WHY DO WE OPPOSE A NEW BRIDGE?
The
Scottish Government confirmed plans to build a new Forth road bridge in
December 2007, despite widespread concern from environmental and transport
campaigns and The City of Edinburgh Council.
The Government argues that it cannot take the risk that the Forth Road
Bridge might have to close for HGV traffic by 2011, but studies commissioned
by bridge managers indicate that the government’s fears are not
well founded. Wth the cost of a bridge multiplying steadily, we feel that
the public is being fooled into support for a bridge when the case for
it has not been made.
WHAT IS THE FORTHRIGHT ALLIANCE?
The ForthRight Alliance (FRA) is a coalition of groups
opposed to the construction of a Second Forth Road Bridge. The FRA has
renewed its campaign in light of the Government's decision to build another
Forth crossing.
FRA believes that this process is premature and may well be unnecessary,
as a series of reports have indicated that the problems with the Forth
Road Bridge can be addressed without building a second bridge.
The FRA takes the view that Scottish Ministers should concentrate on repairing
the existing bridge rather than spending as much as £4.2 billion
on a new crossing.
KNOW THE FACTS
The Minister for Finance and Sustainable Development, John
Swinney, explained his decision to build a new bridge in evidence to the
Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee on 15 January.
Friends of the Earth Scotland prepared this briefing for members of the
committee:
'Forth Road Bridge: Can we fix it?
Yes we can!' (January 2008) [PDF 196 KB].
In March 2007 the previous administration announced its
intention to build a new crossing. In advance of the announcement, ForthRight
Alliance published this briefing to inform the debate:
'The Case Against
a Second Forth Road Bridge' (February 2007) [PDF 112 KB].
HELP THE CAMPAIGN
To support the campaign against a Second Forth Road Bridge and to deliver sustainable alternatives then please Take Action.
The Forthright Alliance is an umbrella group of national and local heritage, wildlife, environment and sustainable transport groups.