Forth Bridges Forum - Meeting 52 - Minutes - 23 July 2024

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Attendees

  • John Andrew (JA) - Chair Transport Scotland
  • Karen Stewart (KS) FB Area Tourism Strategy Manager
  • Gillian Laurie (GL) - Secretariat BEAR Scotland
  • Dave Bishop (DB) BEAR Scotland
  • Francis Newton (FN) City of Edinburgh Council
  • James Bruhn (JBr) Historic Environment Scotland
  • Caroline Warburton (CW) – Online VisitScotland
  • Jane Findlay (JF) – Online Fife Council
  • Morag Millar (MM) – Online Fife Council
  • Mercy Muthegu – (MMu) - Online Transport Scotland

1. Welcome and Introductions

  • JA welcomed all to meeting 52 of the Forth Bridges Forum.

2. Apologies, Minutes of Previous Meeting and Actions

  • Apologies received from: - Scott Lees, S Leggett - Transport Scotland; Paul Lawrence, Elin Willamson – CEC; Chris Waite, Joanna Buggy – BEAR Scotland; Sarah Duignan, Alastair MacFarlane – Network Rail; John Mitchell - Fife Council, Gordon Brown – West Lothian Council.
  • Minutes of previous meeting held on 23 April 2024 were agreed and subsequently published.
  • Action points were reviewed and updated as follows:

Action 43 5 – WH Coordinator Role – Ongoing – See item 4.1

Action 47 2.4 – FBF ministerial briefing – Ongoing – See item 5.1

Action 47 5.1 – Terms of Reference review – Ongoing – See item 5.1

Action 47 7.4 – FRB 60 Anniversaries group start - Closed – See item 5.2

Action 48 4.6 – CEC use – Ongoing– See item 5.4

Action 51 4.1 – WHMG Chair role agree – See item 4.3

Action 51 4.2 – WH Coordinator role – mtg to agree funding – See item 4.1

Action 51 5.1 – FBF Terms of Reference meeting – Ongoing – See item 5.1

Action 51 5.4 – Local community council engagement – Closed – See item 5.3

Action 51 8.1 – Revisit FB Experience Business Plan – Ongoing

Action 51 8.3 – Network rial pass engagement with NQCC to BEAR – Ongoing

Action 51 9.1 – Beamer Rock solution – Ongoing – See item 9.1

3. Tourism Update – Update by KS

  • KS provided a presentation of tourism work to date.
  • Forth Bridges Trail – More new signs installed along the trail. Aiming to complete remaining signage strategy and installation by October. A number of signs funded by Fife UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
  • FB Area Tourism Strategy 2019 – 2029: 2024 marks the mid-point of the strategy. Tourism Group has met to discuss progress, priorities and funding. A follow up session has been held with governance changes proposed.
  • Forth Bridges Website – There will be a new website hosting contract. The appointed digital agency is funded by UK Shared Prosperity Fund and new features include weddings, cruise passenger itineraries and FRB 60 anniversary page.
  • Social media update – FB 58k followers and 3.9m reach to 30/06/24, X 21k followers.
  • Cruise Management Plan is underway with final report expected March 2025
  • A recent community engagement visit with German heritage professionals received good feedback. HES, TS, FBATSM and NQHT all involved.
  • Two local issues highlighted. In NQ, the picnic area has become overgrown. Maintenance responsibility is to be determined. In SQ Jacob’s Ladder needs repaired/replaced. QDCC meeting with Dalmeny Estates in August to ascertain what support they may be willing to provide. JA suggested a meeting should be held to discuss assessing safety of the steps and determine liability

ACTION – JA arrange meeting with QDCC, Dalmeny / Rosebery Estates to discuss Jacob’s ladder.

4. World Heritage Management Group Update – Update by JA / JBr

  • WH Coordinator role. MM will seek update from Fife Council.

ACTION: MM to seek update and feedback to Transport Scotland

  • World Heritage Management Plan – coming up for 10 years since inscription. JBr advised that 10 years is acceptable for plan refresh, highlighting that it is a time-consuming process and likely to take 1 to 2 years to complete. JBr and MM will discuss. MOU will form part of the management refresh.
  • WHMG Chair role - JBr and JA continue to discuss. Next WHMG meeting is on 8 August. JBr agreed to chair the upcoming meeting.

5. Forth Bridges Forum Update – Update by JA

  • FBF Terms of Reference review has taken longer than expected due to senior personnel changes with a number of FBF partner organisations. JA advised this should be complete by the end of Summer 2024 then briefing paper will be passed to Cabinet Secretary. Following this, subgroups will arrange Terms of Reference.

ACTION: JA / GL arrange FBF Terms of Reference meeting

  • FRB 60th anniversary – meetings continue. JA outlined the programme of events. https://www.theforthbridges.org/about-the-forth-bridges/forth-road-bridge/60-years-in-60-moments/
  • Engagement with QDCC – QDCC, NQCC are members of the WHMG. BEAR Scotland, Network Rail and other forum members i,e KS, CEC, meet on regular basis. A community mapping exercise with FBF partners has been carried out. DB added that BEAR Scotland met with QDCC recently.
  • Use of CEC – As this is not a public building, the use of this building for public and community/other groups is unlikely due to operational constraints. JA to confirm. Certain requests may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

6. Queensferry Crossing and Forth Road Bridge – Update by DB

  • FRB hanger trial is complete.
  • Traffic Management will be in place over FRB 60th anniversary with one footpath open. No impact to the bus event on 7th TM will remain on bridge until 31 October 2024 for grillage works. Once grillage painting is complete, TM will be removed, in time for the Supernova event on 2 November.
  • QC barrier trials complete – the next full diversion trial will take place in November.

7. Communications – Update by GL

  • The Quarterly Forth Bridges website analysis report will be shared with members in August.
  • GL advised there has been 41 enquiries via FBF mailbox in last quarter, Apr to June 2024. A rise from 39 in previous quarter. A wide range of topics with most replied from BEAR but also for Transport Scotland, HES, Tourism, Network Rail and The Briggers.
  • A change to the FBF communications group under consideration i.e linked to subgroups rather than a separate entity. To be confirmed following TofR review.

8. Network Rail – update by JA

9. AOB

  • Beamer Rock remains in Fife storage. JA has met with D Spiers and NQCC and advised members of a proposal to site on land owned by Tarmac in Inverkeithing. MM will speak to D Spiers to see if he requires her input.
  • Admirals House is under Transport Scotland’s ownership. Architect to provide future refurbishment options.
  • Doors Open day 2024 was launched last week with large interest already.

10. Date of next meeting 

22 October 2024


Published Date 29 Oct 2024 Type Mode of transport