PERTH AND Kinross Provost Bob Scott has come under fire for approving FETA’s £4 Forth Bridge toll plan.

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Bruce Crawford yesterday accused Mr Scott of “siding with Edinburgh councillors.”

At a Forth Estuary Transport Authority meeting last week, Mr Scott was one of five board members to vote in favour of the bridge operators’ proposed road-charging scheme.

He was the only non-Edinburgh councillor to vote in favour of the scheme. Fife councillors Alice McGarry, Mike Rumney, Tony Martin and John Cameron and West Lothian councillor Dave King all voted against. So the casting vote of the chairman, Edinburgh councillor Lawrence Marshall, ensured approval of the plans.

Mr Crawford said, “There are many commuters who travel to Edinburgh from the Kinross area, who Mr Scott is representing on the FETA board. By far the vast majority of commuters would oppose a £4 toll on the bridge because there are no alternatives.

“I’m astonished that Liberal Councillor Bob Scott, the provost of Perth, decided to cast his vote in favour of the £4 charge. He should be thinking about the people who are most affected. It is also galling his vote was cast in the way it was, given the split decision. He sided with the Edinburgh councillors against those north of the Forth.”

Mr Scott said, “This is one measure included in a range of measures within the overall package. I’m not prepared to make any statement on an individual part of the package.

“To start shouting about a £4 toll on the bridge that might not even happen is a bit presumptuous.”