A formal application, such as that proposed by Mr Letford, was seen as an essential prerequisite of any decision by the Executive over tolls.

Mr Letford, Dundee’s Lord Provost, said the issue was one of fairness.

The Scottish Executive had, he added, shown no consistency by abolishing tolls on the Erskine Bridge, near Glasgow, but retaining them on the Tay.

He said he had “great difficulty” in accepting the continuation of tolls adding, “The Minister will know by now the difficulty of acceptance (of tolls) that concerned him at the Erskine Bridge has manifested itself here.”

Board members were presented with a report by treasurer David Dorward summarising the Scottish Executive’s review of bridge tolls.

Mr Scott’s reasons for retaining tolls over the Tay were distilled to just a few paragraphs that stated, “The Tay Bridge Joint Board owns and operates the bridge and 65% of its trips are from local traffic.

“The capital costs of the bridge have not yet been repaid. Its tolls play a role in demand management.

“There are congestion problems at peak times and Dundee City Council is an air quality management area. Bridge traffic contributes to these problems. These would be worse without tolls.

“The board needs to upgrade the bridge’s tolling facilities and is considering moving the toll plaza to the south side to help ease Dundee’s air quality problems.

“Importantly, it must consider its role in the Dundee central waterfront development.

“However, the board has no powers beyond maintaining and operating the bridge itself. We have decided, therefore, that tolls should remain and the board should be given more flexibility to deal with transport issues in its vicinity.”

Councillor Letford said Mr Scott’s argument that removing tolls would lead to increased congestion on the Dundee side of the bridge “beggared belief”.

Fife Councillor Michael Rumney said the Minister’s decision had been “quite shocking”.

“If the Executive can find £27 million to pay off the capital debt on the Skye Bridge then they can find £13 million to do the same for the Tay bridge,” he added.

Dundee Councillor Elizabeth Dick said she believed that removing tolls would free up traffic flows and reduce congestion and air quality problems.

She suggested the Executive should remove tolls on a trial basis so that its final decision was “evidence-based and practical”.

Fife Councillor Andrew Arbuckle said he had been opposed to tolls since the mid-1980s. He said they were costing regular bridge users at least £200 a year.

Dundee Councillor Nigel Don said Mr Scott appeared to have been told by advisers that scrapping the tolls would lead to increased congestion and air quality problems in the city.

This “technical error”, he said, should be challenged. If the Minister was persuaded there would be no such adverse effects then “much of the ground would be taken away from under his feet”.

A suggestion by Dundee Councillor Jim Barrie the tolls be stopped for a month to see what the effect would be on congestion was ruled out of order by legal adviser Patricia McIlquham, who said it was outwith the board’s powers.

Several councillors stressed the interests of bridge employees should be paramount.

Councillor Arbuckle said it was “regrettable” some councillors had forgotten staff in their “rush to get publicity”.

Bridge Manager John Crerar told the board the bridge employed 47, 25 of whom — 20 toll collectors and five inspectors — were employed on the tolls.

Councillor Letford said he could not speak for Fife and Angus councils but Dundee has a no-redundancy policy and he believed re-training of staff was possible.

n Dundee East MSP Shona Robison said the Executive’s decision to keep tolls on the Tay Road Bridge was now “untenable”.

She said, “It would be quite incredible if the Executive were to ignore the view of the Joint Board.”