FIFE COUNCIL’S four representatives on the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA), the body responsible for running the Forth road bridge, are being urged to speak out against tolls.

The National Alliance Against Tolls (NAAT) Scotland has called on councillors Douglas Chapman, Mike Rumney, Tony Martin and Ian Chisholm to support the Scottish Executive commitment to scrapping the charge at today’s meeting of the authority in South Queensferry.

In an Email to the four, the anti-tolls campaign group states, “You are of course aware of the Fife Council position on the tolls (against) and that the new Executive has confirmed that removing the tolls is a priority.

“You will also be aware that the only party that seems to be against this is the Greens, but that there is strong pressure from various interests to have the tolls remain.

“The Tay bridge board unanimously agreed in March last year that the minister be asked to remove the tolls on that bridge.

“The position of FETA is completely different—for the latest tolls “study” the submission that was made on behalf of the board said that the tolls should be kept.

“Assuming that you support the removal of the tolls we ask that you consider putting forward at the next FETA meeting, a motion from all four of you unreservedly welcoming the intention to remove the tolls.

“As you may know our view is that the bridge and any future additional crossing should be operated by the Executive as part of the system of 3500 kilometres of trunked roads and bridges that they are already responsible for.”