed to the principle of the Bill and that they will now move to "Stage 2", which is detailed consideration of the Bill, by the same committee! Even if no MSP tries to torpedo the process, it may drag out past the end of the year.
Monday 29 October 2007
The Herald continues with its campaign to toll Scotland - "The £1bn cost of our commuting horror".
Friday 26 October 2007
From the Courier - "Go-ahead for Forth hover crossing".
A letter in the Courier about the aesthetics of the Tay bridge - (fourth letter).
Thursday 25 October 2007
A letter in the Evening News from a resident of the Stoneyflatts estate that overlooks the Tolls plaza - (second letter). NAATS believes that the canopy should be removed as soon as possible. Leaving it is like leaving the gallows in a gaol after capital punishment has been abolished, and makes one wonder about the motives for this.
Tuesday 23 October 2007
Reports that despite the end of toll collection on the Tay bridge, there will be no compulsory redundances and, at least initially, little reduction in staff numbers - Courier - "Bridge staffing costs to top £1m" BBC - "Quarter of jobs axed with tolls".
Friday 19 October 2007
Courier - "Listed status would not delay bridge demolition". We very much hope that the stories about demolition of the bridge are being very pessimistic. But if the bridge does have to be demolished, will we ever be told how it came to pass?
Wednesday 17 October 2007
Courier - "End in sight for bridge repairs" on Forth.
Tuesday 16 October 2007
Another Courier reader suggests a tunnel under the Forth - third letter.
Thursday 11 October 2007
The Evening News is so upset that Scotland may be toll free that in last night's editorial attacking "consensus politics" they could not resist referring to - "the senseless removal of tolls from the Forth Road Bridge".
Today's Scotsman also has some gloomy news - "Bridge tolls to stay until end of January".
Tuesday 9 October 2007
A Courier reader suggests a tidal barrage across the Forth, with a road on top - fourth letter.
Saturday 5 October 2007
Group that say that a new bridge is not needed - Courier - "Campaigners’ road bridge claim rejected".
Suggestion that the A9000 delay has just moved - fourth letter.
Official report of Tuesday the 2nd's meeting of the committee looking at tolls abolition. Note that the discussion on the first item (Finance & Sustainable Growth) included questions on tolling of existing and new Forth road bridges.
Thursday 4 October 2007
Another report on new road - Courier - "M9 spur makes bottleneck A8000 history".
Two letters in last night's Evening Telegraph - second and third letters.
Wednesday 3 October 2007
Road now officially open - BBC - "M9 link fully opens to vehicles" Scotsman - "Rush-hour relief for drivers as new bridge link opens".
As expected the Transport Committee yesterday gave Stewart Stevenson a rough ride over the Abolition of Bridge Tolls Bill - Courier - "Tolls plan to remove ‘unfair tax’ defended".
The Committee also quizzed John Swinney on the new bridge - Scotsman - "Tolls not ruled out as means of paying for new Forth crossing".
Tuesday 2 October 2007
Suggestion that two Forth road bridges would cause traffic problems - Courier - "Forth road bridges ‘chaos’ warning".
The Transport Committee meets this afternoon to continue hearing evidence on the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Bill. They will be grilling Stewart Stevenson, the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change.
Monday 1 October 2007
From this morning's Courier - "Campaign Case for Abolition of Bridge tolls".
Sunday 30 September 2007
Edinburgh City Council does not want a new Forth Road bridge - Sunday Herald - "Second Forth road crossing will be an ‘economic and environmental disaster’".
Saturday 29 September 2007
Letter in yesterday's Courier complaining that a new Forth Road bridge will not include "heavy rail" - (third letter).
Thursday 27 September 2007
Official report of Tuesday's meeting of the committee looking at tolls abolition.
A letter from Tom Minogue in the Evening News about the toll collectors - (first letter).
A reply to yesterday's letter in the Herald from Tom Minogue - "Keep the tolls". The writer wants bridge tolls and / or congestion charges, but presumably not in Dunblane!
Wednesday 26 September 2007
Letter in the Herald from Tom Minogue for NAATS reacting to the story about abuse of toll collectors - "Abuse at the tolls has nothing to do with campaign".
At yesterday's meeting of MSPs looking at the Abolition of Tolls Bill, nearly all the speakers were either in favour of tolls abolition or "agnostic", but the Scotsman mainly reports on the views of a Glasgow professor who wants them kept - "Congestion caused by scrapping tolls 'would hurt trade'". Later report in the Evening News - "Hauliers 'will not benefit' from tolls axe".
This morning's papers have the story that was on BBC yesterday - Courier - "Snub for MSPs on bridge tolls" Herald - "Transport chief angers MSPs over Forth tolls committee no-show".
This morning's Courier and last night's Evening News repeat the allegations that toll collectors are being abused, but this time it is on the Tay bridge - "Staff told to report taunting drivers" "Tay toll taunts".
Tuesday 25 September 2007
A brief report on this afternoon's committee - Midlothian today - "Bridge tolls 'unfair tax on Fife'".
A storm in a teapot? BBC - "Row brews over committee invite".
The Herald continues its campaign to keep the tolls. It highlights a story saying that "Toll collectors on the Forth Road Bridge are being verbally abused by drivers taunting them about job losses when the charges are scrapped". An unattributed source according to the Herald says the alleged abuse is an "unfortunate by-product of the campaign to remove the tolls" - "Drivers taunt Forth Road Bridge toll collectors over job losses".
PS Subsequent report in Evening News - "Drivers taunt toll collectors".
This verbal abuse story which the Herald must have jumped on with glee appears to have been started by an unlikely tolls ally - the Road Haulage Association, who are today one of the bodies giving evidence to the committee of MSPs that are looking at the Abolition of Tolls Bill. Their written submission starts by welcoming the abolition of the tolls and says that it believes that this will benefit the Fife economy. But as well as mentioning the verbal abuse the rest of the submission give the impression that the RHA do not care whether the tolls are removed or not, for example they say - "The cost for trucks is not a major issue and ... most were happy to pay." They also ask for lorries to be given lane priority over cars.
One puzzle is that according to the Evening News report, the drivers responsible for this unjustified abuse include RHA members. Are these the same drivers who also according to the RHA were "happy to pay" the tolls?
