Forth Bridges Forum – Meeting 50 – Minutes – February 6, 2024

Attendees

• Jonny Moran (JM) – Online – Transport Scotland
• John Andrew (JA) – Transport Scotland
• Karen Stewart (KS) – Tourism FB area strategy manager
• Caroline Warburton (CW) – Visit Scotland
• Sarah Duignan (SD) – Network Track
• Stewart Lothian (SL) -Online (part) – Network Rail
• Miles Ogelthorpe (MO) – Historic Area Scotland
• Mark Watson (MW) – Historic Environment Scotland
• Gillian Laurie (GL) – Secretariat – BEAR Scotland
• Chris Tracey (CT) – BEAR Scotland
• Joanna Buggy (JB) – BEAR Scotland
• Francis Newton (FN) – Online – City of Edinburgh Council
• Gordon Brown (GB) – Online – West Lothian Council

1. Welcome and introductions

1.1. JM welcomed everyone to meeting 50 of the Forth Bridges Forum, JA introduced everyone.

2. Apologies, minutes of previous meeting and actions

2.1. Apologies received from: – Mercy Muthegu, Transport Scotland; Paul Lawrence, Elin Willamson – CEC, James Bruhn – HES; John Mitchell – Fife Council

2.2. Minutes of the previous meeting of October 24, 2023 were approved and subsequently published.

2.3. Action items have been reviewed and updated as follows:

Action 43 5 – MOU for the role of WH coordinator – In progress – See point 4.2

Action 47 2.4 – FBF Ministerial Briefing – Ongoing – See point 5.1

Action 47 5.1 – Review of the mandate – Ongoing – See point 5.1

Action 47 7.4 – Anniversary group – Ongoing – See point 5.2

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

Action 49 4.1 – WH coordinator – See point 4.1

Action 49.52 – WLC Senior Attendance – Closed

3. Tourism update – Update by KS

3.1. KS gave a presentation of tourism work.

3.2. Phase one signage completed. The goal is to complete the remaining signage strategy and installation by the end of summer 2024.

3.3. Viewpoint Signage – Installation of interpretation signage planned for mid-March.

3.4. Proposed brown tourist sign – Accreditation letter supplied to Transport Scotland from Visit Scotland. Transport Scotland has submitted an application to Edinburgh City Council.

3.5. Social media update – Designline Creative appointed for tourism blog and social media management from October 16, 2023 for six months. More than 5 million reached by 2023.

3.6. Forth Bridges website is regularly updated with news and blogs.

3.7. Cruise season – all dates added to the event log. Cruise Forth Summit was on January 23, 2024. Tourism business briefing with Cruise Forth w/c April 22, 2024. ESES regional prosperity framework, visitor economy and culture

3.8. World Heritage UK webinar with MW, HES 8 February 2024.

3.9. 2024 is the 200th anniversary of the RNLI, recognized by UNESCO

3.10. Climate Forth – relaunch of the Round the Forth cycle route. Try minibus with trailer on Sunday. Minibus uses the public parking lot at the viewpoint.

JM asked if Climate Forth would be a ministerial event? Action: KS to confirm

4. Update from the World Heritage Management Group – Update by MO

4.1. World Heritage Coordinator Role – Arrangements for post almost complete. Position of tourism manager extended until June 2024. MO and MW assist KS in new role.

4.2. World Heritage Management Plan – WH Coordinator will move forward. MO and MW will provide specialist support.

4.3. The Climate Vulnerability Index will assess the impact of climate change on World Heritage Sites. MO/MW will keep the forum informed of the process.

4.4. MO asked that the forum consider ways to leverage the knowledge and drive of local community councils.

4.5. MO will retire on April 1, 2024, but will remain involved with FBF/WHMG in some capacity. The chairman added a word of thanks to Miles for his efforts and work over the years.

4.6. WHMG chairman does not have to be HES, but MO suggested that the chairman role maintains continuity to ensure company ownership. This is an agenda item for the next WHMG meeting. Tourism chair rotates. JB also suggested that the communications group in its current form be terminated and reassessed. To be discussed.

4.7. HES financial contribution to forum for this financial year.

Action – MO sends JM email about the financial contribution from HES (done)

4.8. Historical and future forum funding will be addressed at a separate meeting.

Action – GL will arrange a separate meeting with JM and JA

5. Forth Bridges Forum Update – Update by JA

5.1. Review of the FBF terms and subsequent ministerial update – draft terms of reference shared before this meeting. When agreement on the mandate has been reached, this will be announced during the ministerial briefing.

Action – All to share the latest important comments on the mandate.

5.2. 60th anniversary FRB – two meetings have been held, the next meeting is scheduled for February 12, 2024 to rationalize the potential events program

5.3. There is no requirement for a public meeting unless requested or there are specific circumstances (such as an event) to discuss. The newsletters have been discontinued due to sufficient coverage on social media.

5.4. Use of CEC. Not easy because it is not a public building – JA is investigating the possibilities.

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

6.1. Forth Road Bridge – Three below deck plans are almost complete.

6.2. From Saturday 10 February 2024, both footpaths on the FRB will open at weekends. This will remain the case until future planned works require a footpath closure.

6.3. Dehumidification will be renovated. The first since its installation.

6.4. Queensferry Transition Barriers. Intelligent road spikes are to be installed, after which further testing will take place (probably April). Working with Traffic Scotland to highlight Red

7. Communications Group – Update by JB

7.1. The quarterly report from the Forth Bridges website was shared with members prior to the meeting. A notable peak occurred for Storm Babet. Although the website has focused on tourism, a legacy of peaks due to weather conditions remains.

7.2. GL announced that in the past quarter, from October to December 2023, there were 18 questions via the FBF mailbox.

7.3. JB requested that any change to the FBF communications group be considered linked to subgroups rather than a separate entity. To be discussed in a separate meeting.

8. Network Rail – Update by SL and SD

8.1. Major works to the north completed. There is constant contact with residents about water and waste problems. Network Rail is evaluating the results of a feasibility study.

8.2. A bridge alarm system will be installed in March to warn of approaching trains. Only used when workers access the track on cantilevers. A noise survey will be carried out; residents should not hear this alarm.

8.3. Barnardo is your View event 2024 – discussions ongoing.

8.4. CHSS Rappelling Event 2024 – discussions ongoing, likely to be held in June. CHSS has asked that this event be shared on social media on FB.

8.5. Forth Bridge Experience – no further update.

9. AOB

9.1. Beamer Rock will be added to the next FBF agenda

9.2. Admirals House plans to be added to the next FBF agenda

10. Date of next meeting – April 23, 2024