SNP MUST SORT OUT FORTH CROSSING FUNDING - MCINNES (Alison McInnes)

Alison McInnes <info@alisonmcinnes.co.uk>

SNP MUST SORT OUT FORTH CROSSING FUNDING - MCINNES

November 17, 2009 12:00 AM

Commenting on the publication of the Forth Replacement Crossing Bill in the Scottish Parliament today, Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP said:

"The Scottish Government must sit down with the Treasury and sort out a better funding package for this vital bridge.

"The proposed funding mechanism is quite simply unacceptable.

"The SNP needs to swallow its pride and work with the UK Government to sort this out. The Calman process is clearly the best way of doing this.

"This bridge will benefit the whole economy, particularly in the East of Scotland. We must ensure that this bridge is done right.

"The SNP Government plan to use the new bridge for general traffic, leaving the old Forth Road Bridge for public transport. But as early as 2014 we may need to consider imposing weight restrictions on the old bridge.

"This tells us everything we need to know about the SNP's attitude to public transport. At the moment, instead of a bus lane on the new bridge, public transport is to be relegated to a bridge that we all know is crumbling.

"The SNP's backup plan is for buses to use the new bridge's hard shoulder. But it's a case of when rather than if.

"The Forth Road Bridge will be unusable one day. That's a fact, not a possibility. The SNP should plan for that day now rather than keeping their fingers crossed that somehow, the old bridge lasts forever."