NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday 7th February 2006
FORTH ROAD BRIDGE: CAMPAIGNERS SEEK CLARITY FROM MINISTERS
Open letter seeks assurances on 'facts first' appraoch
Groups opposed to plans for a Second Forth Road Bridge have called on Scottish ministers to clarify their position following several weeks of “spin and disinformation” by senior UK and Scottish politicians. [1] Campaign coalition - the ForthRight Alliance – today made the call in an open letter to Transport Minister, Tavish Scott MSP. [2]
Chairman of the Forthright Alliance, Bill Cantley, said:
“The ForthRight Alliance takes the view that the Scottish ministers should have all the facts at their disposal before taking a stance on the possibility of an additional bridge. Failing to do so would be both environmentally irresponsible and fiscally imprudent.
“The Alliance will continue to try to pursue a responsible line in a political environment evidently characterised by spin and disinformation at the time of a by-election. We are seeking assurances that ministers will not take a decision on the future of possible further crossing across the Firth of Forth before they have all the facts in front of them.”
ENDS
Media contacts:
David McDonald, (ForthRight Alliance) Cockburn Association, 0131 557
8686
Lang Banks, Friends of the Earth on 0131 554 9977
Colin Howden, TRANSform Scotland on 0131 467 7714
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] Campaign groups who successfully fought a second Forth road bridge proposal ten years ago reformed in 2005 to fight plans for a new crossing.
ForthRight Alliance members currently include: RSPB Scotland, WWF Scotland, TRANSform Scotland, Friends of the Earth Scotland, Friends of the Earth Edinburgh, Friends of the Earth Fife, The Cockburn Association (The Edinburgh Civic Trust), The Civic Trust Scotland, Railfuture Scotland, SPOKES, CRAG, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Edinburgh and Lothians Greenbelt Network, Living Streets Scotland, Scottish Association for Public Transport, SERA Scotland.
Full list: http://www.forthrightalliance.org/members.html
[2] OPEN LETTER to Minister for Transport
Dear Mr. Scott
The Forth Road Bridge
The ForthRight Alliance, the campaign alliance against the construction of a second Forth Road Bridge, continues to review the discussions and proposals for a second Forth Road Bridge from a position of critical interest. The Alliance takes the view that the Scottish Ministers should have all the facts at its disposal before taking a stance on the possibility of an additional bridge; failing to do so would be both environmentally irresponsible and fiscally imprudent.
It is our belief that all options to maintain and preserve the existing bridge, (such as replacement cables and dehumidification) and demand management (including a variable charging regime) must be fully explored before a further new bridge is actively pursued. Furthermore we seek assurances that the results of the Scottish Executive's audit of FETA’s research on the current condition of the Forth Road Bridge will be released into the public domain as soon as this information is available.
I am also writing to clarify whether you have been accurately quoted in the Scotsman of 27th January: “We will make a decision [on a new bridge] in principle by Easter.” If so, what information are you basing such a decision upon and how does this fit with the Scottish Executive's official statement:
“The Executive is taking forward as a priority two strands of work. The first involves an independent technical assessment of FETA's current analysis of the cable issues, due this month, followed by consideration of the results of a planned cable replacement/augmentation feasibility study, due in 2007.
“At the same time as technical assessments are being undertaken on the bridge, the Executive and the new Transport Agency will be considering the broader issues of cross Forth travel in the long term as part of the Strategic Projects Review. This work is starting in January.
“This is an evolving situation and necessary decisions will be taken as evidence from the analytical work being undertaken emerges. The Minister for Transport will keep the Parliament informed of progress at the appropriate times.”
The ForthRight Alliance will continue to try to pursue a responsible line in a political environment evidently characterised by spin and disinformation at the time of a by-election. The ForthRight Alliance is seeking assurances that you will not take a decision on the future of possible further crossing across the Firth of Forth before you have all the facts. It is our understanding that this information will not be available until the completion of the commissioned cable replacement/augmentation feasibility study, due in mid-2007.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Bill Cantley
Chairman of the Forthright Alliance