BBC Documentaries
The Battle of Skye Bridge
TV-PG
2019 • E223 Oct 21, 2019 60mAfter centuries of Bonnie Boats speeding Over the Sea to Skye, in 1995 a new bridge was built between the island and the mainland. Privately funded, this was to be a toll bridge. Not only that, it turned out to be the most expensive toll bridge in Europe.The locals, however, were having none of it. The Battle of Skye Bridge tells the story of the islanders' protests against the hated tolls, their struggles with the law, and after nearly a decade of dissent, their final, euphoric victory. This is a part of Scotland historically synonymous with rebellion, and the protests against the bridge tolls are a modern chapter in that proud history.Featuring never-before-seen footage from the period, contributions from protesters and authorities alike and explosive courtroom revelations about the legal process that are still being contested to this day.It is the ultimate David and Goliath story, told by those who were there, set against the stunning backdrop of Skye and the Highlands.