Published: Thursday, 6th March, 2008 12:00
Praise for Clackmannanshire Bridge campaign
By Bob Lovik
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Councillor Eddie Carrick (left), Keith Brown MSP (right) and Lornshill Academy head boy and girl, Brian Flanagan and Eilidh Abernethy, met Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson at the Scottish Parliament last month – and made a great impression.
Pic by: Clackmannanshire Council
THE Clackmannanshire Bridge campaign received praise this week – from the very man they have been trying to influence.
Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has written to Councillor Eddie Carrick – leader of Clackmannanshire’s campaign – to say how impressed he was with the attempt to persuade him that the bridge should be named after the county.
In January, a delegation of Mr Carrick, Keith Brown MSP and senior pupils at Lornshill Academy met Mr Stevenson at the Scottish Parliament to deliver thousands of postcards signed by local people in support of the Clackmannanshire Bridge.
Mr Stevenson wrote, “I enjoyed meeting you at Holyrood on 30 January where we had an opportunity to discuss your campaign to have the new bridge named ‘The Clackmannanshire Bridge’.
“Although our meeting was brief I was left in no doubt about the seriousness of your campaign and the great amount of time and effort that you, and your many supporters, have devoted to your cause. This was re-affirmed by the extensive amount of related material that you have now assembled for consideration.”
Mr Carrick was delighted that the effort and determination of those supporting the campaign had been acknowledged by the man making the big decision.
He said, “It was great that the minister recognised the amount of hard work and effort that has gone into the campaign.
“Just about everyone in the county supports the name and what we are trying to do.”
In addition to handing in thousands of signed postcards, the bridge campaign featured a battle bus which spread the word around local towns and villages. There were giant Clackmannanshire Bridge boards signed by celebrities such as Alan Hansen and the Alexander Brothers, and prominent local personalities.
A website, car stickers and a balloon release were all used by the campaign team over the month-long attempt to raise awareness and generate support for the Clackmannanshire Bridge.
The bridge finally touched down at the south side of the river two weeks ago when Mr Stevenson and the 250 construction workers watched the final push of 350mm to connect the north and south sides of the river.
Traffic is scheduled to be able to use the new £120 million bridge in November.
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