Compensate firms hit by Queensferry chaos

Sir, – It is really disappointing the Queensferry Crossing has been closed for the best part of three days due to ice build up on the cables (Bridge chaos brings country to a standstill, Courier, February 12).

Only the SNP could order a bridge to be built in Scotland without factoring into the equation that ice may form on the structure in the winter months.

Or perhaps they have been listening too much to Greta Thunberg and other so-called environmentalists and thought snow and ice were a thing of the past?

I certainly hope lessons will be learned from this episode and measures put in place to ensure that this type of closure never happens again.

As far as I am concerned this bridge is not fully operational as snagging work also continues, especially during the night, almost three years on from the original opening.

It appears to have been rushed to completion to save the SNP the embarrassment of it not opening on time.

As a result the motorists trying to go about their daily business are now suffering from disruptive closures such as these seen in the last few days.

We have two large road bridges across the Forth but during the last few days both of them have sat virtually empty.

How can this be allowed to happen in 21st Century Scotland?

I feel sorry for the people who have perhaps missed work or arrived late or have been forced to use public transport which is not exactly reliable on the best of days.

Having previously worked in Edinburgh myself I know most employers are not particularly sympathetic when this situation arises, even though it is not of your own making.

I hope the SNP and Scottish Government will give compensation to anyone or any firm who has lost out due to these closures?

On a side note, I hope this situation puts to bed the idea proposed by Boris Johnson to build a 20-mile bridge over the Irish Sea.

Should it go ahead I consider it to be a gross waste of taxpayer money.

Alastair Macintyre. 18 Webster Place, Rosyth.