By Leeza Clark

A proposed 20p rise on tolls on the Forth Road Bridge has been defended by its bridgemaster who said the additional revenue was vital for maintenance work.

Speaking at a public inquiry sparked by a lone objection to the increase proposed by bridge operators Forth Estuary Transport Authority, bridge general manager Alastair Andrew said that a programme of vital bridge work could not be funded without the price rise.

And FETA treasurer Donald McGougan told the inquiry that if there was no increase in charges, it was estimated that the management, maintenance and operation of the 40-year-old bridge would not be affordable and would result in an estimated debt of £29 million by 2018.

He added that if the proposed £1 toll had been introduced on schedule at the start of last October and if there had been no subsequent need for a public inquiry, it was estimated that the running of the bridge would have been affordable and that FETA would hold a reserve of £15.5 million by 2017-18.

It was necessary to secure future income so that tenders could be sought for vital projects—the largest of which is a £65 million repainting programme—and this was dependent on the proposed toll rises.

“If tendering for works were delayed this would have significant adverse implications for bridge maintenance,” he told the inquiry being heard by Reporter Malcolm Mahony in North Queensferry.

Mr Andrew added that it was unfortunate the 20p increase—described as “justified and reasonable”—had to come to a public inquiry as the added revenue would go to pay for this vital maintenance work.

“FETA’s only means of income under the current legislation is the toll revenue,” he said.

Mr Andrew said it was worth pointing out that the current 80p toll for cars had not risen since 1986 and that if the original toll of two shillings and sixpence (121/2p) had risen in line with the retail price index the equivalent single crossing today would be £1.64.

The inquiry is being held after a single objection was raised to the proposed toll increase earlier this year. Glenrothes man George Campbell —who said he used the bridge “more or less every week”—opposed the price hike and prompted the inquiry which, along with the delay to the increased toll charges, has been rumoured to have cost the authority £1 million.

However, he has been backed by Dunfermline man Tom Minogue, the founder of Fifers Against Toll Increases (FATI) and John McGoldrick of the National Alliance Against Tolls.

Mr Campbell’s objection was based primarily on four issues:

*The taxpayer continues to pay for the bridge eight years after the original loan was repaid.

*£9 million in tolls is generated every year

*Collecting tolls hinders the free movement of traffic.

*Fifers should be free of the stigma of having to pay tolls to enter the kingdom in the north at the Tay and in the south at the Forth.

Questioned by Mr Mahony, Mr Campbell said that FETA’s current finances should be used to pay for the maintenance of the crossing and that when that dwindled the Scottish Executive should take over the maintenance.

Mr McGoldrick argued that road users in Britain paid £40 billion in taxes and added that “the Chancellor already got quite a reserve of money from road users and we think a small part of that should be used to eliminate tolls.”

He added these were unfair and random, with the odds of having to pay tolls depending on the accident of where you live.

However, the harshest criticism on the first day of the inquiry came from Mr Minogue.

Having heard that FETA had not budgeted for the cost of a possible inquiry into its contingency plans, he told Mr McGougan, “I have got the impression of how prudent you are in the management of FETA but the objection, or right to object, is a fact of life.

“Is it not negligent or maybe even arrogant to assume a fact of life could be ignored or were you assuming you could get what you wanted without an inquiry?” he asked.

The inquiry continues today.