Investigation into 999 toll delay

Staff on the bridge delayed the ambulance car for half an hour

Officials have launched an inquiry after staff on the Forth Road Bridge held an ambulance driver up for half an hour as they demanded a £1 toll.

The rapid response vehicle, a car with 'ambulance' written on the front, was on its way back from a 999 call.

Toll collectors argued it was not exempt under the rules.

The inquiry will focus on which emergency vehicles have to pay tolls on the link. Paramedic Mike Lumsden told collectors he only had 65p on him.

Eventually bridge workers, who insisted the vehicle did not have "ambulance" written on the side and could not carry casualties, said the bill would be sent to his home.

Mr Lumsden had stressed he had never been charged before.

He told The Courier newspaper: "Normally when we go across the bridge we just sign a chit but this time they decided I wasn't getting through unless I paid £1.

If I'd had the money I would have paid them just so that I could get on with my job Mike Lumsden Paramedic

"I didn't have any money on me to cover the cost of the toll and they asked me to pull over to the left.

"They called for the duty toll inspector and he was adamant I would have to pay and that as I was driving, I was personally responsible.

"If I'd had the money I would have paid them just so that I could get on with my job."

But Barry Colford, of the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Feta), said: "This was not one of the ambulance service's vehicles which was toll-exempt.

This was a Ford Mondeo estate car which was not an ambulance Barry Colford Feta

"Exemption is actually determined by statute through legislation enacted by the Scottish Executive.

"Ambulances don't have to pay tolls on the bridge but miscellaneous support vehicles do.

"This was a Ford Mondeo estate car which could not be considered capable of carrying sick, injured or disabled people, was not an ambulance and as such was not exempt."

Talks are to be held between Feta, the Scottish Ambulance Service and the Scottish Executive.

They will concentrate on clarifying which emergency vehicles do not have to pay the toll.