Labour MSPs want bridge tolls scrapped

LABOUR MSPs have urged their own party to include a pledge scrapping tolls across the Tay and Forth in the manifesto for the next Scottish Parliament elections.

In a joint submission to the Scottish Labour Party, Helen Eadie, Marilyn Livingstone, Christine May and Scott Barrie say commuters are being penalised by the decision to retain tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges.

They said: "We are pleased that the Scottish Executive rejected proposals by FETA to increase peak hour crossing on the Forth bridge to 4.

"However, the decision to renew the toll order on the Forth bridge means that the Kingdom of Fife is the only area in Scotland where bridge tolls have been retained."

They added: "Both Dundee City Council Labour group and Fife Council Labour group believe that the tolls should be abolished. Retaining tolls on both of the bridges means that Fifers in particular are being penalised for travelling to and from work."

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat victor in the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election told the party's spring conference in Aviemore that FETA, the body in charge of the Forth Road Bridge, should be scrapped.