A competition to name the recently completed New River Bridge and footbridge in Hoddesdon has launched, with the new names set to commemorate local heroes and their work to support their communities.
The New River Bridge and adjacent footbridge, both on Essex Road (Hoddesdon), opened in March 2021 to boost access and unlock the potential of Hoddesdon Business Park, one of Hertfordshire's largest employment areas and a key generator of jobs and income for the local economy.
Now partners behind the bridge’s construction including Hertfordshire LEP, Hertfordshire County Council, Broxbourne Borough Council, and contractor Osborne, are looking to commemorate local heroes by naming the bridge and footbridge in their honour.
Councillor Phil Bibby, Executive Member for Highways and Environment at Hertfordshire County Council said: “The New River Bridge is a long-term community asset, with a design life of 125 years, so adopting a name in this way provides a great opportunity to associate it with the local community and have a local hero remembered for many years to come.”
Residents, community groups, businesses and schools are invited to nominate a community figure or ‘local hero’ they feel deserves to be celebrated; someone who has embodied the spirit of resilience in the face of adversity throughout the pandemic. A judging panel comprising representatives from each of the construction partners and local newspaper The Mercury will decide the two winners of the competition. The winning entry will name the bridge, and the runner up will name the adjacent footbridge.
The competition will be open for three weeks, from 3 June – 24 June, with winners invited to attend a plaque unveiling event on site in July.
How do I nominate someone?
- All entrants must provide a statement (maximum 250 words) explaining why their nominee should be commemorated in Hoddesdon via the New River Bridge
- All entries must be sent to newriverbridge@hertfordshire.gov.uk by 23:59, 24 June 2021
- Entrants under the age of 18 must apply with the permission of a parent or guardian
- The nominee doesn’t have to be from Hoddesdon but does have to be from within the county of Hertfordshire
- Five shortlisted entries will be printed in The Mercury newspaper
- Two winners will be invited to attend the plaque unveiling event in July
Learn more about the New River Bridge, which was part-funded by an £8.9m Local Growth Fund investment from Hertfordshire LEP, £1.47m from Hertfordshire County Council, and £400,000 from Broxbourne Borough Council.
Adopting a name in this way provides a great opportunity to associate the bridge with the local community and have a local hero remembered for many years to come.
Adopting a name in this way provides a great opportunity to associate the bridge with the local community and have a local hero remembered for many years to come.