SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 30/01/06

Rosie Kane MSP today joined Dunfermline and West Fife SSP candidate John McAllion in local campaigning against plans for toll price rises and a new £500 million road bridge.
Rosie worked with John during her lunch break as a member of the Scottish Parliament's Petitions Committee which met in Dunfermline today.
Rosie, a committed anti motorway campaigner, backed the SSP view that current tolls should be abolished and the capital cost of a new bridge invested in public transport.
John McAllion slammed the way New Labour has turned the discussion on the bridge into a power struggle between London and Edinburgh with the toll paying public reduced to spectators.

Said McAllion:
“I am not sure what the Blairite New Labour candidate thinks about tolls since we can’t hear her for the noise of Gordon Brown and Alisdair Darling trampling all over Jack McConnell as they instruct the Scottish Executive and Scottish Parliament on what they can and cannot do.
“However two things are clear. Firstly the existing bridge was paid for years ago and rather than hiking tolls they ought to be abolished altogether as they have been on the Skye Bridge.
“Secondly there needs to be serious investment in high quality cheap public transport as the way to cut bridge use and road congestion.
“The public should also beware of New Labour ministers talk of a new bridge.
This would be certain to be provided by private moneylenders on the Skye bridge PFI model.
“That bridge was half the length of the Forth and cost a motorist £11.40 to cross.”

Backing this view Rosie said:
“Bridge users are forced to commute by job cuts in Fife and the location of work across the Forth. They should not be penalised by high tolls as a result.
“What is clear is that the only way to cut bridge use and traffic congestion is to provide quality, low cost environmentally friendly alternatives through a massive investment in public transport.
“The supposed cost of £500 million for a second congestion generating road bridge would be much better spent on new park and ride schemes and a large scale expansion of rail services”
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