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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| New Forth crossing plans approved | New Forth crossing plans approved |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Scottish Cabinet has backed plans to build a new bridge or a tunnel across the Firth of Forth. | The Scottish Cabinet has backed plans to build a new bridge or a tunnel across the Firth of Forth. |
| Ministers have yet to decide on the route and funding method but the project is expected to cost about £1bn. | Ministers have yet to decide on the route and funding method but the project is expected to cost about £1bn. |
| The cost to replace the existing Forth Road Bridge, which is suffering from corrosion, is expected to be almost double that of earlier estimates. | The cost to replace the existing Forth Road Bridge, which is suffering from corrosion, is expected to be almost double that of earlier estimates. |
| Ministers looked at expert assessments and agreed on Wednesday, in principle, to building a new crossing. | Ministers looked at expert assessments and agreed on Wednesday, in principle, to building a new crossing. |
| Transport Minister Tavish Scott, said three plans had been drawn up as possible routes for the new crossing. | Transport Minister Tavish Scott, said three plans had been drawn up as possible routes for the new crossing. |
| Cabinet is clear, doing nothing is not an option given the importance of this crossing to the Scottish economy and the people of Fife Tavish ScottTransport Minister | Cabinet is clear, doing nothing is not an option given the importance of this crossing to the Scottish economy and the people of Fife Tavish ScottTransport Minister |
| Mr Scott said: "The scale of the crossing, which will cost at least £1bn, will be the biggest construction project since devolution. | Mr Scott said: "The scale of the crossing, which will cost at least £1bn, will be the biggest construction project since devolution. |
| "Cabinet is clear, doing nothing is not an option given the importance of this crossing to the Scottish economy and the people of Fife. | "Cabinet is clear, doing nothing is not an option given the importance of this crossing to the Scottish economy and the people of Fife. |
| "Cabinet agreed on Wednesday to take forward the replacement crossing. | "Cabinet agreed on Wednesday to take forward the replacement crossing. |
| "Work will continue to assist a final decision which will be made this summer on where the crossing will be, what it will be, and how much it will cost." | "Work will continue to assist a final decision which will be made this summer on where the crossing will be, what it will be, and how much it will cost." |
| Major disruption | Major disruption |
| Alastair Andrew, general manager of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Feta), welcomed the progress made by the Scottish Executive and the commitment to a new crossing. | |
| Mr Andrew said he was looking forward to contributing to the debate on the type of crossing. | Mr Andrew said he was looking forward to contributing to the debate on the type of crossing. |
| Fife MSPs and business leaders have been backing plans for a new crossing, although some campaigners say it is already too late to prevent major disruption. | Fife MSPs and business leaders have been backing plans for a new crossing, although some campaigners say it is already too late to prevent major disruption. |
| Corrosion problems have come to light on the existing crossing | |
| Final decisions on the funding method, the route and whether a bridge or tunnel would be best will be taken after the Holyrood elections. | Final decisions on the funding method, the route and whether a bridge or tunnel would be best will be taken after the Holyrood elections. |
| Phil Flanders, of the Road Haulage Association, has also backed the construction of a new crossing. | |
| "Nobody seems to know just how long the bridge will have but we do know that, in the current state, HGVs will be banned from 2013," he said. | "Nobody seems to know just how long the bridge will have but we do know that, in the current state, HGVs will be banned from 2013," he said. |
| However David Davidson MSP, Scottish Conservative Transport spokesman, said that Labour had stalled on delivery for too long. | |
| "As early as 1993, we announced that preliminary work on a new bridge and associated road links would begin," he added. | |
| Having two road bridges open will simply increase pollution, worsen congestion between the bridge and Edinburgh city centre, and divert money away from public transport alternatives. Mark Ballard MSP | |
| "Preliminary investigations into options for a new crossing began, and land was set aside for the project. Fourteen years later, what is the current situation? | |
| "Make no mistake, Labour has been the roadblock to a new crossing for the Forth. They have had a decade to get the ball rolling. Instead, they have prevaricated for so long that the cost is now estimated at least £1bn." | |
| The SNP welcomed the decision, which they described as a Labour and Lib Dem "cave-in". | |
| "It must be remembered, however, that it was not so long ago that Mr McConnell said it would be 'particularly stupid' to proceed with a new Forth crossing," said Fergus Ewing, transport spokesman. | |
| "Clearly they have now realised their failure to take a position on building a replacement crossing was untenable, and so they have once again adopted SNP policy." | |
| Green alternatives | |
| Despite executive reports, the Scottish Green Party is not convinced that the existing bridge was beyond repair. | |
| Mark Ballard MSP, spokesman on transport, claimed that ministers did not have all the necessary information to make an informed decision and had not acted responsibly. | |
| "The facts, not electioneering and pandering to the road lobby, should determine policy," he said. | |
| "If the studies show that the existing bridge cannot be repaired, a replacement will of course be needed, but having two road bridges open will simply increase pollution, worsen congestion between the bridge and Edinburgh city centre, and divert money away from public transport alternatives." | |
| Instead Green MSPs are arguing for investment on traffic reduction measures, such as the creation of new rail stations in Fife. |