MSPs back new Forth bridge plans

THE building of a new £2 billion bridge across the Forth has moved a step closer after being given the backing of a special committee of MSPs.

The Scottish Parliament's Forth Crossing Bill committee, set up to scrutinise the project, recommended the general principles of the legislation.

However, it recommended a strengthening of the rules governing construction practices to minimise disruption to road users and residents in the surrounding areas during the building of the new bridge.

The committee also called for more work to ensure the public transport system was adequate to maximise the benefits of the new crossing, and that adequate checks were in place to monitor costs.

Juliet Swann, head of projects and campaigns at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said the bridge was "unnecessary".

She said: "At a time when we are expecting huge cuts from the new UK Government, it makes no sense to propose spending millions of pounds on this unnecessary development."