Following the announcement of the Tolled Bridges Review Phase Two outcomes on 1 March 2006 there were calls for the tolls on Tay and Forth Road Bridges to end. On 30 March 2006, following a debate on bridge tolls, the Parliament agreed:
"That the Parliament notes the responses, analysis and conclusions set out in the recent consultation and review of Scotland's tolled bridges, including the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board's response; notes the bridges review met all of the Board's requests, and recommends an examination of the economic, social and environmental impact and cost of retaining or removing the tolls from the Tay and Forth bridges, on Fife and Dundee, the proposals for which will be reported on as soon as possible."
Toll Impact Study
Independent consultants Steer Davies Gleave were appointed to carry out a study of the traffic, economic, social and environmental impacts of retaining or removing the tolls at the Forth and Tay Road Bridges. The study is focusing on the impacts of the tolls on the economy and communities in Fife and Dundee, as well as wider impacts, and follows the principles set out in the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG). Work began at the start of September and an initial draft of the study report was received before the end of 2006.
Work on the study has yet to be concluded. However, the following papers are complete, and will form Appendices to the final report:
- Evidence Report - setting out a summary of the documents received in response to the Minister for Transport's "Call for Evidence"
- Market Research Findings - a summary of interviews, focus groups and other research carried out by Steer Davies Gleave to gather views on tolls
Call for Evidence
On 17 May 2006 the Minister for Transport invited all interested parties to submit any factual evidence in support of the retention or removal of tolls from the bridges. Letters confirming this call were also sent to around 180 individuals and organisations on 1 June. Recipients included all MSPs, relevant local authorities, regional transport partnerships, bridge authorities, non government organisations, motoring organisations and public transport representatives.
The closing date for submissions was 17 August 2006, although this was extended slightly to allow a small number of organisations to clear responses. In total, the Executive received eighty-nine responses, and we would like to thank all those who responded to the call for evidence.
CONFIDENTIAL responses have been retained by the Executive and are not available for publication. Twenty-eight responses fall into this category: one from a local organisation, and the remainder from individuals. Confidential responses include those where respondents:
- have asked for their responses not to be published (4 responses)
- have not completed the form giving permission for them to be published (19 responses)
- have not provided a postal address (5 responses)
Responses available here are those which are NON-CONFIDENTIAL. Sixty-one responses fall into this category, and have been received from:
Individuals 36
Members of the Scottish Parliament 8
Political parties/representatives 1
Tolled Bridge Authorities 2
Local Authorities 4
Government Agencies 1
Representative organisations 7
Business respondents 2
All responses, including confidential ones, are considered in the final analysis of the consultation.
Responses