New Forth road bridge will 'never' carry trams

THE chairman of the body which runs the Forth Road Bridge today said a second crossing will "never" carry trams.

Councillor Lawrence Marshall, chairman of FETA, said the idea is being used as a "Trojan Horse" by supporters of a second road bridge between Edinburgh and Fife.

His stance puts him at odds with officials at the Forth Road Bridge, including bridgemaster Alastair Andrew who last week said a new crossing would be capable of carrying light rail or trams.

FETA's official policy is to pursue plans for a new crossing which will have lanes for both buses and trams. But Labour's Cllr Marshall said there is "no realistic prospect" of Edinburgh's proposed tramlines ever extending as far as Fife. He said there was not enough money to finance such a major public transport initiative.

Earlier this year, a former chairman of FETA - Fife councillor Mike Rumney - used his casting vote to ensure the plans for a new road bridge are taken forward by officials. The move was supported by all of Fife's representatives, but opposed by the four Edinburgh councillors on the body.

Cllr Marshall said today: "We didn't say there would never be a need for a new bridge, but we felt it was important to concentrate on public transport improvements first. However, the official policy of FETA is now to pursue a business case for a new crossing.

"But, let's face it, we are never going to get trams to go to Fife. We can't even secure funding for Tram Line Three via the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, so it's not going to happen at the Forth.

"If you have to make an argument for a new bridge, you should not use trams as justification - it is just fanciful.

"Trams are being used as a Trojan Horse by supporters of a new crossing, but they are not a particularly attractive option for people looking to commute. What we need instead is to secure extra rail services over the Forth Bridge and have better public transport towards West Lothian."

The Evening News revealed earlier this year that the existing Forth Road Bridge has "irreversible corrosion" inside its cables and the life span of the crossing has been cut in half.

It will take at least 11 years for a new bridge to be built, one of the main reasons that Fife's FETA members pushed ahead with plans for a second road crossing.

Antony Martin, Lib Dem councillor for Fife, who is also a member of FETA, said: "Independent consultants have concluded that a new bridge is needed, and a separate study published recently said a new crossing should ideally be in place within six years.

"For economic development reasons in Fife, we need a new bridge. We have tried to help the Edinburgh councillors who are opposed to it, and we agree that we want to increase traffic movement, not traffic growth.

"But, if we are building a new bridge to last for the next 100 years, then we should ensure that it can carry trams some time in the future."

Proposals for a new bridge have been supported by motoring organisations such as the AA and the RAC. But environmental groups are strongly opposed to the plan.

Robin Harper, Green Party leader, said: "I would not be surprised at the lengths people will go to to justify their desire to see another Forth road bridge built.

"Building a new bridge is a head-in-the-sand approach to the problem we need to tackle - that is, to reduce traffic volumes, not expand them."