A radical proposal to impose a ”bridge tax” on developers could help make a new crossing over the River Tay at Perth a reality.
The innovative funding solution has been floated by a leading figure in the business community who envisages a sliding scale on new-build developments depending on how much they would rely on the new bridge.
A new crossing upstream from the city linking the Scone side with the A9 north is seen as vital if Perth is to unlock its potential as Scotland’s newest city, but funding remains the major hurdle.
In an effort to get a bridge off the drawing board, the Morris Leslie Group, whose interests include Perth Airport, has commissioned a report which examines how this could be achieved and the best options available.
The group’s general manager, Mike McWilliam, has written to local politicians outlining his fears if nothing is done and advocating a ”bridge tax”.
He highlighted his concerns about the two bridges Perth Bridge and the Queen’s Bridge that service Perth city centre.
”We know of old how the city becomes gridlocked if either of these bridges are closed and similarly if the Friarton Bridge is closed and its traffic is rerouted through Perth the consequent disruption of HGV traffic being directed through the city is immense,” he said.
”The recent freak weather conditions could easily cause damage to either of these bridges that would see Perth paralysed while remedial works are carried out.”
Mr McWilliam says it would be ”prudent for Perth” to consider the alternatives as proposed in the report prepared by URS Infrastructure and Environment UK Ltd, which has also been passed on to the council.
”It would see Perth less vulnerable to the vagaries of the weather but also be more forward-thinking of the recently-formed city when promoting itself as the ‘big event county’ of Scotland,” said Mr McWilliam.
”Even on a good day often the only part of the city that visitors see when attending an event at Scone Palace or Perth Races is when they are stuck in traffic and witness the eyesore of Bridgend. Hardly an inducement to relocate to Perth.”
He pointed out that future development on the Scone side will be hampered until there is an alternative Tay crossing and said the consultants’ report looks at affordable schemes that could be carried out in ”bite-size” chunks.
Whichever plan is favoured, the cost of roadworks and a new bridge would run into tens of millions of pounds and Mr McWilliam outlines how this might be achieved in the current economic climate.
”I have long advocated that there should be a ‘bridge tax’ on a sliding scale for each and every new build in Perth and Kinross depending on how reliant they are on that bridge,” he says in his letter.
”It could replace the affordable or education contribution as needs allow at the time.
”Presumably also Perth’s newfound city status would access funding that would allow it try and catch up with its more forward-thinking neighbour Dundee and allow it again to become the Fair City, that pleasant and practical place to visit.”
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser told Mr McWilliam that he too was ”frustrated” by lack of progress on a new bridge.
Vicki Unite, chief executive of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce said that the lack of an alternative east-west route that avoided the centre of Perth was a problem which would only get worse.