| Fuel prices, car sharing and even Tesco online shopping may have contributed to the fall in the number of commuters travelling over the bridge in the past year, compared to 2004-2005, the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board was told today.
Although there were some monthly fluctuations, including slight increases in the months of June and July, and an absence of tolls on March 28 due to the public workers strike, overall there was a reduction of almost 37,000.
There were fewer cars, motorcycles and exempt traffic, with only slight increases in the number of lorries and buses using the bridge. The exception was the use by road bridge staff, reflecting the works currently taking place.
The fall in the crossings is also reflected in a drop of around £40,000 in revenue for a bridge board faced with stumping up more than £16 million — partly from tolls — for the repairs, which are due to be completed by October next year.
Bridge manager John Crerar said there had been a general reduction in traffic throughout the UK, which the government thought was due to the economic situation, including higher fuel prices. He suggested online shopping may also have had an effect, in addition to the city council’s car sharing scheme.
However, he said no hard and fast assumptions should be made on the basis of one year.
The old news that the Scottish Executive has ordered yet another review of the tolling question on the Tay and Forth bridges was met with a concerted committee raspberry. Chairman, Lord Provost John Letford, said it was difficult to desist making derisory comments, but farce sprang to mind when they were faced with a return to the quagmire of politics.
Fife councillor Mike Rumney said they were facing a farcical situation, and although decisions were being taken in Edinburgh, in the eyes of the public the bridge boards were to blame. |
