By Steve Bargeton, political editor, and Aileen Robertson

MINISTERS YESTERDAY gave the go-ahead for a new Forth crossing, but were forced to bow to pressure from MSPs over the controversial trams project for Edinburgh.

Last week The Courier revealed that the preferred option is for a new bridge to be built alongside the existing road bridge.

And yesterday transport minister Stewart Stevenson confirmed that this was indeed the advice given to ministers.

A new Forth crossing has the support of all major parties at Holyrood.

But the minister shocked MSPs by revealing that the cost of a new bridge by the time it is completed in 2016 would be between £2.5 billion and £3.5 billion —almost three times previous estimates.

The price tag for a tunnel is even higher—between £3.6 billion and £4.7 billion.

“Cabinet discussed reports received from Transport Scotland on the form and location of the new crossing of the River Forth,” said Mr Stevenson. “These recommend a bridge option close to the existing crossing.

“And we are pleased to announce that there will be a programme of public information exhibitions held during the summer on this, and the possibility of a tunnel upstream from the existing bridge.

“A decision on the preferred option will be taken in the autumn alongside decisions on finance, legislation and governance.”

The minister described the new Forth crossing as a “world class project.”

“The eyes of the world will be upon us as we proceed to construction of this major project that will deliver real benefits not just for the people of Fife but for the economy of the whole of Scotland,” he said.

“I am determined that the world will witness the delivery of a world class project in a world class way.”

In his statement to parliament Mr Stevenson outlined the government’s position on a range of transport projects.

And he repeated the Executive’s opposition to the £600 million Edinburgh trams project and the £650 million plan for the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link (EARL).

“We are being asked to take significant risks with Scottish taxpayers’ money on two all-or-nothing projects,” he told MSPs.

“Quite simply I cannot recommend that when there are other more important priorities for use of funds on this scale.”

In the debate following the minister’s statement, the main opposition parties pressed for the trams and EARL project.

They called for the trams—backed by the last parliament—to go ahead, on the proviso that any cost overrun would be met by the city council.

And they also said that ministers should sort out problems with the airport rail link—identified by Scotland’s Auditor General—before final financial commitments are made.

At decision time the minority nationalist Executive suffered its first defeat, the combined Labour, Tory and Lib Dem amendment being carried by 81 votes to 47.

First Minister Alex Salmond has always maintained that his administration would not necessarily be bound by votes in parliament.

This was a view repeated by his finance secretary John Swinney in an interview yesterday morning.

But following the defeat in the chamber, the Executive bowed to the will of parliament.

Mr Swinney told the house that the government would abide by the decision taken by the majority of MSPs.

Mr Swinney added, “Mindful of the level to which these projects are committed, and of the level of public expenditure already committed to the trams project, I would like to have this opportunity to confirm to parliament that the government will accept and implement the provisions within the resolution that has been agreed by parliament in relation to the Edinburgh trams project.”

But he told MSPs this course of action would not always be the case when the Executive loses a vote. “Can I make it clear on behalf of the government that we will not on every occasion be in a position to accept the views of parliament.”

This means the new Forth crossing will proceed as planned, the trams project will be allowed to proceed but with no additional money from the Executive and the EARL project will be reviewed over the summer recess.

Last night Mr Swinney said he personally believed the EARL scheme was “pretty dead” but he would heed the will of Parliament. And he warned there would be no additional funds for the tram scheme.

Of EARL he said the scheme faced practical problems like having to tunnel under a “live” runway and requiring trains that did not exist. There were also problems with the lack of a project board structure and other issues.

“In the absence of all of that, I can’t see where this project is going. I will do what Parliament asked me to do, which is to examine it over the autumn and bring it back in the autumn.

“But I have made it very clear, and officials at Transport Scotland have made it clear, there will be no more money spent on this project in the period of review.”

Of the tram scheme he warned, “It’s not my project —it’s the City of Edinburgh Council project and the Scottish government is providing financial support at the request of the Opposition parties in Parliament.

“Let’s be very clear about who is running the project —the ball is in the court of the City of Edinburgh.”

But there would be “not a penny more” of extra money committed to the scheme, other than that committed by the last administration.

Mr Swinney went on, “I am the minister for finance in the Scottish government, and I’m making it absolutely clear that is it.

“Don’t knock at my door asking for money because the answer will be no.”

Dunfermline West MSP Jim Tolson said the new Forth bridge should be an “engineering icon”.

Speaking after the vote, he said, “Now we have a commitment for a new crossing I will be urging the transport minister to bring forward funding proposals and a detailed timescale.

“The new bridge must be an engineering icon for the 21st century. In 100 years, Scotland must be as proud of the bridge we will build as we are of the Forth Road Bridge and Forth Bridge. It is an opportunity to ensure Dunfermline commuters and businesses have the best possible links to Glasgow and the west as well as Edinburgh and the east, increasing public transport capacity and easing congestion for road users.”

Douglas Chapman, SNP councillor for Rosyth and North Queensferry, said yesterday was “another fantastic day for Fife”.

He continued, “I am delighted that after years of delay and dithering, it’s an SNP government that is delivering for Fife.

“Clearly a new crossing is of vital importance to the economy of Fife and to ease the daily commute for thousands of people who need to travel from Fife for work.

“Due to delay and dithering over eight years by the Labour/Lib Dem executive, time is not on our side but the new SNP government has set a new Forth crossing as a clear and a key priority and I, along with many others, will be very pleased to contribute to the public debate to be held during the summer on the option between bridge or tunnel.”