By Lars Niven

The man in charge of the Forth Road Bridge has insisted the new toll plaza has been built in the correct place, despite reports it had been moved 15-metres from its original location.

Bridgemaster Alastair Andrew dismissed suggestions the £5 million structure would have to be torn down and rebuilt and said some newspaper reports had been “entirely wrong.”

Residents on the Stoneyflatts estate in South Queensferry complained to Edinburgh City Council when they realised just how big the new canopy was going to be.

Planning officials discovered the new tollbooths had been built nearly 50 feet from where they were supposed to have been put up, according to the original blueprint.

The council has asked the Forth Estuary Transport Authority to submit a retrospective planning application to cover the discrepancy.

However, Mr Andrew said the plan was always to move the booths slightly to the south of the existing ones, which have had to be kept for the time being so that FETA can continue to collect the tolls while the work is carried out.

The new plaza is due to be completed by September.

Mr Andrew pointed out there was some doubt as to whether FETA actually needed planning consent, as technically it was a local authority (which govern planning issues) in its own right.

However, it decided to submit an application to keep things right and approval for the new plaza was granted in 2004.

“The booths and the canopy are in the right place,” he said.

“The build position is 15 metres south, but any suggestion of tearing it down is unfounded.

“All of these stories are attractive for selling newspapers, but they are entirely wrong.

“What has happened is some residents have sight of the canopy and Edinburgh City Council have suggested we submit a retrospective planning application.

“The fact that it obstructs your view is not a valid reason to object to a planning application.”

Several residents have formally complained to the council about the position of the canopy.

A council spokeswoman said last week, “Consent for it was granted in 2004, but it appears it has been built about 15 metres south of the approved position.

“We have asked FETA to submit a retrospective planning application to determine if this accords with the provisions of the local plan, council policies and guidelines.”

Mr Andrew also hit back at those who have criticised FETA for spending £5 million on replacing the booths when the authority did not know if the tolls would remain on the bridge.

Some have argued the fact the new plaza includes an electronic tolling capability proves FETA plans to introduce variable tolling.

It came under fire earlier this year for suggesting peak rate charges for single occupancy cars could be as high as £3.

Mr Andrew added that FETA had a responsibility to protect the health of its staff as best it could (from fumes and irate drivers) and the new booths would do that.

“At the time there was no suggestion that tolls were coming off the Forth Road Bridge,” he said. “This board took the decision to replace the tollbooths with modern, up-to-date equipment.

“European legislation requires us to ensure it is capable of taking electronic tolling.”