Forth and Tay Tolls to be removed - Politics

Blofeld · 31-05-2007, 20:42

BBC report

Not sure if this is in the right forum, but it was a political decision..

The tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges are to be scrapped by December.

About time too if you ask me. What do others think?

31-05-2007, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blofeld

BBC report

Not sure if this is in the right forum, but it was a political decision..

The tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges are to be scrapped by December.

About time too if you ask me. What do others think?

Great decision and great caveat introduced by the other parties.

Quote:

But the move came after a last-minute manoeuvre which saved the government from the prospect of its first defeat.

The SNP minority administration agreed to accept a cross-party amendment not to "arbitrarily" delay or cancel major transport projects in Edinburgh.

BraesBoy · 31-05-2007, 20:48

Yep, i agree

This minority government could be the best thing that ever happened

Negotiation in government ... would have never believed it!

darkpaw · 31-05-2007, 20:51

About time. Especially as the Erskine bridge toll was scrapped last year.

Blofeld · 31-05-2007, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkpaw

About time. Especially as the Erskine bridge toll was scrapped last year.

Yes, I always thought they should have gone at the same time.

Skye's been toll free for a while now too hasn't it?

darkpaw · 31-05-2007, 21:20

Yes the Skye bridge tolls were scrapped a few years ago.

The Forth road bridge toll should have been scrapped yonks ago when the original construction cost was recouped.

david16 · 31-05-2007, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkpaw

Yes the Skye bridge tolls were scrapped a few years ago.

The Forth road bridge toll should have been scrapped yonks ago when the original construction cost was recouped.

I'm sure the locals at Skye would prefer the bridge there to be knocked down and have the ferry reinstated.

And isn't the current crumbling Forth Road Bridge going to have to be replaced. You can't extra volumes of traffic with no traffic control there whatsoever that would make the bridge even weaker.

It would be insanity to suggest that there needs to be no new road bridge at all, with no prospect of extra maintenance to keep it operational with the certainty of greater than ever traffic volumes on the bridge once the tolls are scrapped.

darkpaw · 31-05-2007, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by david16

I'm sure the locals at Skye would prefer the bridge there to be knocked down and have the ferry reinstated.

And isn't the current crumbling Forth Road Bridge going have to be replaced. You can't extra volumes of traffic with no traffic control there whatsoever that would make the bridge even weaker.

I must admit "over the sea to Skye" is a tad more romantic than "over the bridge to Skye"

Why they can't have both the bridge AND keep a ferry service?

Maybe they could restore a Forth ferry service while a second road bridge is built?

ScottishWoody · 12-02-2008, 00:32

Well it happened today!

My dad brought up a good point though:

There are 8 or so lanes where the tolls are (or were, not sure if they've actually been removed yet), 4 from the main road and 4 from the roundabout above. All these have to merge into the two lanes on the bridge, which when the tolls were in operation was easy as cars just popped out the booths every 10 secs each or so, so merging was easy. However if cars can just fly straight onto the bridge, surely thats gonna cause some major accidents!

Oddquine · 12-02-2008, 00:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottishWoody

Well it happened today!

My dad brought up a good point though:

There are 8 or so lanes where the tolls are (or were, not sure if they've actually been removed yet), 4 from the main road and 4 from the roundabout above. All these have to merge into the two lanes on the bridge, which when the tolls were in operation was easy as cars just popped out the booths every 10 secs each or so, so merging was easy. However if cars can just fly straight onto the bridge, surely thats gonna cause some major accidents!

Can they just fly straight onto the bridge?

As a non-driver, I've always thought there were rules and white lines to govern instances when there are roundabouts, merging roads etc.

If there aren't, I'm going to become an even more stressed passenger than I already am......and that's saying something!

Blofeld · 13-02-2008, 02:37

I forgot I made this thread!

The traffic doesn't seem any worse around the Dundee entrance/exit to the bridge, but I have been down there at odd times, outwith the rush hours.

I was surprised to hear they only built the new toll booths on the Forth in 2006, why did they do that, spending £6 million (I think I read 6), when the removal of the tolls has been a serious topic of discussion for some time before then? The removal cost is another £2 Million on top of that, or so I read.

I still support the fact they are gone though.

ShiftyDundee · 13-02-2008, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blofeld

I forgot I made this thread!

The traffic doesn't seem any worse around the Dundee entrance/exit to the bridge, but I have been down there at odd times, outwith the rush hours.

I was surprised to hear they only built the new toll booths on the Forth in 2006, why did they do that, spending £6 million (I think I read 6), when the removal of the tolls has been a serious topic of discussion for some time before then? The removal cost is another £2 Million on top of that, or so I read.

I still support the fact they are gone though.

I crossed the Tay bridge on Monday at rush hour and there was a bit of a queue but that was caused by the ridiculous road works setup forcing you to zig zag across it. A year or two ago when the bridge workers were on strike (and there was no roadworks) there were no queues at all.

artisanwhitehal · 22-02-2008, 22:40

With modern paint, the Forth bridge will only need repainting every 25 years, few years hence.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7252561.stm

I can see great difficulties arising here.

