Jim Tolson
Jim Tolson MSP – Maiden Speech – Thursday 31 May 2007
Presiding Officer
Before delivering my maiden speech, I would like to firstly congratulate the Minister on his appointment and pay tribute to my predecessor, Scott Barrie. I have known Scott as an opposition politician for a number of years and whilst our politics often differed, I have always found him to be of the highest integrity whether in the constituency of Dunfermline West or here in the Parliament. In fact, I understand that Scott was speaking here in Parliament when one of the beams above swung loose. I sincerely hope this does not happen when I speak today! I do sincerely wish Scott well in his future and thank him for his kind words at the declaration of the Dunfermline West result.
Presiding Officer
I believe Scotland needs a World Class road, rail and air network. This network must cater for the future needs of a vibrant Scottish economy. To retain, grow and attract new business (including tourism) we must be able to move goods and people around Scotland quickly, efficiently and at a price people are willing to pay for our World Class Network.
While I can agree with many of the Government’s ideas, I believe their plan to abandon the Edinburgh airport rail link and Edinburgh trams are pure folly! As a Fifer who has travelled to Edinburgh by train thousands of times over the years, I have always thought it plane crazy to go past the end of the runway and into Edinburgh before I can go back to the airport! No wonder people take their car to the airport when we can’t provide them with a decent integrated transport system solution that is literally ‘staring us in the face’.
Many countries in Europe, as well as further a field, have great integrated transport facilities that put Scotland to shame. Look even closer to cities such as Manchester which has a good, well used, tram system that is the envy of many countries. An integrated transport system for key routes in and around Edinburgh (including a link to and from the airport) is critical to cutting down the road usage into the city. Why don’t we do something about it?
Key parts of our road infrastructure have long been in need of upgrading from their present dangerous layout. Not least of these would be to complete the duelling of the A9 to Inverness and upgrade the full M74 to three lanes each way as the key gateway to and from England.
Yet much closer to my home (and my constituency of Dunfermline West) is the absolute highest priority for Scottish transportation, a replacement for the Forth Road Bridge! The economy and infrastructure of Fife, Tayside and beyond would be absolutely devastated if a viable new crossing is not in place before the bridge has to close to ANY vehicular traffic. Fortunately, the last government did give a commitment to a new Forth crossing. I sincerely hope that this government will proceed with this crucial venture without any delay! I would urge the government to accept the findings of the professional advice on a future crossing due to be published next month – no matter whether it is for a submerged tunnel or a bridge – and get on and provide it before restrictions from the dying Forth Road Bridge devastate the economy of East Central Scotland.
Presiding Officer – these major improvements won’t come cheap. Indeed just a few years ago, we had tolls on four main Scottish bridges that helped plug this financial gap. But now that we have just two tolled bridge in Scotland that imprison Fife - the question of fairness has to be brought into the equation!
Is it fair that Fife in particular is penalised for having water on three sides?- Is it fair that the tolls are a major disincentive to inward investment and growth in the Fife economy?
- Is it fair that people living in my, or any other nearby constituency, have a postcode lottery that indiscriminately penalises them?
- To all these questions I say a residing NO, NO, NO!
This government must fulfil its commitment to scrap the last Scottish bridge tolls in the shortest possible timescale and my Lib Dem colleagues and myself will support them!
Presiding Officer – I would like to conclude by saying that the replacement for the Forth Road Bridge is the most crucial transportation requirement for Scotland. Not least of all because 25% of the strands in the main cables are either corroded or broken. In fact, an updated report will go to tomorrow’s meeting of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority and it is likely to make some very grim reading.
Personally, I don’t care if the new Forth crossing is a bridge or a tunnel. What I do care fervently about is that a new crossing is urgently put in place, that it will last a lot longer than 40 years, that it provides the best value for money for the Scottish taxpayer and that it maximises the use of public transport across the Forth.
I hope that all sides of the chamber will join me in backing the extremely urgent need for a new Forth crossing – to do otherwise is to let down not just Fife but the whole of Scotland!
To summaries Presiding Officer
- The amendment puts flesh on the bones of the motion.
- An amendment that commits to the removal of the tolls but that recognises the concerns of many FETA employees and seeks to ensure the funding for their vital roles is continued
- An amendment that recognises the importance of EARL and the Edinburgh tram schemes
- And with that I ask all colleagues across the chamber to vote for the amendment
