Just the ticket

REGARDING the naming of the new Forth crossing, I am not sure I agree with Jim Bradley (Letters, 28 December) that the new crossing is an “unfortunate necessity”, as the existing bridge is, arguably, perfectly adequate.

I do, though, agree that the naming of the new bridge is an irrelevancy and a distraction from the need for the new – and extremely expensive – structure.

However, as the existing road bridge is to be used solely for buses when the new one comes on stream, why not call the new one the Forth road bridge and rename the old, the Stagecoach Bridge?

Or perhaps the Souter/Gloag Bridge?

Tom Minogue

Victoria Terrace

Dunfermline, Fife

I’m sure that Jim Bradley’s ­despair (Letters, 28 December) over finding a name for the new Forth road bridge is shared by most who have given the matter any thought.

The original crossing was the Queen’s Ferry and, surely given all of the circumstances, this new span should be named the Queen’s Bridge plain and simple.

Firstly to commemorate the Queen, who organised the original ferry all those centuries ago, but also to mark the long reign of the present Queen Elizabeth II, during which the monarchy has almost completely faded out of the ­perception of most Scots.

Irvine Inglis

Reston

Berwickshire

AFTER a moments thought regarding a name for the new crossing over the River Forth, it was clear to me that given the current mindset of our nation, only one name would be appropriate.

That name is: the Independence Suspension Bridge.

Donald HL MacKenzie

Laverockhall

Lanark