Post by neil6147 on Jan 31, 2008 2:41:25 GMT 10
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has signed an order removing the tolls from 11 February.
The date was agreed with both bridge authorities after the legislation scrapping the tolls received Royal Assent.
The Forth Estuary Transport Authority and Tay Road Bridge Joint Board remain responsible for managing the bridges.
They will receive funding directly from the Scottish Government.
The Tay board will also receive a one-off grant of £14.8m to allow it to repay all outstanding loans.
The minister said: "We said when we came into power that we would bring an end to tolls on Forth and Tay bridges, and less than nine months into government, that is exactly what we have done.
"Today marks the end of years of injustice for the people of Fife, Tayside and the Lothians, and I am delighted that in just a few days' time travellers across the bridges will no longer have to pay tolls.
"There will now be equality on all bridges in Scotland and I am sure this announcement will be welcomed by people across the country."
Feta convener Tony Martin said: "Confirmation of the date means we can now press ahead with the practical arrangements.
"Our preparations are well in hand and we're eager to move into this new era."
Job losses
Dundee Lord Provost John Letford, who chairs the Tay Bridge Board, said the decision to scrap the tolls was widely welcomed by the travelling public and local business.
He said: "Removing the tolls will also bring benefits in reducing congestion and pollution in Dundee as bridge traffic will no longer have to queue at the toll booths during the evening rush hour."
The legislation scrapping tolls on the two bridges - £1 for cars on the Forth bridge and 80p on the Tay - was backed by the Scottish Parliament on 10 December.
It is believed that 33 of the 104 staff involved in toll collection and administration at the Forth bridge will be made redundant as a result of the move.
The bridge's new toll booths were opened in 2006 at a cost of £4m in a bid to manage traffic flow and make toll collection easier.
Tolls were abolished on the Skye Bridge in December 2004 and on the Erskine Bridge in May 2006.
The date was agreed with both bridge authorities after the legislation scrapping the tolls received Royal Assent.
The Forth Estuary Transport Authority and Tay Road Bridge Joint Board remain responsible for managing the bridges.
They will receive funding directly from the Scottish Government.
The Tay board will also receive a one-off grant of £14.8m to allow it to repay all outstanding loans.
The minister said: "We said when we came into power that we would bring an end to tolls on Forth and Tay bridges, and less than nine months into government, that is exactly what we have done.
"Today marks the end of years of injustice for the people of Fife, Tayside and the Lothians, and I am delighted that in just a few days' time travellers across the bridges will no longer have to pay tolls.
"There will now be equality on all bridges in Scotland and I am sure this announcement will be welcomed by people across the country."
Feta convener Tony Martin said: "Confirmation of the date means we can now press ahead with the practical arrangements.
"Our preparations are well in hand and we're eager to move into this new era."
Job losses
Dundee Lord Provost John Letford, who chairs the Tay Bridge Board, said the decision to scrap the tolls was widely welcomed by the travelling public and local business.
He said: "Removing the tolls will also bring benefits in reducing congestion and pollution in Dundee as bridge traffic will no longer have to queue at the toll booths during the evening rush hour."
The legislation scrapping tolls on the two bridges - £1 for cars on the Forth bridge and 80p on the Tay - was backed by the Scottish Parliament on 10 December.
It is believed that 33 of the 104 staff involved in toll collection and administration at the Forth bridge will be made redundant as a result of the move.
The bridge's new toll booths were opened in 2006 at a cost of £4m in a bid to manage traffic flow and make toll collection easier.
Tolls were abolished on the Skye Bridge in December 2004 and on the Erskine Bridge in May 2006.
