Forth Bridge Experience plans approved despite parking row

Visitors will soon be able to climb to the top of the Forth Bridge as plans for a Sydney Harbour Bridge style visitor attraction was given the thumbs up by councillors.

Plans for the Forth Bridge Experience have been given the thumbs up

The plans, which could see 85,000 people a year climb the UNESCO World Heritage site, were approved by councillors during Edinburgh City Council’s development sub-committee meeting on Wednesday.

It means that a viewing platform on the top of the south cantilever, along with a reception centre and car park will be built, allowing visitors to walk across part of the bridge while safely attached via a saftey harness.

The plans include increased active travel provision through bike racks and improved access to Dalmeny station, but concerns over the number of parking spaces were raised at the meeting.

Plans for the Forth Bridge Experience have been given the thumbs up

As part of the decision to approve the plans councillors have told the developers Network Rail to reduce the number of car parking spaces in their plans, despite resident concerns over parking provision in South Queensferry.

A motion to approve the plans with a reduced number of car parking spaces was moved by planning convener Neil Gardiner and backed by seven councillors on the committee.

Four councillors voted against the move, stating resident concerns about the potential negative impact on car parking provision in the vicinity of the bridge should be listened to and a larger car park retained.

Despite the concerns over parking and the loss of more than 100 trees, councillors described Network Rail’s plans for the bridge as “excellent”, despite more than 150 local residents objecting to the plans.Conservative councillor Jo Mowat said: “With tourism comes impacts and one of the things that we have heard from the community and from the local councillors is the impact of parking in a town that suffers from overparking on fine days.

Plans for the Forth Bridge Experience have been given the thumbs up

“We heard it from the developers that they don’t want to exacerbate this problem. I think rather than cause the problem and have to deal with it later it would be better to hope for a half empty car park and increased cycle racks and reduce it at a later date.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Hal Osler agreed and seconded Cllr Mowat’s amendment to avoid a reduction in car parking. She said: “I really worry about the impact and that all we are going to be doing is moving cars from within a site to elsewhere and that has already caused conflicts in the area.”

However, Cllr Gardiner said: “It is a world heritage attraction, it is an outstanding piece of infrastructure and the plans give Queensferry an opportunity to benefit from it.“It should benefit from active travel and we need people to come forward with serious proposals to deal with the climate emergency. With the way we have conditioned this it allows the town to benefit.”