Forth Bridge chiefs run up £12k bill for travel

Published on Tuesday 1 June 2010 09:42

FORTH Road Bridge bosses have run up more than £12,000 worth of expenses on foreign travel in the past five years, new figures show.

Details of the trips were released after new measures were put in place to limit the number of overseas trips taken by staff.

The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA), which is made up of members of four local councils, tightened the rules surrounding foreign travel.

In a report which went before the board, Edinburgh City Council chief executive, Tom Aitchison said it was necessary to show "fiscal constraint and scrutiny".

Overseas trips will now have to be approved by the board. However, the bridge's chief engineer and bridgemaster was still allowed to travel to China for the International Cable Supported Bridge Operators' Conference at a cost of 3,350 in May.

The decision comes in the wake of the foreign trips scandal which hit Strathclyde Passenger Transport, where a number of senior figures stood down amid claims they ran up huge expenses bills while travelling overseas.