This is the written submission of NAATS to the Committee (pdf file)
Saturday 22 September 2007
From today's Courier - "Forth bridge roadworks to resume".
From yesterday's Courier a letter from George Blair of Blairgowrie on the removal of the tolls - fourth letter.
Thursday 20 September 2007
Letter from NAATS in the Courier on the issue of control of Forth road bridge traffic when the tolls are gone - last letter.
Wednesday 19 September 2007
More tolls pushing - Courier - "Environmentalists hit out at move on tolls" Herald - "Removal of bridge tolls condemned by green groups" Herald - "Truth about emissions" Evening News - "Green groups tell MSPs tolls cut will worsen pollution" Midlothian Today - "Green campaigners slam tolls plan".
Tuesday 18 September 2007
Report of Tay Bridge Board meeting in the Courier - "Tolls closure may not mean redundancies".
The Greens are still campaigning for tolls to be kept - ic group - "Greens oppose bridge tolls cut" Midlothian Today - "Greens oppose bridge tolls cut". As are other trolls - Herald - "Edinburgh fears scrapping of tolls".
Monday 17 September 2007
Report of Tay Bridge Board meeting in the Evening Telegraph - "Bridge tolls: few job losses expected".
In the Evening News - "Call to cut rail fares after tolls end" is made by Edinburgh Council to MSPs.
Two letters in the Courier on the issue of control of traffic on the Forth road bridge when the tolls are removed - first two letters.
Saturday 15 September 2007
The Courier reports that this weekend's work is cancelled due to weather - "Forth Road Bridge work cancelled".
Letter in the Courier about new crossing - third letter.
Friday 14 September 2007
Letter from Tom Minogue in yesterday's Courier - first letter.
More opposition to the removal of tolls in yesterday's Press & Journal - "CHALLENGE TO GOVERNMENT OVER TRAFFIC SOLUTIONS".
Wednesday 12 September 2007
Continuing opposition to the removal of tolls - Evening News - "Transport chiefs 'turn blind eye' to bridge problem" Courier - "50 jobs to go with ending of bridge tolls" Herald - "Challenge over impact of decision to remove bridge tolls" Scotsman - "Scrapping tolls 'won't cut lifespan of bridge'" BBC - "Concern over bridge staff morale".
Problems with Tay bridge - Courier - "Strict controls imposed on bridge works".
Tuesday 11 September 2007
The Greens are still toll pushing - Evening News - "Smart thinking is needed on bridge charges".
The Bill to abolish the tolls - BBC - "MSPs work to scrap bridge tolls".
Consultation on new Forth crossing - Courier - "Public response to Forth crossing".
Monday 10 September 2007
Two stories in the Courier - "Drill tests begin for tunnel option" "Delays for Forth bridge traffic". And a letter on the tunnel v. bridge question - 2nd letter - "Certainly not pseudo".
Saturday 8 September 2007
Two letters in the Courier replying to Thursday's letter "Why should we subsidise Fife bridge users?" - (last two letters).
The campaign to keep the tolls continues with the Director of the World Wildlife Fund demanding that they must be kept to stop it from raining!!
MSPs have invited people to give their comments on the Bill to abolish the tolls - Press & Journal - "MOVE TO SCRAP BRIDGE TOLLS COMES UNDER SCRUTINY OF MSPS".
Friday 7 September 2007
From Evening News - "Green alert on toll-axe plans".
According to an official, no decision has been made on tolling the new Forth bridge - Courier - "No decision yet on Forth crossing tolls".
Later version - Press & Journal - "TOLLS DECISION MAY COME BACK TO HAUNT SNP".
Number of vehicles (in last 5 years) using the Tay bridge - Courier - "Over 43m vehicles cross Tay bridge".
Thursday 6 September 2007
From Fife Free Press - "Cable bridge is top choice for second Forth crossing".
A letter in the Courier - "Why should we subsidise Fife bridge users?".
Wednesday 5 September 2007
More on the Bill to abolish tolls - Courier - "Last days of tolls in sight" Courier Leader Scotsman - "Abolishing Forth and Tay bridge tolls will mean one-off costs of £21m, say ministers" Daily Record - "BRIDGE TOLL AXE WILL COST £87M".
More on Tunnel v. Bridge in Courier - first letter.
From the Courier - "Delays predicted as bridge work restarts" on the Forth road bridge.
Tuesday 4 September 2007
News of the Bill - BBC - "Bridge tolls bill to be published" Courier - "Bill to scrap bridge tolls out today".
THE BILL - Parliament.
Tunnel v. Bridge in the Courier - "Backing for tunnel welcomed" last letter.
Monday 3 September 2007
The Scottish Parliament is back in business today, and it is expected that the Bill to abolish the tolls will be one of the first bills.
The improved A8000 / M9 spur is nearly complete - "Farewell at last to A8000 bottleneck". What the Courier does not mention is that this work has largely been paid for by bridge tolls, as the old Executive and old Edinburgh City Council refused to pay for it, knowing that they could raid the tolls money.
The Courier reports that Fife's transport boss says that - "New Forth crossing must last".
Saturday 1 September 2007
Two stories for the price of one in the Courier. The first is FETA discussing the removal (or not) of the tolls plaza; the other is a Labour MSP querying whether a new crossing would be tolled - "Bridge authority hears toll plaza work may cost £2m".
Friday 31 August 2007
Two people from St Andrews have a joint letter in the Courier querying the astronomic quotes for a new Forth crossing - first letter.
Saturday 25 August 2007
From last night's Evening News - "End of tolls to mean 40 jobs lost on bridge".
Friday 24 August 2007
From the Courier - "Moves to remodel £5m bridge plaza" "Posts merged after tolls axed" "Delays inevitable on Forth crossing".
The Herald is continuing its campaign to keep the tolls - "Removing Forth tolls ‘will result in traffic disruption’".
Last night's Evening News reported that - "Tolls canopy set for reprieve".
Thursday 23 August 2007
A call for a new Forth Crossing to carry rail traffic - Courier - last letter - "Rail link oversight".
The Herald's main letter today is an attack on the SNP for not doing enough to reduce CO2 emissions and for abolishing bridge tolls.
