Published: Wednesday, 5th December, 2007 09:30
Campaign for Clackmannanshire Bridge
By Hamish Hutchinson
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Council leader Janet Cadenhead hopes to persuade Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson that the Upper Forth Crossing should become the Clackmannanshire Bridge.
Pic by: Jan van der Merwe
WEE COUNTY people will be able to put forward their own suggestions for the official name of the Upper Forth Crossing – competing against Fife and Falkirk residents.
Already Clackmannanshire Council has been tirelessly campaigning for the new road bridge to be named after the county, issuing picturesque postcards with an M&S inspired slogan “This is not just a bridge. This is Clackmannanshire Bridge”.
Now the people will be able to have their say, as Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson announced the process for naming the bridge at the construction site last Wednesday.
Following adverts in local papers, members of the public will be given four weeks to make their own suggestions, or back the council’s name, to Transport Scotland.
Recommendations will then be made to the Transport Minister with the chosen name announced next Spring.
So far, Transport Scotland has received two sheets filled with suggestions for the name, including Blackadder Crossing and Fife Council’s Kingdom Bridge.
Mr Stevenson said, “The suggestions made so far have been geographical, from Scotland’s history and some have been amusingly frivolous – Bridge at Jones Crossing I don’t think will be a front runner.
“The name of the bridge will be important and whatever we choose will have to stand the test of time and give a sense of place. It will be a difficult decision to make but one that will not be taken lightly.”
Clackmannanshire Council leader Janet Cadenhead and Ochil MSP Keith Brown were at the launch of the naming process.
Ms Cadenhead urged residents to back the council’s campaign for ‘Clackmannanshire Bridge’ claiming it would have a substantial economic impact on the county by “putting it on the map”.
She said, “It’s not about taking anything away from Fife and Falkirk, but the Kingdom of Fife has already got a well-known name, and Falkirk has the Wheel and the Helix project. I don’t think they should begrudge us naming the bridge.
“It will put us on the map, where we should be, right in the heart of Scotland.
“That’s why we are going to pull out all the stops with the campaign.”
Mr Stevenson said the new bridge, set to be completed in November next year, would be instrumental in reducing the traffic that passes through Kincardine.
He said, “The new crossing will open up economic opportunities, ease congestion in Kincardine and improve access to Alloa.
“The existing bridge takes 25,000 vehicles a day but the new bridge will mean that the traffic going through Kincardine every day could be down to a couple of thousand or less. It’s very important for the town.”
The 24th of 29 ‘push launches’ of the deck took place last week taking the length of the construction to 972m.
When completed the bridge deck will be 1.2km long, weigh 35,000 tonnes and sit on 25 piers filled with 840 tonnes of concrete.
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