Willie Rennie steps up pressure for toll hike rethink

4.28.27pm GMT Mon 6th Feb 2006

Forth Estuary Transport Authority today received the first batch of Willie Rennie's petition against the proposed £4 Forth Bridge toll hike.

The Lib Dem by-election candidate for Dunfermline and West Fife is at the forefront of local efforts to force the Labour controlled FETA (Forth Estuary Transport Authority) board to abandon its planned increase.

His petition to the authority urging a rethink has already received the backing of many local people, with more and more signatures being collected every day.

Speaking from the bridge, Willie Rennie said:

"Despite Labour's attempts over the weekend to sweep the £4 toll issue under the carpet it is clear that there has been no change of position from them.

"The Labour controlled transport authority has not yet withdrawn this proposal so the hike remains on the table.

"Thousands of local people have already signed my petition to FETA urging the authority to scrap its ?4 toll increase proposal - with the campaign gathering more and more support every day.

"FETA must listen to the views of local people. This £4 hike is unnecessary, unwanted and downright unfair. This first batch of signatures is just a taste of the strength of local feeling on this matter.

"Until FETA withdraws this unacceptable increase, I will continue to keep up the pressure and the number of signatures will undoubtedly continue to grow.

"If people vote for me at the polls on Thursday, the £4 toll will be killed off."