Wednesday 22 August 2007
Bob Nesbitt from Perth has this letter in today's Courier - Sir, A bridge, over the Forth, might be able to accommodate more lanes than a tunnel, but this will be of little consolation when it’s closed due to high winds!"
Tuesday 21 August 2007
Exhibition on and options for new Forth crossing - Courier - "Options for crossing go on display" Herald - "Swinney denies dropping tunnel plan as he unveils Forth option" Evening News - "Forth tunnel still an option for crossing insists Swinney" Evening News Opinion - "'It could be 2011 before the JCBs roll into action'".
In the Courier, John Swinney says that there will be - "No U-turn on axing of charges".
The Herald is still almost manic in its campaign to keep tolls. Do they get a commission? Comment - "Transport dilemma".
Other reports - Daily Record - "SWINNEY DUMPS £100K BRIDGE TOLLS REPORT" Evening News - "Swinney vows to end Forth tolls despite tailback fears" Herald - "Tolls will go despite gridlock warning" Scotsman - "So what will replace troubled bridge over water?".
Monday 20 August 2007
The "Study" report commissioned by the old Executive was published at the end of last week - Final Report. Story in the Herald - "Scrapping tolls on two bridges will generate more traffic, says report".
This report was commissioned from a firm that carries out work for organisations that wish to keep or increase tolls. We only hope that when the tolls are removed, those who have fought so hard to keep the tolls will work just as hard to make sure that the traffic flows freely and without any new artificial congestion causing measures.
Exhibition on new Forth crossing - Evening News - "Swinney visits exhibition on Forth crossing".
Saturday 18 August 2007
Consultation on new Forth crossing - Courier - "Have your say, urges MEP".
Saturday 11 August 2007
The Courier reports on progress on constructing new bridge at Kincardine - "New bridge stretches out across the Forth". The bridge will make a big difference, but should have been built to carry far more traffic, if only as an insurance against what might happen downriver.
Wednesday 8 August 2007
The debate in the Evening News about the removal of tolls has continued with another letter in Monday's paper from the ex political boss of FETA - seventh letter - "No tolls won't help us cross that bridge". The comments at the bottom of the page include a lot of contributions from "God almighty" and from NAATS including - "It is an unfortunate fact around the world that when you have a toll on a road or a river crossing, a great deal of attention is paid to toll collection and administration rather than other matters. At a tolled bridge inquiry last autumn in England it was revealed that every one of the staff employed on the bridge was a toll collector or an administrator, there was not a single person employed to maintain the bridge. Bridges should not be in the hands of private owners or groups of councillors running an authority whose almost sole function is to administer the one bridge and whose only source of income is bridge tolls. The Executive already has responsibility for 3,500 kilometres of trunk roads and hundreds of bridges. The Forth and Tay road bridges should be integrated into that national system, and should be free. That is what the bridge users want, and they will not be deterred by Mr Marshall's implied claims of disaster."
The Courier has a letter today reassuring readers after the collapse of the bridge in America - fourth letter - "Concern after bridge collapse". The bridge master quotes from a report prepared for the old Executive - "..Standards of inspection and maintenance are considered to be better at the Forth Bridge than for some of the US bridges, especially those that are not operated by toll facilities.." The very same words were quoted only yesterday by "God almighty" in the Evening News as part of his / her argument that tolls should be kept.
Monday 6 August 2007
The trolls are still pushing out stories to try and stop the removal of the tolls - Evening News - "Heavy toll to pay for free crossing".
Last Tuesday the Courier had a letter apparently complaining about the cost of removing bridge tolls - first letter. Today there was a response from us - third letter.
Last Thursday the Evening News had a letter from Tom Minogue following on from what the ex FETA boss had said in last Monday's Evening News. Here is the letter - second letter (there are also some comments at the bottom.
Saturday 4 August 2007
A letter in the Courier about the risks following Mississippi bridge collapse at Minneapolis - second letter.
Wednesday 1 August 2007
There is a letter in the Courier from a Pitlochry gentleman about the removal of Forth and Tay bridge tolls. He says that "there seemed to be no consideration how bridge debts and expenses were to be paid in their absence". He also refers to the demolition of the Forth toll plaza adding "£2 million to the bill" - top letter. There are many reasons for removing the tolls, not least of which is the question of equity. There are no tolls for travelling in the Pitlochry area. The real waste in this case was the decision that though the future of the tolls were in doubt, there would be £8.5 million spent in creating an eyesore. A bill to which we can now apparently add £2 million.
Tuesday 31 July 2007
The Scotsman has something from the Trolls - "Cost of axing Scotland's road bridge tolls put at £42 million". In the real world the initial cost of removing the last two bridge tolls is almost nothing. What the Scotsman does not say is that the Forth bridge has surpluses not debts, and the surplus is about the same as the Tay bridge debt. But the worst of all is to include in this "cost" the removal of the white elephant of the new toll plaza.
Last night's Evening News had the ex FETA boss complaining about the waste of the £2 million cost of demolishing the new tolls "plaza" on the Forth bridge - "Cost of axing Scotland's road bridge tolls put at £42 million". He says "When I took over as convener of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) in July 2005, there was no doubt in my mind that the Scottish Executive wished FETA to bring forward a Local Transport Strategy with variable tolling as an integral part of that. The old toll booths needed to be replaced on health and safety grounds but the proposal to introduce variable electronic tolling was the real impetus behind the construction of the modern toll plaza now to be demolished - with computer equipment capable of tolling the existing bridge and any additional crossing." The tolls have been under review for several years and under the then law law the tolls should have ended by March 2006. Despite this in October 2004, FETA decided to spend many millions on a new tolls plaza. Why?
Monday 30 July 2007
The Courier says - "Hovercraft ‘major success’". Perhaps they should also have a trial in the middle of winter.
Friday 27 July 2007
The Courier reports on the cost of demolishing the new toll plaza - "Toll plaza removal may cost £2m". IF this new system had ever become fully operational then queues might have been even worse than before!
Report in Wednesday's EN - "£2m to scrap £5m booths".
Friday 20 July 2007
The Courier reports on required lane changes on the Forth bridge when the tolls are removed - "Plans to merge bridge traffic". Chanegs on the approaches are obviously needed, but we would be more likely to get an integrated road system if the bridge was being managed by the national highway authorities rather than by a body which has fought tooth and nail to keep tolls.
