THE FORTH Rail Bridge has been put forward once again for World Heritage Status.

The one-and-a-half-mile bridge is an A-list building and has been on the Tentative List since 1999 but that list is under a three-year review to determine which nominations should be retained and look at the possibility of adding any further sites.

Members of Fife Council’s policy and resources committee were therefore required to agree to the bridge being retained on the list for the status which is given to buildings or places which are considered to be of outstanding universal value.

Built in the 1880s by Benjamin Baker, the bridge carries around 150 train services each day and has long been regarded as one of the engineering wonders of the world.

If included on the new Tentative List, it will be considered for the honour by UNESCO—the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation—and could join the ranks of world-famous monuments like the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon.

Although selected sites do not get any special benefits, World Heritage Status does bring with it the attraction of more tourists.

In a report to the policy and resources committee, head of development services Keith Winter said, “The rail bridge has an international reputation, both historically and in pioneering, engineering terms and is therefore an internationally-known structure and tourist attraction.

“It is an iconic structure which has over time become synonymous with the gateway to Fife.”

He added that the designation of the bridge as a World Heritage Status site would give the bridge more direct attention and status in international terms, while also bringing with it increased interest in the surrounding area.

“As a consequence, it is likely to prove a boost to the economy through its visitor attraction role,” Mr winter added.

Currently there are 812 sites of World Heritage Status, 26 of which are in the UK and four of which are in Scotland—namely St Kilda (added in 1986), Old and New Towns, Edinburgh (1995), Neolithic Orkney (1999) and New Lanark (2001).