'Dishonest arguments' claim over new bridge

THE case for the new £2 billion Forth crossing has been built on "dishonest arguments" it has been claimed, as opponents said that disruption associated with repairing the existing bridge had been "greatly exaggerated".

The Scottish Green party said that a decision on the new Forth crossing should be put off until next year when the results of dehumidification work on the existing structure would be known.

The information came as a hearing at Holyrood heard that barely a third of Scots support the SNP's plan for an additional bridge, while 57 per cent back the repair of the existing bridge.

Patrick Harvie MSP said: "The case for an additional Forth road bridge is gradually evaporating. We already know that more than 2bn can be saved simply by repairing or replacing the cables on the existing bridge which would give it a lifespan of several decades, and that even those repairs may not be necessary.

"There has been a consistent campaign to mislead the public about the future of the road connections over the Forth, a case built on dishonest arguments, and this campaign must now stop.

"It's time to put any decision about a new bridge on hold until next year, when even more information will be available on the dehumidification work already ongoing."