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THE Lord Advocate is currently reviewing the policy on prosecuting protesters accused of non-payment of tolls on the Skye bridge, whose campaign has caused an 18-month backlog at Dingwall Sheriff Court.
Lord Hardie's review was confirmed by the Crown Office yesterday following representations from Ross, Skye and Inverness West MP Charles Kennedy, who has repeatedly requested a meeting with Lord Hardie, without reply. Mr Kennedy has now tabled a priority parliamentary question.
A Crown Office spokesman said yesterday the Lord Advocate regretted the delay in replying to Mr Kennedy's letter, adding: ''The Lord Advocate has been reviewing policy in relation to the Skye Bridge prosecutions and expects to be in a position to write to Mr Kennedy soon.''
Last night Mr Kennedy said he was delighted at news of the review, but still wanted more than a letter.
He said: ''It is my understanding that Dingwall Sheriff Court now faces an 18-month backlog for non-Skye bridge cases.
''That grim and unacceptable state of affairs has to call into question the due processes of law locally.''
The Skye and Kyle Against Tolls campaign's law secretary Robbie the Pict, also welcomed the news.
''There is intelligent inquiry going on as to whether this whole bridge regime is lawfully constructed.
''We have already made that clear from the quality of our challenges, and there are more to come,'' he said.
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