Water taxis could be used to ferry the flood of visitors expected in Fife if the Forth Bridge gains world heritage status next year.
Hopes are high the Victorian bridge, which will celebrate its 125th birthday next year, will join the likes of the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China on the map of the world’s most revered and historic sites.
And Fife Council is making plans to ensure the infrastructure is in place to cope with the anticipated influx of visitors.
The outcome of the Forth Bridges Forum submission to Unesco is expected in the summer of 2015.
It is widely acknowledged that there can be significant economic benefits to the area around such a site.
As part of the bid, there was extensive public consultation and while the response was broadly positive, there were some concerns about the potentially negative impact on the local communities if hordes of tourists were to descend.
A Forth Bridge world heritage economic benefit officer working group was set up by the council to plan for a successful bid.
It will also look at the other tourism developments which will increase the number of visitors to North Queensferry.
They include:
* Network Rail’s ambitious plans for a world-class visitor centre on the bridge.
* A gateway visitor centre and/or a digital visitor information kiosk at North Queensferry.
* North Queensferry Heritage Trust’s plans to develop the railway station waiting rooms to provide a meeting space, caf, visitor information area and toilets.
* A heritage trail which will incorporate the bridge, Queensferry light tower and Beamer Rock lighthouse which will be re-sited by North Queensferry Trust.
* FETA and Queensferry Ambition’s Forth Bridges Festival to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Forth road bridge later this year.
* An orientation and signage strategy for North and South Queensferry developed by Queensferry Ambition.
Given these plans, south west Fife councillors heard there will be an economic boost, but also extra pressure when it comes to traffic and car parking.
The working group is taking steps to identify the impact and possible solutions.
To get traffic off the roads, the group is looking at improvements to North Queensferry’s town pier to take water taxis or launches for the international cruise ships which berth in the Forth and possible sites for park and ride centres.
It is also looking at tourist accommodation and facilities for visitors.
Discussions have also taken place with the City of Edinburgh Council to develop a CARS (conservation area regeneration scheme) bid for both Queensferries.
Councillor Dave Dempsey said the decision would coincide with significant work to link the new road network approaching the new Queensferry Crossing with the existing network.
But Fife’s strategic policy and tourism manager Sandra Montador-Stewart said alternative forms of transport into the area would be looked into.
“Cars would be the last option, we are looking at water-borne transport, public transport and walking trails,” she concluded.