A landmark structure in Scotland by Reiach & Hall Architects is facing demolition less than a year after completion.
The firm’s £8.5 million Forth Bridge toll development near Edinburgh, which beat submissions by Richard Murphy, Malcolm Fraser and Bennetts Associates and includes an iconic canopy, could be dismantled because of the new SNP-led Scottish Executive’s policy of abolishing bridge tolls.
The client, Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Feta), has issued a £2 million contract to demolish the tollbooths and traffic islands. Feta is also considering removing the canopy despite the fact that the structure has been shortlisted for a Saltire Society civil engineering award. It is also a former finalist in the British Constructional Steelwork Association/Corus structural steel design awards.
“It doesn’t make sense to remove it just because tolls are being scrapped,” Reiach & Hall technical director Angus Wilson said.
“It was always about more than just revenue collection — it has a real role to play in traffic management. We don’t know whether it will be removed or not. We’ve had no contact with the client since completion last October.”
Wilson added that he was due to visit the canopy with the Saltire judging panel this week.
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