Forth Crossing: What’s in a name?

THE name of the new Forth crossing will be decided by a public vote, the Scottish Government have announced.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said a specially-convened panel will assess suggestions before a shortlist is put to the vote next year.

The bridge is expected to open on schedule and within budget in 2016, according to the Scottish Government.

On a visit to the existing road bridge, Mr Brown said: “This is the biggest single infrastructure project in Scotland for a generation and will deliver an iconic, world-class, 21st-century addition to the 20th-century Forth Road Bridge and the original 19th-century Forth Bridge.

“It is absolutely right that the people of Scotland have a say on the identity of this historic project and for that reason I am very happy to announce that a public vote on the naming will take place next year.

“I will shortly be appointing a panel of independent advisers to undertake a consultation on potential names. They will consider all possible suggestions before producing a shortlist of the most appropriate that can be put to a public vote.

“This is an exciting project that we want the people of Scotland to take pride in and I am delighted that the people of Scotland will have the opportunity to have the final say.”

Mr Brown also highlighted efforts to have the rail bridge recognised as a World Heritage Site.

Heritage agency Historic Scotland is preparing to submit a document in support of the application, he said.

Author Ian Rankin, whose novels often feature the Forth Road Bridge, said: “In a nod to Big Country, why not call it The Crossing.”

Edinburgh City Council’s opposition Labour leader, Andrew Burns, said: “Given that both Forth Road Bridge and Forth Bridge are, in essence, taken, perhaps Firth of Forth Bridge would be appropriate?But I agree with the minister that the general public should have a chance to choose any final name.”

Bridge sceptic Margo MacDonald, the Independent Lothian MSP, suggested A Bridge Too Far or A Bridge Over Troubled Waters.

Even less charitably, Green MSP Patrick Harvie put forward Eck’s Folly.

Today we asked our followers on Facebook and Twitter for suggestions of a name for the new Forth crossing, and we’ve been inundated with ideas. Here is a random sample:

• The Third Forth Bridge

• Back & Forth

• St Margaret’s Bridge

• Firth and Foremotht

• The Waste of Money Bridge

• The Kingdom Bridge

• Costalot

• Made in China

• Salmond’s Leap

• Chuck Norris Bridge

• The Lang Spoon (tae sup wi’ Fifers)

• Go Forth

• The Fifth Debacle

• Freedom Bridge