25 years is a generation, so the men who painted it in the first 25 years will be retired by the time it comes to be painted again.
Who will show them how it was done?
Answer, no one.

So after the first coat it will never be done again, and will rot and fall into the sea, eventually.

It is like everything today, quick fixes for short term gain.
Giving long term losses.

And then they wonder why the youngsters have no ambition.

SPni · 22-02-2008, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by artisanwhitehal

With modern paint, the Forth bridge will only need repainting every 25 years, few years hence.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7252561.stm

I can see great difficulties arising here.

25 years is a generation, so the men who painted it in the first 25 years will be retired by the time it comes to be painted again.
Who will show them how it was done?
Answer, no one.

So after the first coat it will never be done again, and will rot and fall into the sea, eventually.

It is like everything today, quick fixes for short term gain.
Giving long term losses.

And then they wonder why the youngsters have no ambition.

So you'd rather they waste money on painting it nonstop every year?

And I'm sure painting a bridge isn't that hard of a job. Strap a harness to yourself, get a brush and away you go!

artisanwhitehal · 22-02-2008, 23:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPni

So you'd rather they waste money on painting it nonstop every year?

And I'm sure painting a bridge isn't that hard of a job. Strap a harness to yourself, get a brush and away you go!

Is that all it takes, well I never knew.
Strap on a harness and get a paint brush.
We will get the unemployed white boys doing that in 50 years time eh?

SPni · 22-02-2008, 23:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by artisanwhitehal

Is that all it takes, well I never knew.
Strap on a harness and get a paint brush.
We will get the unemployed white boys doing that in 50 years time eh?

The painting is only a small part of the bridge maintenance. I'm sure bridge painting will not be forgotten about and I'm sure the workers will be allocated elsewhere.

Ads · 23-02-2008, 13:21

It would be nice to see the toll on the extortionate Severn bridge axed now, but I wouldn't bet on it.

31-05-2007, 20:42	#1
Blofeld Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Schottland Services: Virgin XL, Xbox 360 Posts: 3,453	Forth and Tay Tolls to be removed BBC report Not sure if this is in the right forum, but it was a political decision.. The tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges are to be scrapped by December. About time too if you ask me. What do others think?

22-02-2008, 22:40	#13
artisanwhitehal Inactive Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Yorks Posts: 2,158	With modern paint, the Forth bridge will only need repainting every 25 years, few years hence. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7252561.stm I can see great difficulties arising here. 25 years is a generation, so the men who painted it in the first 25 years will be retired by the time it comes to be painted again. Who will show them how it was done? Answer, no one. So after the first coat it will never be done again, and will rot and fall into the sea, eventually. It is like everything today, quick fixes for short term gain. Giving long term losses. And then they wonder why the youngsters have no ambition. Last edited by artisanwhitehal : 22-02-2008 at 22:44. Reason: added site

31-05-2007, 20:48	#3
BraesBoy Banned User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: DS Scottish Mafia HQ Services: Correcting anti-Scottish sentiment wherever it exists!!! Posts: 3,657	Yep, i agree This minority government could be the best thing that ever happened Negotiation in government ... would have never believed it!

31-05-2007, 20:51	#4
darkpaw Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ♂ Services: Freeview / AOL / ST585v6 / vodafone / Sony Ericsson K800i Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 23	About time. Especially as the Erskine bridge toll was scrapped last year.

31-05-2007, 21:20	#6
darkpaw Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: ♂ Services: Freeview / AOL / ST585v6 / vodafone / Sony Ericsson K800i Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 23	Yes the Skye bridge tolls were scrapped a few years ago. The Forth road bridge toll should have been scrapped yonks ago when the original construction cost was recouped.

12-02-2008, 00:32	#9
ScottishWoody Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Gender: Not specified Location: Fife twitter.com/scottishwoody Services: by appointment only Posts: 10,091 Blog Entries: 10	Well it happened today! My dad brought up a good point though: There are 8 or so lanes where the tolls are (or were, not sure if they've actually been removed yet), 4 from the main road and 4 from the roundabout above. All these have to merge into the two lanes on the bridge, which when the tolls were in operation was easy as cars just popped out the booths every 10 secs each or so, so merging was easy. However if cars can just fly straight onto the bridge, surely thats gonna cause some major accidents!

13-02-2008, 02:37	#11
Blofeld Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Schottland Services: Virgin XL, Xbox 360 Posts: 3,453	I forgot I made this thread! The traffic doesn't seem any worse around the Dundee entrance/exit to the bridge, but I have been down there at odd times, outwith the rush hours. I was surprised to hear they only built the new toll booths on the Forth in 2006, why did they do that, spending £6 million (I think I read 6), when the removal of the tolls has been a serious topic of discussion for some time before then? The removal cost is another £2 Million on top of that, or so I read. I still support the fact they are gone though.

23-02-2008, 13:21	#17
Ads Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pimlico, central London, UK Posts: 4,962	It would be nice to see the toll on the extortionate Severn bridge axed now, but I wouldn't bet on it.