THE FEDERATION of Small Businesses has condemned Forth Estuary Transport Authority for “desperately clinging to power” in refusing to abolish bridge tolls.

David Chalmers, vice-chairman of the federation in east Scotland, was responding to FETA’s submission to the Scottish Executive’s consultation on tolls, in which it stated removing tolls would damage the environment, cause more congestion and remove funding from Forth Road Bridge maintenance projects.

He said, “Despite the wealth of evidence submitted to the Executive, including a submission by the East Scotland region of the Federation of Small Businesses, FETA, an unelected quango, continues to cling desperately to power, and insist that tolls remain.

“The plain fact is the tolls must go. Both Forth and Tay bridges should be absorbed into the trunk road system, and paid for out of the £46.6 billion paid annually in taxes by this country’s road users.”

Mr Chalmers said businesses in Fife were being penalised on the grounds of geography and criticised FETA convener and Edinburgh councillor, Lawrence Marshall, for being vague about when tolls across the Forth would be removed.

He said, “Mr Marshall says it would be folly to remove tolls ‘at this stage’. Does he consider that there will come a stage when they can be removed? We need to be told.

“He continues to suggest the abolition of tolls would increase pollution and congestion, despite evidence to the contrary. He also fails to mention that Shandwick Place, in Edinburgh’s West End, has about the most polluted air in the city, if not in Scotland.

“This is due to buses, taxis, and cars, few of which ever came over the bridge, sitting in jams for long periods.

“The solution is simple. Remove the tolls, remove the toll booths, get the A8000 replacement up and running, and the congestion and pollution around the bridgehead will disappear. If this happened next week it would not be a moment too soon.”