National Alliance Against Tolls - Forth Toll Increase - Press Release December 2004

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FORTH TOLL INCREASE
This press release was issued on the eve of the Inquiry in December 2004:-

Campaigners against road tolls are set to do battle over plans for a hike in charges to motorists who used a landmark bridge.

A public inquiry will be held today (Monday) into the proposals for a 20 pence increase in tolls for cars crossing the Forth Road Bridge.
Local motorist George Campbell, of Glenrothes, has been leading the fight to stop the toll being raised to £1, along with the group Fifers Against Toll Increase (FATI).

At today's public inquiry FATI will be supported by the UK-wide National Alliance Against Tolls (NAAT).

Support for FATI includes author Iain Banks. One of his novels "The Bridge" is about dreams dominated by the spectre of a bridge.

FATI has taken its campaign against the increase to the courts claiming that Toll regime is illegal since it incorrectly set up.

But it was ruled that the Inquiry would not consider this and attempts to delay the inquiry failed when a High Court Judge refused to grant an injunction.

John McGoldrick of the NAAT said today (SUNDAY): "The Forth Road Bridge is making a profit and has large reserves.

"However, the joint authority in charge of the bridge wants more money to fund large spending plans, both for the bridge and elsewhere.

"We believe motorists are already taxed to the hilt and it is wrong to increase tolls which are an extra tax that falls on motorists unfairly, depending on where they happen to live and work."

In a joint statement Mr Campbell and FATI said: "The bridge was intended to be free years ago, but they just change the rules and think up more ways of spending the money.

"Tolls should be scrapped not increased.

"The Forth toll hits Fifers particularly hard, as many have to travel south across the river to work and to the national facilities in Edinburgh."

"Fifers are trapped on 3 sides. To the south side there is the Forth bridge toll, to east side is the sea and to the north there is yet another toll to cross the Tay."

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