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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
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Elizabeth Thomas & Alex Whilding & John Jones

What Welsh people think the Prince Of Wales bridge should be called

The famous M4 Prince Of Wales bridge sees thousands of vehicles pass between Wales and England every day. For many, once they see the bridge it means that they are nearly home after time away.

Back in 2018 the bridge was renamed and took on its current identity, but that was not without major controversy. The bridge was re-named the Prince Of Wales Bridge instead of the Second Severn Crossing Bridge.

Some have welcomed the new name for the bridge but some people are loyal to its original name. Some have other suggestions for what the bridge should be called with all different types of inspiration reports Wales Online.

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Here are some suggestions:

The Second Severn Crossing

Some people have suggested that the bridge should go back to its original name when it was built before being re-named in 2018. Some people refer to the bridge as the Severn Bridge. Some people quickly pointed out that was the name of the old bridge that opened up in 1966.

Stu McLellan wrote: "I worked as a toll collector on both bridges during uni holidays. The official name for the new bridge was the Second Severn Crossing, but I don't even remember the staff calling it that - it was old Severn Bridge and new Severn Bridge to most people I knew."

Karen McCarthy suggested a simple solution to give them different names: "The old Severn bridge and the new Severn bridge. There you are - job done," she wrote. Bea Kingdon also had a similar idea and refers to it as the newer bridge. She wrote: "For me, it will always be known as 'the new Severn Bridge', as opposed to 'the old Severn Bridge'."

Prince of Wales bridge

Some people were not keen on the new name for the bridge but others have supported the name change. Michael Cornford said: "We should be thankful it was given a name that references Wales. Be proud of it and stop moaning. It could have been named the Bristol bridge."

Paul Heathfield did something similar and suggested that people needed to accept the bridge's new name, writing: "People need to get a life. It's the Prince of Wales Bridge. If you think Owain Glyndwr is the prince. Fine, that's who it is named after. If you're a royalist like me then it's Charlie boy. No matter. It's the Prince of Wales bridge. The Severn bridge is the other one. Just stop moaning."

Iain McCallum also said: "I always find it funny to read people's opinions on this. Whatever you feel personally it's formally called the PoW Bridge which, I assume, has been sanctioned by the Welsh Government. So it really doesn't matter what individuals think, say or do."

Despite saying he 'doesn't like' the bridge being named after Prince Charles, Jim Mason did suggest that the bridge should be named after something that reflects both Wales and England: "Why would the bridge be named something to do with Wales eg. Owain Glyndwr as people are suggesting. Isn’t it as English as it is Welsh? Surely it would need to be named something that reflected both England and Wales. The Prince of Wales Bridge kind of works in that way as he’s English, but I don’t like the bridge being named after him. But it surely has to be something that reflects both England and Wales I would have thought."

'Waste of money'

Despite most people supporting the bridge, some did say that it was a "waste of money." Lydia Davis wrote: "Just another waste of money to rename it. We all call it the Severn bridge still. Shame they didn't put the money towards the relief road."

Nadine Dahle Diana also said that she calls the bridge the Severn bridge: "It was a total waste of money changing the name I still call it the Severn bridge." Phill Brooks also said that the renaming was a "waste of money," writing: "Wow - how many meetings would they have had about this? What a total waste of time, effort and money."

Tim Meredith also added: "They will have to rename it again when he's king. What a waste of money."

Other name suggestions

However some others suggested that the bridge should be named after some big Welsh figures. Nicki Jones suggested her own candidates for the 'Princes of Wales', and said: "Needs a picture of Michael Sheen at one end, Sir Anthony Hopkins at the other - the real Princes of Wales."

"It should have been named the Bevan Bridge. Nye Bevan’s legacy has touched every single person in the UK," Angela Gorman wrote. Whilst another Facebook user, 'Higgs Boson', also said that the bridge should be named after "somebody who has a positive impact" - "My vote is the 'Max Boyce Bridge,'" he wrote.

Paul Phoenix added: "I don't see the problem with renaming the bridge after Alun Wyn Jones to be honest." There were also some more unusual name suggestions.

In a nod to the famous Boaty McBoatface, Phill Palmer suggested that the iconic bridge "should be called Bridgey McBridgeface." Some others suggested that the names that they call the bridge.

Sophie Bebb said: "It's the Paw Patrol bridge according to my children." Andy Taylor also said: "My daughter called it holiday bridge (& so did we after her) cos as we went over it we were going on holiday."

Maria Fazakerley said: "I refer to it as The Cwtch Bridge as it seems to give u a big long farewell cwtch/hug as u leave Wales and an enormous Creoso cwtch as you drive across back into South Wales , such a lovely warm welcoming u back home (to the Green Green Grass of Home)."

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