Tolls back on agenda to help pay for new bridge

Chambers of commerce representatives told MSPs that charging drivers for using the new 2 billion crossing could be considered as a last resort.

The Scottish Government – which abolished tolls on the existing bridge two years ago – plans to fund the new structure from its normal capital budget.

But the tolls option was raised when the Scottish Parliament committee scrutinising the Forth Crossing Bill took evidence from the chambers of commerce.

Garry Clark, head of policy with Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said he would look at any options to make the bridge happen.

"We need to make sure we have funding in place; it could be from Scottish Government funding, it could be private capital or, as a last resort, it could be some kind of limited-time tolling."

Alan Russell, chief executive of Fife Chamber of Commerce, said provided people were not sitting in traffic jams and any tolls only lasted until the cost of the bridge had been met, "it would be an acceptable way to do it".

Dave McDougall, chief executive of West Lothian Chamber of Commerce, said he would be alarmed if the bridge was the only place where tolls were imposed.

Mr Clark later told the Evening News the chambers of commerce wanted funding arrangements for the new bridge to be "set in stone" to remove any doubts. He said: "We need to have something concrete and election-proof."

Business leaders were among the strongest advocates of abolishing tolls on the existing bridge.

Mr Clark said any new tolls had to be strictly time-limited and for the purpose of paying off the capital costs of the project.

But he said: "If it's a choice between not having a bridge and having tolls, most businesses would take the tolls."

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce was not at the committee, but chief executive Ron Hewitt said the most important thing was to get the bridge built.

He said: "We have been advocating that the Government consider a public-private partnership to find the money for this project, and tolls would make that so much easier to do."

But a Scottish Government spokesman said it was not considering tolls for the new bridge. He said: "Traditional public procurement is supported in principle by all parties. You cannot say the same for tolls or PPP."