(412)  SKYE BRIDGE TOLLS SKATTERED: SKYE FOR A COOL YULE 

SKYE BRIDGE TOLLS SKATTERED: SKYE FOR A COOL YULE 

The Scottish Executive announced on 21 December 2004 that the Skye Bridge had been purchased from its private owners for £27 million, and that tolls would cease to be charged for journeys across the bridge with immediate effect (see previously Nos 228, 354, 360).  While this brings to a successful conclusion the long-standing Skye and Kyle Against Tolls (SKAT) campaign (see its website http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ray_shields/bridge.htm), it means not such a happy festive season for the 21 staff who worked on toll collection at the bridge and are now redundant.  More than 100 people have been convicted for refusing to pay the bridge tolls, with some ending up in prison.  Robbie the Pict, who has been prominent in the non-payment campaign (see Nos 10, 116, 140, 209, 212, and 392) and whose latest litigation on the matter can be viewed at http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/MISC117.html, vowed to fight on through the courts to clear protesters of any criminal convictions.