Tuesday 17 July 2007
Report on the first day of the hovercraft trial service - Courier - "Forthfast service proves a hit".
Monday 16 July 2007
An MSP's comments on the hovercraft trial service from Fife to Edinburgh - Courier - "Doubts voiced over hovercraft service".
Saturday 14 July 2007
The Courier reports on the trial of a new hovercraft service from Fife to Edinburgh - "Hovercraft link to Edinburgh ‘terrific’". If the figures quoted are correct then the service will carry a maximum of 1,430 round trippers a day and the 13 day trial is costing £300,000. Assuming the craft is full, that's a subsidy of £16 a round trip!
Friday 13 July 2007
There has been little in the papers recently about the tolls. We are not sure whether that is a good or a bad sign! One worry is the ridiculously high figures that are being quoted for the cost of building a new Forth bridge. Last week there was a letter in the Courier from FETA - bosses of the Forth Road bridge - about the leap between the one billion cost that came from FETA and the over three billion cost now being quoted by the Executive. FETA said that the figure produced for them was "based on 2003 prices and do not include approach roads or other supporting infrastructure". This begs the question of how much inflation is being assumed beween 2003 and when the bridge is built. But more importantly it also begs the question of what was in the one billion cost, because the report produced for FETA had the cost of building a road bridge and "approach viaducts" as £300 million. Report from the Evening News on 18 June 2004, which says that of the £1 billion cost, only £300 million is for a road bridge
Tuesday 10 July 2007
An MSP's view on a new Forth crossing - Courier - "Calls to consult public on bridge"
Wednesday 4 July 2007
Fife Chamber of Commerce press on new bridge - Courier - "Chamber seeks fast decision on bridge"
The Courier also has a letter from one of the Forth road bridge bosses, disputing the letter from Tom Minogue - (second letter).
Leaving aside the question of the cost, Tom's reaction to the rest of the letter is - "As for FETA being accountable to the public I suggest that anyone tries to take up concerns on the running of the bridge with their councillor and see what response they get. I have done so and got little response from most. At one FETA meeting it was made clear to Fife councillor Jock Cameron, who tried to reflect the views of his constituents, that councillors were bound by the policy of Fife Council and not the views of their constituents. That was under the New Labour dominated Fife Council and hopefully the new leadership of the council will be more accessible—but there is no provision for public participation in the FETA statute."
Tuesday 3 July 2007
The Herald today published a letter which shows how the colossal figures quoted for replacing the Forth bridge is just giving ammunition to the trolls-
"The potential 3.5bn cost of the new Forth crossing highlights just how short-sighted and irresponsible the decision to abolish bridge tolls has been. Now generations of taxpayers across Scotland will be forced to foot the bill for the SNP's pre-election bribes. I also note with disbelief that the Transport Minister claims his top priorities on our roads include "managing demand to reduce congestion". I'd be interested to hear exactly how he plans to achieve this at the Forth without the mechanism of tolls?"
The reports on which the mega figures are based is now available at Transport for Scotland site - Forth Replacement Crossing Study - Report 5 Final - June 2007 links to previous versions etc. If you can find an explanation of how a road bridge that two years ago was estimated as costing £300 million would now cost several billions, then please let us know!!
The most disturbing part of the report is on page 7 - "However if the FRB was to be refurbished and re-opened then consideration would have to be given as to how it could be used in combination with the replacement crossing. This report considers how such a strategy may operate. The guiding principle of the operation of this combination would be that there should be no more than two lanes available for general traffic in each direction." In other words the people who produced this report did it on the basis that they were told that there was to be no increase in road capacity. Following this to its logical conclusion, if after all the existing bridge is repaired and can carry on with four lanes as now, then road vehicles would not be allowed to use the new crossing!!!!!
Monday 2 July 2007
For some reason, the Herald is firmly in the trolls camp and is still fighting to keep the tolls. This morning it published results of a poll of businesses that it commissioned, which included a question on removal of tolls. The result was that 58% of firms welcomed removal of tolls and 11% the Herald implies were against it. The Herald concludes - "The result falls short of being a ringing endorsement of a significant policy initiative." - "Business poll reveals SNP impact fears".
Letter in the Courier from Tom Minogue on reported cost of new Forth road bridge - (second letter). All the figures being quoted seem far too high. If all they are doing is building a replacement road bridge then at current prices, the cost should be nearer £400 million, rather than £4,000 million.
Friday 29 June 2007
Some reaction in the Scotsman to the incredible statement that a new Forth road bridge would cost up to £3.5 billion to build - "Delays and forecast cost rise of Forth crossing 'unnecessary and irresponsible'".
Thursday 28 June 2007
MSPs were told yesterday that a new Forth road bridge would cost up to £3.5 billion to build, a tunnel even more - Courier - "Green light for new bridge, but costs soar". For this price is the crossing to be built of solid gold?
Wednesday 27 June 2007
NAATS has received a message from the Executive sent on behalf of the First Minister, Alex Salmond, and John Swinney, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance. They say - "As you will have seen, the Parliament debated the issue of tolls on 31 May and agreed an amended Motion which commits the Scottish Executive to ending bridge tolls. Ministers will bring forward legislation in September to abolish tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges. The expectation is that the legislation will be able to be passed by the Parliament before the turn of the year, and that the tolls will be ended on both bridges as soon as is practicable.". Those who want to keep tolls are still fighting hard, but let us hope for a toll free Hogmanay!!
Tuesday 26 June 2007
Those who want the tolls kept are still fighting. In today's Herald, their political commentator says -"The consequences of SNP piecemeal spending pledges go beyond next year's budget, and beyond money. Take bridge tolls, for instance. There has been no explanation of what impact an officially estimated 21% increase in bridge traffic will have on the lifespan of the current Forth road bridge, on traffic emissions, or what abolition means for the funding of its successor crossing.". Will the Herald soon be saying that the ending of bridge tolls will cause earthquakes and plagues?
Monday 25 June 2007
More excuses for trying to keep tolls - Edinburgh News - "More congestion if bridge tolls go, says report". (Our comment is number 13!!)
