Forth Bridges Forum - Meeting 58 - Minutes - 21 July 2026

Attendees

• John Andrew (JA) - Chair Transport Scotland
• Keavy O’Neill (KO) Transport Scotland – Rail
• Suzanne Motherwell (SM) Transport Scotland
• Veronica Allan (VA) Transport Scotland
• Douglas Laird (DL) – On Line Transport Scotland
• Alan Ross (AR) Network Rail
• Gavin Brown (GB) City of Edinburgh Council
• Caroline Warburton (CW) – On Line Visit Scotland
• Barry Stewart (BS) BEAR Scotland
• Karen Stewart (KS) Forth Bridges WH and Tourism Lead

Welcome and Introductions

JA welcomed all to meeting 58 of the Forth Bridges Forum and confirmed that the meeting was quorate.

GB advised that he was starting a new role within CEC in August with responsibility for Transport and Mobility and would remain as the Forum contact.

Apologies, Minutes of Previous Meeting and Actions

Apologies: Hugh Gillies, Scott Lees - Transport Scotland; Alastair Camelford – Transport Scotland Rail: Carol Connolly – Fife Council; John Mitchell – Fife Council; Gordon Brown – West Lothian Council; Alastair McFarlane, - Network Rail; George Findlater – Historic Environment Scotland; David Bishop – BEAR Scotland; Gillian Laurie – BEAR Scotland

Minutes of previous meeting held on 21 April 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 following the election. CC – TS – Rail - advised JA provide content, CC will advise on process. 

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

DB will share footfall stats with FBF quarterly

Forth Bridges Forum – update by JA

Forth Replacement Crossing Evaluation – SM, VA

• SM introduced the Forth Replacement Crossing Evaluation, a more detailed evaluation of the impact of the Queensferry Crossing. Stakeholder engagement is about to commence, being led by contractors, Jacobs. The aim is to complete this phase by September 2026. The aim is to review forecast versus actual impact. Engagement will take the form of business and community surveys and stakeholder interviews. SM requested Forum partners to assist with sharing the evaluation through networks.
• CW agreed to share internally and through networks, such as TACTRAN for Perth and Kinross.
• GB will share with SESTRANS and CEC’s stakeholder and engagement team
• BS advised that traffic levels on QC had returned to pre-COVID level of c17K vehicles per day
• KS can add a news article to the Forth Bridges website and suggested communities further afield than the immediate Forth Bridges community stakeholders would be interested.
• Actions – SM to share presentation and survey details for news articles. JA to collate Forth Bridges network contacts to share with SM

JA advised that he was preparing a ministerial briefing to cover the work of the Forum and status on Forth Bridge Management Plan

Events planner was shared. Upcoming events include Forth Bridge Barnardo’s Your View (18-20 September) and CHSS abseil (4 October), Doors Open Day (26 September) with BEAR for QC tours in aid of CHAS and Supernova on the FRB (7 November). JA advised that a meeting was to be arranged in August to start scoping options for QC’s 10^th anniversary on 4 September 2027. BS advised that work plans for FRB and QC for 2027 would be being agreed shortly, so anniversary plans could be impacted if work was in place. 

JA advised that he was collating and collecting archive material on all three bridges for use in displays and exhibitions and as part of the Forth Bridges WH MP Collections and Research commitment.

Bridge Operations

Forth Road Bridge Operation and Projects – update by BS

• Main tower lateral thrust bearing replacement scheme ongoing, over summer 2026 and 2027. These are the replacement of the original 60+ year old bearings.
• Blasting and painting on central reserve in progress. Single lane closures until Oct 2026.
• Top chord has been over stress for decades so works ongoing to strengthen the chord and to remove any substandard elements. This will also be required for any parapet height increase on the bridge. Works ongoing from the footways until end October.
• West footway currently closed for plant and equipment. The East footway will close from April/May instead. 
• Painting trials ongoing.
• Supernova event on FRB takes place on 7^th November 2026. A QC barrier closure trial will take place after this event.

