Hyslop Welcomes World Heritage Status for Forth Bridge
Local Linlithgow MSP, Fiona Hyslop has welcomed the news that the Forth Bridge has become the sixth Scottish landmark to be awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status. World heritage status is given to sites of “outstanding universal value” with the aim of protecting them for future generations.
Commenting, Fiona said;
“I was delighted to see the Forth Bridge inscripted as a World Heritage Site as the Government Minister who has led and supported the nomination over these past few years.
“We have established the Forth Bridge Forum to bring partners together and a big thanks is due in particular to Government Agency Historic Scotland, Network Rail who own the bridge and Transport Scotland for a great deal of hard work in putting the nomination documentation together.
“Having looked at the UNESCO agenda it is clear that only a small proportion of the nominations were recommended for inscription and many were recommended for delay or refusal. It was therefore with a great sense of relief and achievement that I received the news from my officials at the UNESCO meeting in Bonn on Sunday.
“The Bridge is an iconic structure which demonstrates innovation in engineering and is an industrial wonder of the world. It is testimony to the dedication and skill of those who have maintained the bridge over its 125 years that it is still a functioning lifeline from the south to the north of Scotland for the economy and people of Scotland.”