Friday 22 June 2007
This week's Dunfermline Press has the Freight Transport Association arguing for a tunnel rather than another bridge over the Forth. They say this is because of restrictions on the type of goods that can be carried through tunnels - "Tunnel plan blown out of the water".
The Courier has a story about pay offs for toll collectors. It also says that it may be 2008 before tolls go - "Union in Executive bid over toll staff".
The Courier reports that the "Forth Replacement Crossing Study" has been completed and it is likely that there will be a new bridge - "Bridge top option for next Forth crossing". This study has been completed very quickly, we wonder how long we will have to wait before the results are published.
Letter in the Courier on the cable problem - "How did they get it so wrong?".
Wednesday 20 June 2007
The Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee is starting to look at the abolition of the remaining two bridge tolls. The Herald reports that Labour's Des McNulty will be trying to delay this. As the SNP are in a minority, the other parties "can hold inquiries on matters that may be awkward for the SNP, tie down ministers with scrutiny and raise awkward questions".
The Scotsman has a list of Scotland's best bridges. Amazingly they only give five, though they include the Tay bridges, and Skye which "particularly since tolls were lifted, has provided a huge boost to tourism".
From the Courier, Forth - "Bridge work suspended for tourist season".
Tuesday 19 June 2007
The Tay bridge board are working with the Executive on the removal of tolls. Are the Forth bridge board still fighting to keep them? Courier - "Autumn bill to scrap bridge tolls".
Tay bridge works - Courier - "November date for bridge works".
Thursday 14 June 2007
Work on rusty cables - Courier - "Road bridge cables’ blow-dry".
Two letters disputing the suggestion that traffic on the Tay will increase by a third when tolls go - Courier - (last two letters).
Tuesday 12 June 2007
When tolls go on the Tay, traffic will increase by up to a third - or so they say - Courier - "Toll-free bridge likely to see more traffic".
Monday 11 June 2007
Two letters in the Courier - John Phimister from Kirkcaldy says that Forth road bridge cables should be replaced rather than repaired; Tom Monogue scoffs at the suggestion that there will be gridlock on the bridges when tolls are removed - (1st & 2nd letters).
Friday 8 June 2007
A letter in the Courier from Malcolm Lowe of Blairgowrie supporting the removal of tolls - (5th letter).
At least one MSP seemed to know what was in the latest cable corrosion report before the members of FETA's board. By now the report should be on FETA's website, it wasn't and so we asked for a copy - here it is as a pdf file.
Thursday 7 June 2007
More letters in the Courier this time supporting the removal of tolls, from Robert McEwan of Dunfermline, Geoff Bray.
of Forfar and David Reoch of Kirkcaldy - (1st,2nd,3rd letters).
A Green has been put in charge of Holyrood's Transport committee. Let's hope this does not delay the removal of tolls - Herald - "Greens handed key transport role".
Wednesday 6 June 2007
More letters in the Courier opposing the removal of tolls - (2nd, 3rd and 4th letters).
The Courier wonders what has happened to the last Tolls report - "Ministers yet to see toll-removal report".
Dundee wants money for a scheme which includes the removal and replacement of the Tay Road Bridge approach ramps - Courier - "Waterfront funding gap".
Tuesday 5 June 2007
The Trolls are at it again, with more propaganda in the Scotsman - "Bridge queues 'will worsen when tolls go'".
The identical story, apart from the headline was in the Evening News - "'Traffic will increase' if bridge tolls scrapped". Who wrote this story? Was it the Tolls PR people?
Monday 4 June 2007
During Thursday's tolls debate we were not sure whether we were supposed to celebrate or cry. The news media believe that it is all over, but we just don't know. This is the statement that we issued on Thursday:-
Today was supposed to be the day when MSPs almost unanimously agreed that the remaining bridge tolls should be removed "as soon as is practicable". Stewart Stevenson of the SNP, on behalf of the Executive had moved a motion to that effect. The details would be sorted out later, but the country would be moving towards being toll free.
Des McNulty on behalf of Scottish Labour moved an amendment, which left from the original motion only three words - "That the Parliament"! What was in effect a new motion required yet more "consultation" and linked any removal of tolls to a list of other issues including trams for Edinburgh.
During the afternoon's debates MSPs from all parties said that they supported the principle of removing the tolls, but most of the Labour, Tory and Lib Dem MSPs who spoke qualified this by bringing in many other transport issues.
MSPs spoke of the huge impact on jobs if tolls were removed. By this they meant the loss of toll collection jobs! It was forgotten that these lost jobs will be far outweighed by the jobs that will be created in Fife by removing the charge imposed on those who want to cross into Fife. When the last tolls went at Erskine, Andy White, Scottish Labour leader of West Dunbarton Council, said there will be "20,000 new jobs across a whole range of areas... We know tolls have acted as a barrier to businesses locating in this area so it's a tremendous boost financially to the wider economic area here in the West of Scotland." There was a similar effect in Skye, why did the MSPs ignore the effect on Fife?
Many of the MSPs in the debate, with the notable exception of Tricia Marwick from the SNP, seemed to have forgotten the issue of justice. Justice is not something that can be qualified. Those on Fife and Tayside feel like a man who has been imprisoned for 40 years, told that he will soon be released and then told that he will have to wait till there has been another review of how this release can be achieved. There is still a worry that the tolls issue may be kicked out of play till the cow jumps over the moon.
Our hope must be that despite the games and tricks at Holyrood, the new Executive will proceed on the basis that the removal of tolls has been accepted in principle by the Parliament. The Executive must go quickly ahead with their priority of removing the tolls as it is likely that enough MSPs from the other parties will back any legislation that is needed.
Fife business concern over the rusty cables - Courier - "Fife plea to start now on new crossing".
A reader from Perth today has a letter complaining that there is too much in the paper about the campaign to remove the tolls.
Sunday 3 June 2007
Scotland on Sunday says that the shenanigans during the toll debate were orchestrated by the Lib Dems. This seems to show that whatever the Lib Dems said during the elections, they don't care if their plotting means that the tolls are kept - "Bungled mugging spells more trouble ahead".
Saturday's Evening News shows how the establishment and FETA are still fighting to keep the tolls, and they and their PR agents seem to be able to determine what people see in the papers - "'SNP proposals seem badly thought out'".
