Animated video aims to boost Forth Bridge voting

AN animated video was unveiled today in an effort to boost votes for a name for the Forth Replacement Crossing as organisers revealed figures which showed the voting rate has significantly slowed.

The site of the new Forth crossing. Picture: Neil Hanna

More than 27,000 votes have been cast for the five-strong shortlist, three weeks after it reached 20,000 in the first two days’ polling.

An independent panel selected the five from 7,500 individual suggestions - Caledonia Bridge, Firth of Forth Crossing, Queensferry Crossing, Saltire Crossing and St Margaret’s Crossing.

The video explains the relevance of the names to the bridge.

The site of the new Forth crossing. Picture: Neil Hanna

Transport minister Keith Brown said: The response from the public has been tremendous, with over 27,000 people having voted so far.

With voting set to close on 7 June, I want to encourage many more people to take part.

“That’s why we have produced a short video taking a light-hearted look at each of the nominations.”

Mr Brown had hailed the initial voting rate as a “phenomenal response”.

He said on 1 May: “We know there is a huge interest in what is Scotland’s biggest infrastructure project in a generation, but the number coming forward over the past few days has surpassed our expectations.”

The £1.6 billion bridge is due to open just west of the Forth Road Bridge at the end of 2016.

Votes can be cast here