National Alliance Against Tolls - Scotland Tolls News 2004

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SCOTLAND NEWS 2004
Scotland News 2005 Edinburgh News to May 2005 - including the Toll Poll

28 December 2004
Where have all the pennies gone
Everyone knows that Tolls don't make good economic sense, and that Public Private deals are just as bad. But when you put the two together, you get a situation like the Skye bridge:- Guardian - A scandal of secrecy and profligacy

23 December 2004
Tolls the answer to Inadequate Roads
There was a bad accident yesterday on the A74, which is the main route linking England and Scotland. The route is mainly motorway apart from this short stretch. If the road is blocked there is great difficulty finding an alternative route. Some drivers were held up for up to 24 hours because of the accident and the way it was cleared up. There have been calls for road improvements. But the RAC and the Government say that the answer lies in Tolls! They want either to build more roads and toll them, or just toll the existing roads and force traffic off them.
Why don't they just go the whole hog and make it an offence to use the roads?

"Why wait seven years to scrap Skye tolls?"
There were several letters in the Herald this morning about the Skye tolls.
One from someone in Oban asked why wait and concluded "The most disturbing aspect of this is the curt dismissal of the case of those who recognised from the start that the toll regime was discredited and illegal and were fined or sent to prison for their opposition. To dismiss out of hand their principled action and the proposition that their sentences be reviewed demonstrates again just how far the Labour Party of today has moved from its roots."
Another was from NAAT (that's us!):- "NOW that the tolls have gone on the Skye Bridge it is time for all the other tolls to go, starting with the Erskine Bridge. The bridge is owned by the Scottish Executive so the tolls could be stopped very quickly."
"The bridge cost Ł11m to build, but they have so far collected over Ł80m in tolls. This tax falls unfairly on the people of west Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire Ending this toll tax might also shift some of the traffic using the Clyde tunnel and the Kingston Bridge."
"This decision is a no-brainer. The Scottish Executive should act now."
22 December 2004
More on Skye Tolls
Politicians seemed to be falling over themselves yesterday to claim the credit for the abolition of the Skye Bridge tolls. Well at least they can recognise that it's popular! One politician who does deserve credit is the local MSP, John Farqhuar Munro. He may not have been a member of the campaign from the start, but his support may have tilted the balance. Now, how's about quashing those convictions of protestors and turning them into medals!
The BBC reported today calls for scrapping of tolls on other bridges. The 2 MSPs involved (Jackie Baillie, the MSP for Dumbarton, and Helen Eadie, the MSP for Dunfermline East) are not just jumping on the bandwagon, as they have both called before for tolls to be scrapped. Good for them! Fresh call for bridge toll purge

end

This photo was taken by Ray Shields of SKAT, shortly after the Tolls stopped.
The Police were obviously keen that people didn't pay the toll by mistake!

21 December 2004
Bravehearts Victory - Skye Bridge Tolls vanish
It is now official that the Skye tolls have gone, with immediate effect.
The Scottish Executive have bought out the right of the Bank of America to collect tolls, the Executive will also pay future maintenance costs. Here are 3 stories today from the BBC:-
Tolls abolished for Skye Bridge (you can click on film clips)   Party planned after toll victory    Timeline: The Skye Bridge tolls
Here is the story on Grampian TV:-    Skye Bridge tolls finally abolished   (you can click on film clips)
And Scottish TV:-    Skye Bridge tolls abolished   (you can click on film clips)
Here are 4 early reports from the Scottish Press Association on The Scotsman online:- First Drivers Cross Bridge for Free    Key Dates in Skye Bridge Controversy    The Financial Cost of the Skye Bridge    Controversial Bridge Tolls Scrapped

This is a great victory for the people of Skye and Kyle who have fought the tolls for 9 years.
Let us hope that it is not too long before all the other tolls in Scotland are removed.
SKAT reaction (and photos)
SKAT and NAAT Press Release
Scottish Executive Press Release
There were early calls for other Tolls to be scrapped. The Evening Telegraph, that serves the Tayside and Fife areas, reported calls for an end to the tolls on the Tay and Forth bridges:-   SCRAP BRIDGE TOLLS APPEAL
In Glasgow, the Evening Times said "Now the focus will switch to campaigns to end tolls on other bridges."

19 December 2004
Skye High Tolls to go?
There is more speculation about the ending of Tolls to Skye. Alan Crawford speaks to the locals:-   Sunday Herald - "Water under the bridge"

18 December 2004
Another Threat to Forth Bridge Toll
We recently (6th & 7th December) mentioned the Inquiry into Forth Road Bridge Toll increase. There is now a report that before the result of that is known they are already planning a bigger increase. To make it worse part of it is for a road scheme (A8000 / M9 spur) which the Inquiry was told the authorities had asked the Scottish Executive to fund:- Scotsman - "Forth Bridge tolls are set to rise again"

14 December 2004
""Useful?" Not a Lot"
With the Skye tolls expected to go at the end of this month, the American owned Skye Bridge Company showed their generosity.
The Skye and Lochalsh Orchestra held a fund-raising night for itself and a new chemotherapy unit at Broadford Hospital. The Company, asked for an auction prize, donated a book of 20 Toll tickets to cross the Skye bridge. Not surprisingly there were no takers. (Report from Ken Smoth and David Belcher in the Herald.)

