The operator of the Forth Road Bridge confirmed last week that 33 jobs will be lost when tolls are abolished next year. Tolls could go as early as January if the Abolition of Tolls Bill is ratified by the Scottish Parliament in time.
One manager has already left and another employee has passed retirement age the rest of the staff to be axed are being given advice on retraining and redeployment. The threat to jobs was highlighted earlier this year when there were suggestions that some bridge
users were taunting toll collectors about losing their jobs.
The bridge authority is already planning the removal of the toll booths - phase one of this process will involve the removal of three booths and a concrete plinth, allowing traffic to flow freely onto the bridge.
The loss of toll revenue means funding for repairs to the bridge will come from the Scottish executive. A report is about to be published into the feasibility of replacing or augmenting the bridge's main suspension cable. The bridge authority has already said that work will be needed to ensure the security of the cable anchorages.
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