Forth Bridges Forum - Meeting 57 - Minutes - 21 April 2026

Attendees

• John Andrew (JA) - Chair Transport Scotland
• Chris Clark (CC) Transport Scotland - Rail
• Dave Bishop (DB) BEAR Scotland
• John Mitchell (JM) Fife Council
• Gillian Laurie (GL) - Secretariat BEAR Scotland

Welcome and Introductions

JA welcomed all to meeting 57 of the Forth Bridges Forum

Apologies, Minutes of Previous Meeting and Actions

Apologies: Hugh Gillies, Scott Lees - Transport Scotland; Alastair Camelford – Transport Scotland Rail, Karen Stewart - Forth Bridges WH and Tourism Lead; Caroline Warburton – Visit Scotland; Gavin Brown – City of Edinburgh Council; Carol Connolly – Fife Council; Gordon Brown – West Lothian Council; Alastair McFarlane, Alan Ross – Network Rail; James Bruhn, George Findlater – Historic Environment Scotland

Minutes of previous meeting held on 9 December 2025 were agreed and subsequently published.

Action points were reviewed and updated as follows:

• Action 47 2.4 – FBF ministerial briefing – Ongoing – See item 2.4
• Action 48 4.6 – CEC use – Ongoing
• Action 51 9.1 – Beamer Rock – Ongoing
• Action 53 3.6 – Jacobs ladder – See item 2.5 - Ongoing
• Action 53 4.5 – FB North Approach issues – Ongoing
• Action 53 5.5 – FB Trail signage maintenance responsibility – Ongoing
• Action 53 5.8 – Visitor stats on FRB and viewpoint – See item 2.6 - Complete
• Action 53 6.1 – Confirm WHMG secretariat – Ongoing
• Action 53 6.5 – Collections and Research – Ongoing
• Action 53 8.2 – Overflow car park NQ – Ongoing
• Action 53 8.3 – SQ viewpoint public toilets – Ongoing
• Action 55 3.3 – QC 10^th anniversary planning group – See item 3.1
• Action 55 5.0 – MOU for WH Coordinator role – Ongoing
• Action 55 5.1 – T of R for subgroups – ongoing – See item 2.7
• Action 55 6.4 – Forth Bridge paint finish technical specification - Ongoing
• Action 55 8.1 – FB experience business plan – Ongoing – See item 4.4
• Action 55 8.4 – FBF public meeting – Held 20 Jan 2026 - Complete

FB ministerial briefing – JA preparing ministerial paper for after the election. CC advised JA provide content, CC will advise on process. 

Jacobs ladder – Ownership with Roseberry Estates however transferring to CEC. CEC utilising High Street Improvement project social value

DB will share stats with FBF quarterly

Forth Bridges Forum – update by JA

Future event: Queensferry Crossing 10^th anniversary in Sept 2027. Planning on hold until after elections. Meetings will be convened with a group in next few weeks.

Bridge Operations

Forth Road Bridge Operation and Projects – update by DB

Internal blasting and viaduct painting works complete

Main cable inspection works completed

Main tower lateral thrust bearing replacement scheme ongoing, expect completion August

Blasting and painting on central reserve starts summer. Single lane closures from June to Oct 2026.

Top chord has been over stress for decades so works to strengthening to remove substandard element. This will also be required for any parapet height increase on the bridge. Works will take place over summer.

Supernova event on FRB takes place on 7^th November 2026

Queensferry Crossing Operation and Projects – update by DB

Outside of the winter period so starting to look at maintenance work over summer. QC no major maintenance. Minor repairs to stays.

Overnight closures for gantry sign replacement works and diversion barriers trial taking place 24^th and 25^th April 2026 - OVERNIGHT MAINTENANCE ON THE QUEENSFERRY CROSSING - BEAR Scotland

Doors Open Day event on QC will take place on 26^th September 2026

Forth Bridge – update provided AM – Read out by JA

General steelwork repairs remain ongoing throughout the bridge, particularly to the troughs supporting the track timbers.

Works are continuing to refurbish the wind fence across the North Approach Viaduct

The water management activities on the deck are underway. Work is almost complete on Span 11 of the North Approach – all bitumen was removed and a protective coating is being applied. Once this span is complete we will pause and review the effectiveness of products and techniques used.

The Office of Road and Rail (ORR) has undertaken a joint site visit with Network Rail as part of their regulatory duties. A further meeting is taking place 24^th April 2026

Our ongoing program of structural inspections is progressing with Detailed Examinations underway on the South Queensferry Cantilever and Internal Viaduct. This will involve abseiling and roped access examiners.

Forth Bridge Experience (FBE) – Dialogue continues, no funding in CP7. CC advised talks underway for CP8. 

Forth Bridge lighting – Existing lighting likely to be switched off with lighting renewal to be included in CP8. Expect some feedback through social media.

Tourism Sub Group – Update by JA

KS provided presentation delivered to WHMG on 2 April 2026. This covered WH Site Draft Management Plan Status and consultation, Action plan updates, UNESCO UK and WHUK activity. Web and social media, budget and next steps.

Forth Bridge World Heritage Management Group (including update from World Heritage Management Plan Working Group – Update by JA

See item 5.1

George Findlater will represent HES at future meetings. Liam Wiseman will represent HES and chair future WHMG meetings.

Post Meeting Update from World Heritage Management Plan Working Group.

• The Working Group responsible for the update to the Forth Bridge WHS Management Plan has completed the review and prepared an updated version reflecting on feedback through the public consultation process, an independent review by a World Heritage UK trustee and following the receipt of the positive review of the draft plan by ICOMOS.
• The Working Group members are taking the updated Management Plan for approval through the relevant management or Committee route for each stakeholder. Feedback and approval is requested to be received by 30th June 2026. The final plan will then be submitted to Fife Council's Cabinet Committee at its August 2026 meeting for final stakeholder sign-off.
• The Plan will be presented to the Forth Bridge World Heritage Management Group at the next meeting on 23rd June 2026 and will be on the Forth Bridges Forum agenda and included in the papers for approval at the meeting on 21st July 2026.
• Meanwhile, a suitable design and print solution will be confirmed and prepared to commence following completion of the approval process.
• Following receipt of final approvals and publication, formal submission of the completed Forth Bridge WHS Management Plan will be made by Historic Environment Scotland to The Scottish Government, Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic for further submission to The UK Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport, as the State Party, for final submission to UNESCO.

Communications

Forth Bridges website analysis report Jan – Mar 2026 shared in advance of the meeting, spike noted in February is for traffic information.

Enquiries received via FBF mailbox Jan to March is 17 with majority replied by BEAR. All enquiries not for BEAR are logged and forwarded appropriately.

AOB

DB advised a drone hit QC recently. A page for the FB website is being drafted for use of drones in and around the bridges

Date of next meeting – 21 July 2026