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| Forth bridge legislation unveiled | Forth bridge legislation unveiled |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Scottish ministers have unveiled the legislation needed to build the new Forth road bridge, amid an on-going funding row with the UK government. | Scottish ministers have unveiled the legislation needed to build the new Forth road bridge, amid an on-going funding row with the UK government. |
| The £2bn crossing, one of Scotland's largest infrastructure projects, is being planned due to the deteriorating condition of the existing bridge. | The £2bn crossing, one of Scotland's largest infrastructure projects, is being planned due to the deteriorating condition of the existing bridge. |
| Westminster has rejected an SNP plea to borrow from future budgets to fund the bridge, paying it back over 20 years. | Westminster has rejected an SNP plea to borrow from future budgets to fund the bridge, paying it back over 20 years. |
| SNP ministers said it would open in 2016 anyway, funded by capital budgets. | SNP ministers said it would open in 2016 anyway, funded by capital budgets. |
| The bill, paving the way for MSPs to approve the new bridge, which connects Fife to Edinburgh, has been published by the Scottish government. | The bill, paving the way for MSPs to approve the new bridge, which connects Fife to Edinburgh, has been published by the Scottish government. |
| The SNP needs to swallow its pride and work with the UK government to sort this out Alison McInnesLib Dem transport spokeswoman Q&A: Replacement Forth crossing | The SNP needs to swallow its pride and work with the UK government to sort this out Alison McInnesLib Dem transport spokeswoman Q&A: Replacement Forth crossing |
| Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said the replacement crossing was vital to the economy. | Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson said the replacement crossing was vital to the economy. |
| "Given the real uncertainty of the future viability of the current Forth Road Bridge, Scotland simply cannot afford any delay to the Forth replacement crossing," he said. | "Given the real uncertainty of the future viability of the current Forth Road Bridge, Scotland simply cannot afford any delay to the Forth replacement crossing," he said. |
| "That is why we are taking the earliest possible action to prevent serious disruption to cross-Forth traffic arising from maintenance and repair works on the Forth Road Bridge." | "That is why we are taking the earliest possible action to prevent serious disruption to cross-Forth traffic arising from maintenance and repair works on the Forth Road Bridge." |
| An alternative £1bn offer from the Westminster government to help pay for the project has remained on the table, but Scottish ministers have dismissed it as a red herring. | An alternative £1bn offer from the Westminster government to help pay for the project has remained on the table, but Scottish ministers have dismissed it as a red herring. |
| They argue the bridge is a "once-in-a-generation" project which should be paid for over a longer period of time, rather than within a few years. | They argue the bridge is a "once-in-a-generation" project which should be paid for over a longer period of time, rather than within a few years. |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokeswoman Alison McInnes said a better funding solution was needed, adding: "The SNP needs to swallow its pride and work with the UK government to sort this out." | Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokeswoman Alison McInnes said a better funding solution was needed, adding: "The SNP needs to swallow its pride and work with the UK government to sort this out." |
| Tory Lothians MSP Gavin Brown, said: "We cannot take the risk that the existing bridge is closed to traffic within the next 10 years - to cut off the east of Scotland and Fife from Edinburgh and the south is simply unthinkable." | |
| The bill is expected to win parliamentary approval by the end of next year, with construction due to get under way in 2011. | The bill is expected to win parliamentary approval by the end of next year, with construction due to get under way in 2011. |
| Edinburgh City Council said the final decision on a commitment to build the new crossing should be put off until 2011-12, when more information on the condition of the existing Forth Road Bridge will be available. | Edinburgh City Council said the final decision on a commitment to build the new crossing should be put off until 2011-12, when more information on the condition of the existing Forth Road Bridge will be available. |