Private management of Forth bridges to be approved

PLANS to scrap the Forth Estuary Transport Authority and hand the contract for managing and maintaining the new and existing Forth Road Bridges to a private company were set to be approved in principle by MSPs today.

The Scottish Parliament’s infrastructure committee has backed Transport Minister Keith Brown’s refusal to allow councillors to sit on the advisory Forth Bridges Forum.

He claimed it would “muddy the waters” to include politicians who had no responsibility for spending decisions on the bridges.

But Labour transport spokeswoman Elaine Murray was expected to challenge the Scottish Government over how local accountability will be maintained.