Forth Bridge privatisation plans meet with anger

A DECISION to privatise the management of the Forth Road Bridge after almost 50 years has been greeted with anger.

Transport minister Keith Brown ordered the scrapping of FETA, the Forth Estuary Transport Authority, which maintains the structure and is responsible for traffic operations.

It has 70 staff and is funded by four local authorities in Edinburgh, Fife, West Lothian and Perth and Kinross.

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Mr Brown has said the government wants to invite private sector bids to run both the existing bridge and the new Forth crossing.

He said: “This option will deliver value for money through market testing for both bridges and offers operational efficiencies through a twin-bridge strategy.”

One contractor will be responsible for maintaining and operating both structures.

Mr Brown insisted the jobs of existing FETA staff would be protected as their “skills, knowledge and professionalism” were greatly valued by the government.

However, local councillors have accused the government of acting like “control freaks” and said FETA should have been given the chance to run both bridges.

Phil Wheeler, vice-convener of FETA, said: “It’s the control freaks at Holyrood at work again. The bridge has been run since it was planned over 50 years ago by a joint board of local councillors. It’s disappointing that local accountability is being scrapped by the minister. He obviously was not paying too much attention when he met the FETA board back in June when we had an exchange of views and people of all parties stressed the value of having local members involved.”

Lesley Hinds, Labour’s transport spokeswoman in Edinburgh, said: “Everything is being centralised by a controlling SNP government. Why do they not trust local authorities and locally-elected members?

“The SNP government has this rhetoric against privatisation, yet that’s what they are doing.”

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The Government had been looking at whether FETA or a new public authority could maintain both crossings, as well as the prospect of the new bridge being run privately with FETA retaining responsibility for the existing one.

Tony Martin, the chairman of FETA, and a Liberal Democrat councillor in Fife, said: “We always recognised that this might mean dissolving FETA as currently constituted, although it is important that some local accountability is retained in light of the impact of bridge works on local communities. We are pleased that the Scottish Government is addressing this issue via the establishment of a Forth bridges forum.

“We welcome the news that there will be no compulsory redundancies, as it is vital that we retain the unique knowledge and skills of the highly experienced team already on site.

“Our overall priority is what is best for the Forth bridges and the people who rely on them, so we look forward to working closely with Transport Scotland to make a success of these new arrangements.”

Terry Airlie, secretary of Queensferry and District Community Council, said: “We are very happy with the way that FETA runs the Forth Road Bridge at present and we want to see the people who are there just now given the opportunity to continue working with the new contractor.”

Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir added: “I have been advised that staff will remain on their current terms and conditions. Their skills, knowledge and professionalism are greatly valued, which is why the staff must continue to be part of the project.”

The bridge, which opened in 1964, cost £19.5 million. It is expected to be used for public transport only when the new £1.6 billion bridge opens in 2016.