An unpublished letter from someone in Aberdeen to the MSPs - "We in Aberdeen may be some distance from the problems the Forth and Tay Bridge traffic causes but many of us have regularly experienced the unacceptable delays, congestion and pollution that is caused by traffic queuing at the tolls as we head North to the clear air of Aberdeen. Added to this, years of paying for these bridges is clearly a completely unacceptable stealth tax (not well hidden though) on the people and businesses of Scotland that can only detract from Scotland as place to visit and to do business in. I hope that MSPs of all parties will now support the latest move to abolish both tolls. If, on the other hand, any are not going to support the bill will they please explain why they want this misery for users to continue. And, oh, please don't tell us that you will be doing it for our own good."
Saturday 2 June 2007
There have been more stories about the rusty cables - Courier Thursday - "Executive to assess bridge report" BBC Friday - "Work 'possible' on bridge cables" Courier Saturday - "Years of traffic delays if bridge cables replaced" Scotsman Saturday - "Forth Road Bridge could be closed every weekend for a year".
We assume the above reports are correct, though with FETA it is difficult to find out the facts - the press seem to have been told what is going on and the FETA board were due to discuss this yesterday, but the report that they presumably saw is not available.
Some stories from the Courier over the last few days -
Thursday - "Union’s fears for jobs when tolls are axed".
Thursday - "Fife representatives urged to speak out".
Friday - "MSPs vote to end “40 years of injustice”".
Friday - letter (3rd down) from Lindsay Johnston of Gauldry.
Friday 1 June 2007
What was said yesterday at Holyrood- Official Report - "Bridge Tolls".
Stories on debate in this morning's papers. it is said that legislation to scrap the tolls will be "brought forward in September" - Scotsman - "Bridge tolls 'scrapped by the end of the year'" Herald - "Salmond: SNP can ignore votes of Holyrood".
A story from last night's Evening News about the Edinburgh tram scheme that may sink the hopes of removing bridge tolls. The EN backs the trams, but if you read the online comments at the end of the story, there is a different side - "'The SNP has no mandate to scrap trams'".
Thursday 31 May 2007
MSPs today debated an SNP motion to remove the tolls. Or at least they should have been. The Greens moved an amendment which fell but Labour moved an amendment which the Executive was forced to accept which dragged in other issues. After a long debate the Labour amendment was carried without opposition and the new motion was carried by 120 votes to none with two abstentions - BBC - "MSPs vote to scrap bridge tolls".
Reports before the debate - Fife Today - "AXED POISED OVER FORTH BRIDGE TOLLS" Daily Record - "NATS AVOID HUMILIATION OVER TAXES AND TRAMS". This other brief report gave a different impression of what would happen this afternoon - ic Scotland - "MSPs debate bridge tolls".
The motion and the two amendments -
S3M-93 Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP) : Abolition of Bridge Tolls— That the Parliament recognises the concerns of residents and businesses who have been unfairly treated by the retention of tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges when similar tolls were removed elsewhere; and that in the interests of fairness supports the removal of the tolls from the Forth and Tay road bridges as soon as is practicable and notes the government's intention to engage in dialogue to pursue this objective with the Forth Estuary Transport Authority and the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board.
Supported by: Bruce Crawford
Lodged on 29 May 2007; current
S3M-93.1 Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green) : Abolition of Bridge Tolls— As an amendment to motion S3M-93 in the name of Stewart Stevenson (Abolition of Bridge Tolls), leave out from “who” to end and insert “in Edinburgh, Dundee and Fife and, in the interests of reducing the impact of increasing traffic on the Forth and Tay road bridges and reducing congestion, supports the introduction of revenue-neutral smart charges with higher charges at peak times for cars on a sliding scale according to occupancy rates, lower charges or free access at other times of the day and week and free access for public transport at all times.”
Lodged on 30 May 2007; current
S3M-93.2 Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab) : Abolition of Bridge Tolls— As an amendment to motion S3M-93 in the name of Stewart Stevenson (Abolition of Bridge Tolls), leave out from “recognises” to end and insert “, in accepting that the people of Fife and Tayside should not be disadvantaged by the retention of tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges, requires that consultation aimed at bringing forward proposals leading to the removal of the tolls as soon as practicable also ensures that traffic management and safety issues on the Forth road bridge are dealt with and that any employees affected are treated with dignity and respect; further requires that the government’s proposals set out clearly what the financial consequences of the removal of tolls on the transport budget are and outline funding options for the vital replacement Forth crossing, and requires that, as any additional vehicle traffic increases congestion problems in Edinburgh and the wider region, existing commitments to trams and Edinburgh Airport Rail which have already been scrutinised and received parliamentary approval should not be arbitrarily delayed or cancelled and that all future major transport project proposals be properly costed, evaluated and prioritised.”
Supported by: Alex Johnstone, Margo MacDonald, Alison McInnes
Lodged on 30 May 2007; current
Wednesday 30 May 2007
The union representing tolled bridge staff is complaining about removal of tolls - BBC- "Union unease at bridge toll plans".
Tuesday 29 May 2007
A man from Fife has a letter in the Courier complaining about removal of tolls - fourth letter.
Monday 28 May 2007
According to tonight's Evening News, Edinburgh Council expect to have their man as the new political boss of FETA -
"Council set to bridge the gap after defeat".
A letter in today's Courier from Cameron Kettles of Dundee about removing the tolls - "... There should be no more excuses, lies or delays, do it now. We have been subsidising the West of Scotland, bearing the brunt of inequalities, being taxed when others have been removed. We have put up with politicians’ lies, hidden deals, spin, exaggerations, inconsistencies, misplaced calls for additional (expensive) reports, blatant mis-statement of facts regarding pollution etc. I applaud Alex Salmond for having the courage to stick to his guns, and also for coming good on his manifesto promise—such a refreshing event—finish the job Alex, scrap ’em now!".
Sunday 27 May 2007
Here is one bit of news from Wednesday that was not absolutely clear from what appeared in the papers - Labour now support the removal of all the tolls - Scottish Labour Party press release.
Tom Minogue has a letter in Scotland on Sunday - "Welcome plan to scrap bridge tolls".
