An evening of entertainment to kick start a public fund raising push to secure the future of Newport’s Transporter Bridge takes place this month.
The longest day of the year – Thursday, 21 June – has been chosen to celebrate an evening opening of the bridge when people can watch the sun going down from the upper level by walking over the top until sun down at 9.30pm.
The City of Newport Male Choir will be performing at the event and regular bridge crossings will continue into the evening until 7.30pm followed by the special ticketed event with pedestrian only gondola crossings from 8pm until 9.30pm.
Tickets are limited and those interested need to register in order to get a ticket on the night, ÂŁ5 for adults and ÂŁ3 for children. To express your interest and reserve your ticket please e-mail [email protected] with your contact details and number of tickets required. (Please note the event will only go ahead if the weather allows).
Newport City Council and the Friends of the Bridge, which is a registered charity, are organising this special event to ask the local community to help raise ÂŁ100,000.
This money will be used to build on the successful first round funding bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) which awarded a ÂŁ1 million for the project.
The council and the Friends need to show there is enough local support to go for the second round of the HLF funding bid  and to attract extra funding in the form of grants.
Chris Goddard, who works for the council’s Streetscene department is doing his bit by allowing his award winning image of the bridge to be used on postcards and other items to go on sale in the visitor centre.
Money raised will go towards carrying out repairs to the Victorian gondola used to carry both passengers and vehicles over the River Usk and for the ongoing cost of general repairs and maintenance of the 112 year old bridge.
Councillor Deb Harvey, cabinet member for Culture and Leisure, said public support was essential in order for the Transporter Bridge to continue being the iconic structure it is and thanked Chris for his kindness in allowing the appeal to use his bridge image.
“We know the Transporter Bridge is loved by many people not only in Newport but across the world and we are launching what is essentially crowd funding scheme to ensure it stands on the banks of the River Usk for future generations to come.
“Our city has more than 145,000 residents, if everyone gave just £1 each, we would smash our target.
“This is a piece of our history and it would be great if everyone felt this is their Transporter Bridge too and had a stake in its future. We would love to see fundraising events in schools and by local businesses as well as people making donations. And I’d like to thank Chris for ding his bit to raise funds.
“We need to show the Heritage Lottery Fund it is not wasting its investment and we are doing our bit to raise the money,” said Cllr Harvey.
The fund raising is being looked after by the Friends of the Bridge.
