By Steve Bargeton, political editor

AN MP last night cast doubt on claims that scrapping the tolls on the Forth Road Bridge would increase traffic by almost a quarter.

Liberal Democrat MP Willie Rennie, who campaigned successfully for the rejection of the controversial £4 tolls proposals during his by-election win in Dunfermline and West Fife, wants FETA to provide the evidence to back their claim.

“The last thing I want is increased congestion on and around the Forth Road Bridge,” he said.

“More congestion could have a dramatic effect on the quality of our lives and a huge impact on business.

“However, I have become increasingly concerned about the veracity of the claims about the abolition of the tolls resulting in a 21% increase in traffic.

“There are all sorts of figures being banded around with very little explanation of the assumptions they are based on.”

Over the summer Mr Rennie conducted a 50-stop tour of his constituency taking soundings on the tolls.

He said he detected a “sense of injustice” that only the bridges connecting Fife—the Forth and the Tay—were subject to charges.

“Whilst people were outraged with the proposal for £4 tolls most people are not really that bothered about the £1 toll,” said the MP.

“However, there is a sense of injustice that there are tolls on Fife’s bridges but nowhere else in the country especially when the Forth Road Bridge has already been paid for.”

Mr Rennie said he has written to Lawrence Marshall, the convener of FETA, asking for the evidence to justify claims that removal of the £1 would result in a 21% increase in traffic.

A spokesman for FETA said that the 21% figure came from traffic modelling work carried out for the Scottish Executive and published in September 2004.