Council’s fears over decision to deal with new Forth crossing business in private

A NEW management forum for the two Forth road bridges will sit in private, The Scotsman has learned.

The news came as MSPs rejected calls for councillors to be members of the Forth Bridges Forum, which is being set up by the Scottish Government “to ensure that thorough and effective stakeholder engagement remains at the heart of the operation and maintenance of the bridges”.

Lesley Hinds, transport convener of Edinburgh City Council, said she feared this might affect the amount of information that city council officials on the forum could pass on to councillors.

A report by Holyrood’s infrastructure committee also called on ministers to confirm to the council the government would take responsibility for any remaining compensation claims from construction of the M9 spur extension.