Queensferry Crossing Operation and Projects – update by BS

• QC no major maintenance over the summer period. Minor repairs to stays with some overnight lane closures and speed limit reductions during the day.
• Doors Open Day event on QC will take place on 26^th September 2026

Forth Bridge – update by AR

• No major works at present
• Minor steelwork repairs remain ongoing throughout the bridge
• Works are continuing to refurbish the wind fence across the North Approach Viaduct
• The decking on the viewing platform has been replaced.
• Ongoing program of structural inspections is progressing. The scope of repainting works during CP8 to be established.

Forth Bridge Experience (FBE)

AR restated that the project had not met NR’s internal business case hurdle rate and that no other source of public funding had been found. Suggested updating the WH Management Plan Action to reflect that a funding solution was required before any further planning could take place. CW and GB agreed that it was essential to keep the FBE on the agenda. GB added that Rosebery Estates was pleased that the FBE was still being looked at. JA asked whether private sector funding options should be considered as part of the next steps. ACTION – record which public funding sources have been considered and a meeting to be arranged with FBF stakeholders to identify and consider further private funding sources. JA to arrange. FBE to be considered further and budgeted in CP8.

Forth Bridge lighting

Existing operational floodlighting is likely to be switched off in near future with lighting renewal to be considered in CP8. Potential budget to be included in CP8. Some feedback through should be anticipated through social media.

Tourism and World Heritage – Update by KS

KS provided a presentation on the status of the WHS Management Plan including key updates since the last Forum meeting. In terms of WHS governance, the Plan had been approved at the Forth Bridge World Heritage Management Group on 23/6/26. The Plan is about to go to Fife Council Cabinet Committee for endorsement in August and partners were asked to give status on their approval on the plan.

• AR – Network Rail is generally very happy with the plan, and it will be considered at the Executive Committee on 27/7/26. There may be some small wording updates requested around funding for FBE.
• GB confirmed that CEC was happy to endorse the Plan and KS advised that it will be send to CEC’s Planning Committee in September.
• CW confirmed that VS was happy to approve the Plan, and no formal process was required.
• KO advised that she would confirm with Alastair Camelford for TS (rail)
• DL agreed that JA was in the best place to confirm approval from TS
• As WLC and HES were not in attendance at the meeting, ACTION for JA to follow up to confirm approval.
• Forum approved the Plan

KS gave an update on progress on key Action Plan activities since the last meeting, including status on Collections & Research subgroup and Queensferry Museum.

• AR suggested adding a layer of commentary on the Action Plan to indicate what is either fully or partly funded, identifying any actions at risk due to funding. ACTION KS to update for next meeting,
• JA noted thanks to KS on behalf of the Forum for completing the update to the Management Plan.
• CW agreed with AR’s suggestion on budget and managing expectations. She also noted that it would be good to highlight all the in-kind support from Forum partners in making the Forum an effective governance mechanism.
• JA confirmed that future Forum meetings will allow for scrutiny of the Action Plan.

Terms of Reference – meeting approved the Working Group Terms of Reference. All other sub-group ToRs are up to date.

MOU for funding of World Heritage and Tourism – after feedback from CEC, FC would be issuing an update for funding partners to review and return. ACTION – JA to circulate revised MOU and FC will coordinate signatures.

Communications

Forth Bridges website analysis report April - June 2026 shared in advance of the meeting.

Enquiries received via FBF mailbox April to June is 20 with majority replied by BEAR. All enquiries not for BEAR are logged and forwarded appropriately.

AOB

GB advised that CEC was taking a long lease of Jacob’s Ladder from the Rosebery Estate and work was moving forward. Maintenance work will be undertaken through the community benefits to be delivered as part of the High Street Improvement Project scope.

JA also has an outstanding action re the legacy for Beamer Rock lighthouse and was progressing an update with FC.

Date of next meeting – 20 October 2026