Smashing Estate

For the new Forth Road Bridge, more than 130 owners loss their land as land acquired. Transport Scotland (TS) reported on Wednesday as it published a specific guide to objecting and claiming damages for the scheme. But the government agency ensured no homes would be bulldozed for the £2 billion project.

The TS guide is aimed at individuals affected by the passage and new link roads, west of the bridge. Expected compensation levels would be like other major road schemes. Additionally, there can be a two-month objection phase to the plans. They are likely to be lodged in November for sanction by MSPs.

Lothian’s Conservative MSP, Gavin Brown asked for the guide to be sent to everybody in that region to make sure all the people involved had time to prepare. Brown told: “There is no indication of which properties might be affected, which places a lot of onus on residents to do their homework and respond in quite a tight timescale.” But “That Transport Scotland has released details of the compensation procedure is very welcome, but many homes are already blighted and it seems the owners or occupiers will not be able to claim compensation just yet,” said Queensferry and District Community Council’s transport convener, David Wragg.