NORTH Queensferry residents will have the chance to be involved in the Forth Bridge's nomination as a World Heritage Site next year.

The iconic rail bridge will be put forward to the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee to be considered for the global recognition in 2015.

The nomination of the bridge, first proposed by Fife Council, is being developed by the Forth Bridge World Heritage Nomination Steering Group, comprising Fife Council, Transport Scotland, Network Rail, City of Edinburgh Council, Visit Scotland, Historic Scotland and community representatives.

A community consultation will be carried out by early next year to get feedback from villagers and businesses and locals will also get the chance to find out about the opportunities and benefits the UNESCO recognition could bring.

World Heritage expert James Rebanks will be speaking to the community and the results of his work will be developed to shape further consultations and events.

Initial engagement with selected local community representatives and organisations will be carried out between now and the end of January.

This will be followed by consultation with the wider public in spring 2013, culminating in a draft nomination document and management plan in the summer.

James Lawson, chair of the North Queensferry Heritage Trust, said the village would benefit from the recognition.

He told the Press, "There's going to be a greater awareness of the bridge and area, that in itself is almost bound to draw more visitors.

"There will be some in the village who don't really want more visitors but I will take the view that in a controlled way the village does need visitors.

"North Queensferry does really need to be connected to the outside world, it has so much to offer.

"I would support it because tourism is such an important market and will be for the future.

"We have to encourage visitors to come to the area for the employment benefits and the commercial opportunities."

However, he said the village's "number one problem" of parking would need to be addressed to accommodate potentially increased visitor numbers.

He added, "There's going to be considerable disruption to the road network at North Queensferry once the new road bridge comes into play and the complete redesign at Ferrytoll.

"I would very much support a much more integrated and thought-through parking arrangement."

The entire bid is expected to cost �100,000, with Fife Council's commitment fixed at �10,000.

The nomination is due to be submitted in early 2014 with a decision expected from UNESCO in summer 2015.

Fife Council archaeologist Douglas Speirs said the real potential of the bid was in its "place-making and marketing possibilities".

He added, "The key message to appreciate is that this is not a heritage project, this is a complex and innovative project aimed at achieving world recognition for Fife and for Scotland.

"It's a project aimed at better connecting our unique cultural heritage with economics.

"It's about using our best assets in a responsible way to deliver real benefits for the people and businesses of Fife and Scotland."

If successful, the bridge would join Scotland's five other World Heritage sites: the Heart of Neolithic Orkney; the Antonine Wall; the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, New Lanark; and St Kilda.

Do you think the bridge should have World Heritage status? Vote now in our online poll.