One of the paper's editors today makes it clear that his "true colour" is green - Scotland on Sunday - "Alex shows Greens his true colours".
Saturday 26 May 2007
Report on the Tolls Taj Mahal - "Group slams £5 million toll plaza".
From last night's Evening Telegraph - "Union warns on bridge maintenance", and this morning's Courier - "Tolls axe leaves Forth bridge staff in limbo".
Two letters on the tolls in the Courier - second and third letters. The letter from Tom Minogue was also in Thursday's Scotsman and Evening News.
Thursday 24 May 2007
More this morning on the lifting of the tolls - Dunfermline Press - ""End of the road ahead for tolls" Courier - "TOLLS OFF" Courier - "“A great day for east of Scotland”" Courier - "Good move, but challenges ahead" Courier - "Long wait for people power to triumph".
This is the press release that NAATS sent out yesterday -
"MAKE TOLLS HISTORY"
"We warmly welcome today's announcement by the First Minister confirming the promise that the remaining tolls will be removed."
"The campaign against tolls was started by the people of Skye back in 1995, we are pleased that we are now nearing an end to all tolls. The removal of tolls is a boost to local economies and it makes people feel better - ask the people of Skye or around the area of the Erskine bridge."
"The removal of the last of the bridge tolls will be a boost to the whole of Scotland. A toll free nation will be an attraction to tourists. It will also attract inward investment, as businesses don't like tolls as can be seen by the M6 toll road in England, which carries almost no goods traffic."
"This proposal to remove tolls is being put forward by the SNP, and the Tory members have already made it clear in their election campaign that they also support the removal of tolls. That leaves a question of what the other parties will do. We ask that they look to the future and join in the freeing of Scotland from road tolls, after all it has been done before. Tolls "and other exactions" were removed with effect from 1883 by the Roads and Bridges Scotland Act of 1878. In most areas the origin of the "toll house" has been forgotten, the MSPs can now make tolls history throughout Scotland."
Wednesday 23 May 2007
The First Minister at 2.45 this afternoon confirmed that the tolls are to go. One person apparently not pleased is from Edinburgh City Council - Edinburgh Evening News - "Dawe's fear as SNP set to scrap bridge tolls".
Reports this morning that the First Minister is to announce the end of the tolls - Scotsman - "SNP's Holyrood battles commence with move to abolish bridge tolls" BBC - "Salmond plans to end bridge tolls" Courier - "Bridge tolls facing axe: oil transfers to be vetoed" Herald - "Salmond in bid to scrap tolls on Forth and Tay bridges".
Report last night - Berwickshire Today / Press Association - "Salmond's toll pledge".
Tuesday 22 May 2007
It was reported yesterday that Tory MSP, Murdo Fraser, is to publish a Member's Bill to abolish both tolls. This is most welcome news. We hope that the new bill does not share the fate of the two bills raised in the last session by Bruce Crawford and Helen Eadie. Both bills fell at the dissolution of the Parliament. Bruce Crawford's bill had earlier somehow failed to comply with some obscure rule by one day.
Saturday 19 May 2007
The Forth bridge is open normally this weekend due to "poor weather"! Courier - "Work on bridge halted".
Friday 18 May 2007
Peter Murray Spencer of Dundee suggests in the Couier that the next Forth crossing should be a causeway - 4th letter.
Thursday 17 May 2007
According to an official report, the removal of tolls on the Skye bridge has boosted the local economy and benefitted the people. Did they need a report to work that out??? BBC - "Bridge study claims £100m boost" Herald - "Skye bridge traffic increases by 50% since tolls scrapped" (includes comment from Tom McAlister one of the SKAT campaigners) Herald - (later report) Scotsman - "Axed Skye tolls bring £100m boost and halt exodus of young".
You do not need us to tell you that yesterday, the SNP formed a minority administration. Their manifesto said that the bridge tolls would be gone within 100 days. We believe that they meant this, but the next 100 days will tell. We sent a message to ALL the MSPs saying -
"We realise that there will be many issues before you, but in our view there is an issue which can and should be addressed quickly - the remaining bridge tolls. The removal of the last of the bridge tolls will remove an injustice that mainly affects people and businesses in Fife. It will also benefit the economy - most people and businesses don't like tolls, and being able to promote Scotland as a fully "toll free nation" will be a boost to tourism and inward investment. Not that this would be the first time that Scotland was toll free as the old tolls "and other exactions" were removed with effect from 1883 by the Roads and Bridges Scotland Act of 1878. (There was no similar Act in England, which still has at least 10 tolls that date back before 1878.) Those who wanted to keep the tolls have given various reasons for doing so." The message continued by setting out in more detail why the tolls should go.
Yesterday's Courier had a letter from Graham Fleming of Perth about resurfacing work at the northern end of the Kincardine Bridge last Sunday at the same time as restrictions due to resurfacing work on the Forth Bridge. He says that this is "another example of the poor standard of planning we experience from public services". A problem that we believe would be reduced if the Executive was responsible for both bridges.
Monday 14 May 2007
Courier report on Forth bridge - "Gridlock on bridge as works continue".
Saturday 12 May 2007
Tom Minogue had this letter in this morning's Courier -
"Many voters who voted for all but the Labour Party are rightly optimistic that the troublesome tolls on the Tay and Forth Bridges can be abolished as a majority of MSPs in the new session of Parliament are committed to such a course of action.
The outlook for the Forth Road Bridge users is better than even the most optimistic voter could have predicted as the power to collect tolls on this bridge is derived from the Forth Road Bridge (Toll Period) Extension Order2006, which was a piece of subordinate legislation enacted by the Scottish Executive without recourse to the Scottish Parliaments’ members in Committee or in the Chamber.
So if the Executive “by powers conferred by section 46 of the Forth Road Bridge Order 1958” can—“after having received an application from the Forth Estuary Transport Authority”—impose tolls on the Forth Road Bridge by decree, they can abolish tolls the same way—without the full Parliament voting on it!
So get to it FETA and make your request to the Scottish Executive—the voters of Scotland have spoken on this matter!
Once FETA apply this will be an early “litmus test” for the new Scottish Executive and I have no doubt that our new First Minister, Alex Salmond will take the opportunity to honour his pre-election promises and scrap the Forth Road Bridge tolls. This act will demonstrate that he—unlike his predecessors—is set to make Scotland a toll free country and boost the economy of the East Coast in the process.
