A new name for Telfords Favourite Bridge
A new name for Telfords Favourite Bridge
Bridgey McBridgeface was rejected but a shortlist of names was drawn up of pupils’ suggestions from Telford & Wrekin Council’s Big Bridge Challenge held in 2018.
The standings, in reverse order include Katherine Harley, president of the Shropshire suffragists with 178 votes.
Sir Gordon Richards considered one of the world’s greatest horse racing jockeys and trainers who hailed from Donnington Wood. The (Jockey Bridge) polled 193 votes.
Captain Webb, the first recorded person to swim the English Channel and was born in Dawley came next with 209 votes.
In second place with 393 votes is Wolves legend Billy Wright, the first footballer in the world to earn 100 international caps who was born in Belmont Road, Ironbridge.
Finally, the most popular choice of residents in Telford & Wrekin with a whopping 577 votes is the pupil-nominated ‘Silver Swallow’, referencing the bridge’s design and colour.
The name was nominated by Newport Girls High pupil 12 year old Charlotte Toogood, who won an ipad for her nomination which was presented to her at the bridge by Councillor David Wright. Charlotte was accompanied by Newport Girls High head teacher Mike Scott.
Because so many people in the community have been involved with the footbridge project, it earned three awards from the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) earlier this year including the ‘Team Achievement’ award.
Judges were impressed by the way the team used the project to; ‘not only bridge the physical gap, but to also link local communities.
The project team focused on working together, while also recognising the importance of working with the local community and university, as well as holding science, technological, engineering and mathematical (STEM) events with schools.’
On the strength of the regional awards the footbridge has now been nominated for the ICE People’s Choice Awards and is up against major projects from around the world.
Councillor David Wright Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure said: "Thanks to everyone who took part in this vote and congratulations to our winner who has won an IPad, donated by our project partner Balfour Beatty.
“We wanted to encourage STEM learning and the bridge was a great way to do it wand more than 500 pupils joined in with the challenges.
“I’d like to encourage as many people as possible to vote for the footbridge project in the Institution of Civil Engineers People’s Choice Awards. It’s the public who decide who the winner is so it would be wonderful to see Telford residents rally behind the project one last time.”
People can vote for the bridge to win the award by visiting https://www.ice.org.uk/telfordfootbridge
The new footbridge, funded by a Department for Transport grant that the council bid for and won, opened to pedestrians in November 2018 and in time for the town’s 50th birthday celebrations.
The scores reflect figures from a Facebook poll combined with an online survey.
Bridgey McBridgeface is way better than silver swallower!
Couldn’t have called it Billy Wright. The first time a Hungarian went near it, it would’ve fallen over
Matthew Rixom
Call we spend money we ain’t got so we have a reson to increase tax
I will always think of Brownhills Bob when I cross the silver swallow bridge
Oh no, that name is not good. Sounds rude
Silver swallow sounds like a comment made to an OAP prostitute.
500 students in whole of telford is not a big amount.
Surely the naming competition should have been open to all residents and had a shortlist
It won’t catch on because it sounds silly to say. A bit of an insult as well to some of the afore named greats of this area
Still think it should have been called Jeff
Bridgey McBridgeface or gtfo.
Its got two bullet holes in the panes of plastic glass already
I didn’t realise there was a vote to name it?
Kevin….. or Keith.
Abbie Ruth
Has anyone got Silvers number?
Asking for a mate.
The bridge isn’t fit for purpose if you are disabled. If the lift doesn’t work to/from platform 2, and you are in a hurry, basically you’re stuffed. This is unacceptable in the 21st Century. The old bridge might have been shabby but it did work properly.
Outrageous. Bridgeymacbridgeface is the ONLY suitable name thank you.
Telford bridge is falling down,falling down
Who made it Telford’s favourite Bridge ? Because it’s a link from a train drop off to a carpark !!!!
Love to find out the costs to Telford’s favourite bridge in comparison to the cost of the ironbridge an see if the Favourite bridge is standing the same length of time
Still calling it Bridgey Mcbridge Face…
Silver swallow…. what on earth?!?