Increase in Tay Bridge Tolls?
Grampian tv reports that "Motorists crossing the River Tay from Dundee to Fife could be faced with a hike in bridge tolls. The Scottish Executive have refused an application from the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board for cash to pay for repairs to the forty year old structure."

10 December 2004
MSPs want Tolls to go
Douglas Fraser in The Herald reports on a dispute where EU say ferry services have to go out to tender. He also reports that Clydeside MSPs are pressing for end to tolls on the Erskine bridge. (We wonder why all the Fife MSPs are not joining in?):- Coalition sails into troubled waters (3 pages)

9 December 2004
Do not go Forth alone
The Evening News reports that restrictions may be introduced for "Single Occupancy Vehicles" in Fife approaching the Forth Road Bridge and that "SOV"s crossing in peak periods will pay a far higher toll:- Solo bridge drivers set to face fines

8 December 2004
Speculation on End of Skye Toll
Speculation is growing about the long awaited announcement confirming that the Skye Tolls have gone:- BBC - Bridge charge deal seems nearer

7 December 2004
Day 2 of Forth Toll Inquiry
Inquiry into Increase in Toll on Forth Road Bridge ended today:- BBC - "Motorists attack bridge toll rise"
You can see more here:- Forth

6 December 2004
All Scottish Tolls may go
Here is a very interesting story from Jonathan Paisley in the Evening Times. Keep your fingers crossed for all 4 of Scotland's tolls!  Tolls on the Erskine Bridge set to be axed (story is on 2 pages)

Day 1 of Forth Toll Inquiry
Inquiry into Increase in Toll on Forth Road Bridge started today:-    BBC - "Toll rise 'needed to meet costs'"
Here is what the authority that wants the increase had to say to the Evening News:-    'Eco-paint' blamed for road bridge tolls hike
And this is the report by Leeza Clark in the Courier in the next day's paper:-    Tolls vital for bridge operation, inquiry told
You can see more here:-    Forth

2 December 2004
Fingers still crossed for Skye
The Herald reports that the Scottish Executive has agreed terms with the Bridge Company and that the abolition will be announced within the next week:- Skye bridge tolls abolished 'by end of year' (on 2 pages)

10 November 2004
"No need for road tolls in Dundee"
The Evening Telegraph in Dundee has reported that as part of a Scottish Executive consultation exercise, officers are recommending that road tolls are not introduced into the city. That is welcome, but how about the toll that has to be paid to cross into that fair city from across the Tay?

8 November 2004
Drivers Reject Tolls
We don't know if any will be surprised that 73% of Scottish drivers don't want tolls. Drivers reject tolls in poll
But what we don't understand is why it wasn't 100%!

7 November 2004
The way the wind blows in Scotland?
Scotland on Sunday today carried a profile of Shonaig Macpherson, who is a non executive director in the Scottish Executive. The profile says that she is an "advocate of road tolls". Let us hope that this is not a sign of the way things are likely to go in Scotland.

6 November 2004
Skye Fireworks
SKAT, a founder member of NAAT, had a general meeting tonight in Portree the Skye capital.
The Scottish Parliament has promised that the tolls will go this year. There will be fireworks in January, hopefully to celebrate the Parliament keeping its promise and the hated tolls going.

3 November 2004
Tolls wasted
The authority that runs the Forth bridge is to spend nearly Ł5 million on electronic tolls. This is despite the possibility that tolls might be stopped.:- Electronic tolls on road bridge

20 October 2004
Lone Objector
Lone objector's bridge inquiry to take 5 days

17 October 2004
10 weeks for Skye Tolls to go
The Scottish Executive said in June that tolls on bridge to Isle of Skye would go this year. But as the end of the year approaches there are fears that the Executive may not honour its promise:- Executive faces legal threat over the Skye Bridge toll

10 October 2004
Scotland the Brave
Arguments are continuing over the suggestion that a new road bridge is needed over the Forth. The anti roads lobby are trying to stop it, or if that fails to make sure that there are high tolls to discourage drivers from using it.
George Campbell from Fife is trying to stop toll increases on the existing Forth road bridge. We wish him luck at the forthcoming Inquiry, and if you would like to give him your support, then please email us and we will put you in touch with him:- contact George

20 August 2004
Forth Bridge tolls
The authority that runs the Forth road bridge want to increase the tolls, but they are being blocked by a lone hero:- Story in The Courier from Tayside; Story on BBC

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