Auditor general says Scotland will have to consider reintroducing bridge tolls
A return of tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges may be needed if Scotland is to meet carbon emission targets, MSPs have been told.
The old toll booths on the Tay Bridge.
- By David Clegg, political editor
- Published in the Courier : 15.12.11
- Published online : 15.12.11 @ 01.13pm
The shock revelation came from auditor general Robert Black, who said the Scottish Government is facing ''real challenges'' to meet its target of reducing emissions by 42% by 2020.
He highlighted a recent report from Audit Scotland which stated the SNP ''will need to consider introducing new policies that it has previously ruled out, such as a road pricing scheme''.
Road pricing schemes pursued in other parts of the UK include bridge tolls and congestion charges.
Tolls on the Forth and the Tay were abolished by the SNP in 2007 following a campaign by The Courier. But Mr Black told Holyrood's public audit committee that such schemes need to be reconsidered to meet emissions targets.
It is hoped extra charges would persuade more motorists to switch to more environmentally friendly options like public transport.
Mr Black told the committee: ''To make a further step-change in this area, policies that have perhaps not been attractive in the past might have to be considered.''
He added: ''If we are going, as a society, to increase significantly the policy impact that we can have in this area, then some of these new areas will have to be looked at because all the other significant areas have been addressed already.''
Green MSP Patrick Harvie, who opposed scrapping the tolls, said Mr Black was ''right'' to flag up such areas as a way to drive down emissions.
He said: ''A careful and well-designed approach to road pricing, as an alternative to existing taxes, could bring benefits to people's pockets, to local economies and to the environment. It's time for a debate on the idea.''
The proposal, which is sure to be opposed by commuters across Tayside and Fife, comes despite the fact the abolishing of tolls has had no discernible impact on traffic.
And the Scottish Government pledged there will be no return to tolls under the SNP administration.
A spokesman said: ''Scottish ministers have no plans to introduce road tolls or congestion charges. As Audit Scotland's report acknowledges, we are almost two thirds of the way to achieving our ambitious target of reducing Scottish emissions by 42% by 2020.''
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie also reiterated his opposition to bringing back the tolls.
The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP said: ''The claims that there would be a significant increase in traffic on the bridges as a result of the abolition of the tolls proved to be wrong.''
Tory transport spokesman Alex Johnstone also attacked the suggestion.
He said: ''The collapse in our economy is already resulting in a reduction of CO2 emissions and what the auditor general is suggesting is that we squeeze our economy further to achieve these objectives.''
It was revealed earlier this year that the average commuter had saved £230 a year crossing the Forth and £184 crossing the Tay.
01.37pm - 15.12.2011 Caroline - Monifieth, UK Report This
So in fact just another chance to tax the motorist again! I would like to see evidence that putting tolls on will reduce traffic - seems more likely to just put more money in the council coffers!!
02.53pm - 15.12.2011 mark - dundee, scotland Report This
congestion charging in a small town like Dundee? maybe if DCC road designers done their job properly and got traffic flowing there wouldnt be road congestion in and around town, get rid of all the needless traffic lights then we would save money on traffic light maintenance as well.
03.34pm - 15.12.2011 Stephen - Fife, UK Report This
What a load of ****!! Your vehicle uses more fuel stopping and starting for toll booths / traffic lights etc! If you want to cut emissions then switching off unncessary traffic lights will make a huge difference for a start! Most are only needed at peak times anyway. 'For emisions' - sure it is!
04.26pm - 15.12.2011 joppie - DUNDEE, uk Report This
Isn't Patrick Harvie the guy who said that getting rid of the tolls in the first place would increase congestion?? As someone who uses the bridge often I think congestion has decreased and how does more cars siting idling in traffic jams produce less noxious emissions? The bus isn't for me!
04.28pm - 15.12.2011 Gnasher - DUNDEE, angus Report This
Patrick Harvie bumping his gums again. he has been wrong so many times I'm surprised he wants the publicity. Patrick please be quiet and let the rest of us get on with our lives!
06.44pm - 15.12.2011 John Jones - Dundee, Scotland Report This
The key fact here is that, contrary to Harvie's prior scaremongering, the abolition of tolls has not generated additional traffic across the Tay. It follows that claims they should be reintroduced in order to reduce either congestion or emissions are bogus and mask a quite different agenda.
08.21pm - 15.12.2011 Iain - Dundee, Scotland Report This
why is it that taxation is the only way politicians can SAVE the world or is it just another way to screw the hard pressed taxpayer?
08.22pm - 15.12.2011 Hamish - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Enough of this rubbish about carbon emissions and climate change, we're being taxed to a standstill already. Charging for road use puts up the cost of everything that uses these roads and everyone pays. For what benefit? None.
10.57am - 16.12.2011 GB - Perth, UK Report This
Didn't they learn the last time that the tolls were supposed to pay for the bridges but ended up operating at a loss so were done away with? Come on let's not go down that same old road of negative equity again.
11.35am - 16.12.2011 Steve - Dundee, Scotland Report This
If the DCC directors for roads and planning got actual financial penalties taken from their pay because of the delays they cause through badly managed traffic flow and the consequential increase on CO2 emissions due to stop/start traffic then perhaps we would have a smooth flowing city with less polution.
Add a comment