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MSPs to debate road bridge tolls MSPs to debate road bridge tolls
(40 minutes later)
The future of tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges is to be debated in the Scottish Parliament.The future of tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges is to be debated in the Scottish Parliament.
The SNP wants to see the charges removed and called for the debate to "end the discrimination" against the east of Scotland.The SNP wants to see the charges removed and called for the debate to "end the discrimination" against the east of Scotland.
The party has put forward a motion calling for the removal of the tolls on both of the road bridges.The party has put forward a motion calling for the removal of the tolls on both of the road bridges.
SNP Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Tricia Marwick has urged Labour and Liberal MSPs to support the motion.SNP Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Tricia Marwick has urged Labour and Liberal MSPs to support the motion.
She said: "I challenge Labour and Liberal members who say that they want the tolls abolished to vote in support of abolishing Forth and Tay tolls - it's time for them to put their money where their mouth is.She said: "I challenge Labour and Liberal members who say that they want the tolls abolished to vote in support of abolishing Forth and Tay tolls - it's time for them to put their money where their mouth is.
"Since the removal of the tolls on the Skye and Erskine bridges there has been a seething resentment in Fife, Tayside, the Lothians and their surrounding areas about the unfairness of tolls being retained on the Forth and Tay Road bridges.""Since the removal of the tolls on the Skye and Erskine bridges there has been a seething resentment in Fife, Tayside, the Lothians and their surrounding areas about the unfairness of tolls being retained on the Forth and Tay Road bridges."
The transport minister is promising to re-examine the case for abolishing tolls in light of the executive's commitment to a new Forth crossing Glenn CampbellBBC Scotland correspondent
She added: "This issue goes beyond simple party politics and it is time for those who support the removal of the last two bridge tolls in Scotland to start acting together to achieve justice and fairness for the people of Scotland."She added: "This issue goes beyond simple party politics and it is time for those who support the removal of the last two bridge tolls in Scotland to start acting together to achieve justice and fairness for the people of Scotland."
The Scottish Greens have called for "smart charging" as an alternative to the tolls with reduced costs for multi-occupancy vehicles at peak times.
This, they said would encourage people to car share and use public transport.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott has expressed concerns about the cost of ending tolls, both in terms of cash and increased congestion.
He said: "We need to look closely at how we tackle the congestion on the Forth Road Bridge.
'Controlled rebellion'
"The peaks are lengthening, there are more and more people going across the Forth Road Bridge and people need to ask themselves what would happen if the tolls were removed.
"The answer is there would be even more congestion. Is that good news for the Fife economy? I don't think it is."
BBC Scotland political correspondent Glenn Campbell said: "The transport minister is promising to re-examine the case for abolishing tolls in light of the executive's commitment to a new Forth crossing.
"But given that it will take a minimum of four or five years to build a new Forth bridge I don't think that commitment is going to be enough to head off a limited, controlled rebellion by Labour and possibly some Liberal Democrat MSPs, those from Fife in particular."