(738)  TOLLS OVER FORTH AND TAY BRIDGES ABOLISHED

To the relief of Fifers and the distress of environmentalists, the abolition of the tolls for motor vehicle crossings of the Forth and Tay road bridges came into effect on 11 February 2008, the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Act 2008 having received the Royal Assent on 24 January 2008.  This was the first Act of the SNP Government, fulfilling a manifesto commitment.  New toll plazas recently erected on the Forth Bridge at a cost of some £4 million will now be demolished.  One unforeseen consequence is an inability to stop high-sided vehicles” setting off across the bridges when high winds are blowing round the Firths