Cutting the sod for the contruction of the new visitor's centre

 Cutting the Sod for the constriction of the new visitor's centre on a rainy day. 

Tuesday. 2nd August


 

The Newport Transporter Bridge is a transporter bridge crosses the River Usk in Newport, South East Wales. The bridge is the lowest crossing on the River Usk. It is a Grade I listed structure. It is one of fewer than 10 transporter bridges that remain in use worldwide and only a few dozen were ever built.
Construction started: 1902
Clearance below: 54 m
Opened: 12 September 1906
Architect: Ferdinand Arnodin
Height: 74 m 




Pictures of our amazing Transporter Bridge taken by Drone photographer Sam Wise




On Tuesday  2nd August people met to celebrate the cutting of the sod for the erection of the new visitor's centre.
The much anticipated building of a new visitor centre and repair work at Newport Transporter Bridge made progress on Tuesday. The existing visitor centre is to be replaced with a modern structure.  Sadly, the two main contractors hired entered administration, meaning the contracts had to be retendered and will cost more.





2. The speeches and handing over the Friend's cheque

The speeches and handing over the the monetary contribution from the Friend's group towards the construction of the new visitor's centre took place. We  were pleased to see that David Hando, our former chairman, was able to attend despite having been very ill. His grandson attended to help manoeuvre his wheel chair.

Heritage and Culture Manager at Newport
City Council




Jane Mudd Leader Newport City Council,










The representative of the Heritage Lottery spoke to the 
assembled guests

 

3. Handing over the Fontb cheque

David Hando was not well but managed to attend with his family and handed over the cheque from the Friends to Councillor Jane Mudd


4. People who attended

Emma Newrick Heritage and Culture Manager at Newport
City Council smiling in the rain.


Our current chairperson Jo Evans Pring  talking to
Councillor Jane Mudd





Mike Lewis former Culture and Learning Manager at
Newport City Council travelled from his home in Swansea



5. Quotation from The South Wales Argus

Cllr Debbie Harvey praised the work of the Friends of the Newport Transporter Bridge, in particular David Hando, and said she couldn’t wait to see the project get started.

“It’s been a long time coming,” she said, When you’re from Newport and see it from the motorway, you know you’re home. We didn’t think we would get the Lottery  grant. It was a lot of meetings. But when we found out, it was like all my Christmases came at once. It’s such a beautiful statue. How could you let in fall in the water? It’s all systems go now. I cannot wait for it to begin.”

“It’s tremendous,” said Newport West MS Jayne Bryant. “It’s down to the huge effort from Newport City Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge. The Transporter Bridge is an icon, not just in Newport but in South Wales, and we’re really proud of it.”




6. A cup of tea in the Waterloo and smiles all round










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