I am not sure of the exact legal requirements for the Tay Bridge but I am sure that there is a way to speedily abolish this toll—through the Parliament if necessary."
The Courier also has a report on how long, or not, it might take to build a new Forth crossing - "Bridge delay report “scaremongering”".
Tuesday 8 May 2007
The Press Association report that the SNP may do a deal with the Greens (all two of them). Let's hope that justice for the bridge users is not forgotten - Guardian - "Transport could be key to SNP deal".
Monday 7 May 2007
The Courier reckons that both tolls are dead. Let us hope that they are correct - "Number up for both bridge tolls".
Saturday 5 May 2007
No one predicted the election shambles, but the results of Thurday's elections were broadly as forecast. The SNP are the largest party (just), but have no overall majority. Assuming that the SNP either form a minority government or are part of a coalition, we hope that they will not forget their "no tolls" promise. Bizarrely the voters in Dunfermline West voted in a Lib Dem, the party that has fought the hardest to keep the tolls but seems to have the knack of promising the opposite to the local electors and being believed.
The local council elections indicate a Edinburgh "Toll Poll" effect, Labour lost half their seats (compared with Glasgow where they only lost a fifth).
Tuesday 1 May 2007
The future of the local hospital was the dominant issue, but tolls was also an issue at last night's hustings in Dunfermline organised by the Courier. Here is part of their report - "Another topic which was dominant during the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election build up and reappeared yesterday evening was bridge tolls.
This has been an ongoing concern of the Fife Federation of Small Businesses, whose chairman David Chalmers was at the hustings.
Reminding those present of his resignation as a party whip over tolls, Scott Barrie (Labour) reiterated his opposition to his party’s stance on the issue.
Meanwhile, Jim Tolson (Lib Dem) prompted jeers from the crowd when he said tolls were “strangling the economy of Fife.”
Alice McGarry, an SNP candidate in the council elections, was applauded after she stood up and said, “Stop telling lies, Jim.”
The Lib Dem candidate gave Peter Lyburn a sense of “deja vu,” said the young Conservative. He said Willie Rennie had also pledged to convince his party to get rid of tolls during his campaign for the Dunfermline and West Fife seat but had not succeeded.
The SNP has been the most consistent party on tolls policy. “Tolls should have been done away with years ago,” said Len Woods.".
Saturday 28 April 2007
The Greens have been reminding people via tonight's Evening News that they want more tolls. Their views are unlikely to win them many Holyrood seats, but there is a danger that a coalition may need their backing.
The Forth bridge authority are having problems with their new luxury toll system - Courier - "Bridge toll problems admitted".
Report on work on resurfacing the Forth bridge roadway - Courier - "Work already behind schedule".
Friday 27 April 2007
The "Toll Truth" from the Courier - "Voters don’t know the toll truth, says group".
Thursday 26 April 2007
Robbie the Pict, the veteran anti toll campaigner is back in the courts. He is trying to squash the criminal convictions of those who opposed the Skye bridge tolls, and this time is using the "Scottish Claim of Rights Act 1689" - Highland News - "Appeal to Queen on bridge convictions".
The Tories have been given Nought out of Ten by the "Friends of the Earth".Not surprisingly the Scottish Tories have been disowned by the greenie Tories down in London - Guardian - "Scottish Tories get zero rating for green policies".
Wednesday 25 April 2007
John Phimister of Kirkcaldy says that the Forth "Bridge is worth saving" - Courier - fourth letter.
Friday 20 April 2007
It seems that the people who run the Forth bridge know that the result of the election will be a victory for Labour and Lib Dems, as they have announced that electronic tolling will be introduced in the summer - Evening News - "Bridge tolls to go electronic" "FETA announcement".
Wednesday 18 April 2007
The BBC report that the Tories are emphasising their opposition to tolls - "Party leaders focus on transport". Report in various papers - "Tories reject charges for motorists".
John Brook from Methil suggests that the Courier should remind readers about which MSPs last year supported keeping tolls - Courier - first letter.
Monday 16 April 2007
Tailbacks on Forth bridge at the weekend due to start of resurfacing work - Courier - "Huge tailbacks begin over Forth".
Sunday 15 April 2007
Scotland on Sunday's business correspondent reports on the roasting that Jack got on the tolls issue from businessmen - "Jack takes the rap for Holyrood, the bridge and Brown". The Scotsman seems to be backing tolls as it says that businesses "will be no worse off than before".
Friday 13 April 2007
Tonight's Evening News reports that the stance of Labour and Lib Dems has been attacked by businesses - Evening News - "McConnell and Stephen roasted over Forth bridge tolls".
Yesterday the SNP issued their - manifesto. Surprisingly, the main document does not mention the bridge tolls, though it does refer to road tolls - "We do not believe Labour and Liberal Democrat proposals for a Toll Tax - charging motorist a new tax for using Scotland’s roads - is the right approach especially as so many Scottish families today do not have adequate access to alternative public transport."
The bridge tolls are in a separate document "Our first steps" which says - "It’s time for a fair deal for all parts of Scotland. We will introduce a Bridge Tolls (Abolition) Bill to completely remove tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges. It is unacceptable and unfair to leave the two road bridges into and out of Fife as the only remaining toll bridges in Scotland.".
Their proposals were reported in various papers including - Courier.
Thursday 12 April 2007
Labour have issued their - manifesto. As expected they say on the bridge tolls - "Scottish Labour will also remove all tolls on the Tay Bridge and for multiple-occupancy cars on the Forth Road Bridge." On road tolls they say nothing at all.
In our opinion the reason that Labour backed the Lib Dems in their fanatical support for bridge tolls and still want to keep Forth bridge tolls is as a platform from which to gradually introduce road tolls. In a vain attempt to fool people they will probably describe this as "congestion charges".
The Lib Dems have also issued their - manifesto. As expected they say on the bridge tolls - "We will abolish tolls on the Tay Bridge and end them on the Forth Bridge for cars with more than one occupant.". On road tolls they say - "We will not introduce road user charging in Scotland. Should the UK Labour Government introduce road charging, we would only consider supporting it if