Press Release

SMITH OBJECTS TO PLANS FOR A SECOND ROAD BRIDGE

Margaret Smith, MSP for Edinburgh West, has objected to plans by The Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) to build a new road bridge across the Firth of Forth .

The Forth Road Bridge currently crosses the Forth from Fife into Margaret Smith's Edinburgh West Constituency at South Queensferry . Under FETA's plans, a new bridge designed to carry a light rail/tram system as well as road bound traffic would be built alongside the current Road Bridge .

Margaret Smith is objecting to these plans on the grounds that there are currently no plans by Edinburgh or Fife to build a tram/light railway system to or from the Bridge; that a second bridge would increase the level of congestion in the Edinburgh West constituency; the increased level of air pollution; and the environmental impact of construction on the residents of South Queensferry.

Margaret has met with FETA to question them on the public transport credentials of the planned second bridge. If a second Road Bridge was proposed, the Executive would refuse. Margaret believes that FETA's plans for a multi-modal bridge is a Trojan horse.

Margaret Smith said:

“I have already received correspondence from many concerned individuals in my constituency. I believe it is clear that any new bridge would be used primarily for further private car traffic and HGVs and that this would make an already congested part of Edinburgh much worse.

“I am also concerned about the residents of South Queensferry, especially in the Linn Mill, Society Road , Echline and Springfield areas of the town, where a new bridge would potentially inflict planning blight on hundreds of properties in those areas.

“I opposed this proposal in 1996 when the previous Tory government brought it forward, and I am still opposed to it in 2004”.