Outrage in Wales as the Second Severn Crossing will be renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge

A right royal row has broken out over a decision to name the main bridge between England and Wales after Prince Charles.

The Second Severn Crossing is to be renamed the Prince of Wales Bridge to mark Charles’ 70th birthday later this year.

But the decision has been met with outrage in Wales – with critics calling it ‘outdated and offensive.’

The Second Severn Crossing was built in 1996 and carries the M4 motorway between Wales and England 

Several online petitions were launched yesterday urging politicians to reconsider the name change.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said: ‘Is this a late April Fool joke?’

Motorist David Hale, of Cardiff, added: ‘Wales is its own country and now we have a bridge named after the future king of England. It’s a joke.

‘This goes back to the days where you doth your cap to the upper classes. It’s an awful name.’

Sharon Jones said: ‘It’s absolutely appalling it will be called this – he has done nothing for our country, it should be named after someone like [former Labour health minister and architect of the NHS] Aneurin Bevan. It’s awful that our beautiful bridge will be called this.’

Prince Charles marks 60 years as the Prince of Wales this year as well as his 70th birthday 

Prince Charles marks 60 years as the Prince of Wales this year as well as his 70th birthday 

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said naming the bridge after the Prince would be a 'fitting way to pay tribute to the heir to the throne' 

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said naming the bridge after the Prince would be a ‘fitting way to pay tribute to the heir to the throne’ 

Making the announcement, Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said: ‘The announcement is a fitting tribute to His Royal Highness in a year that sees him mark 60 years as the Prince of Wales and decades of continued, dedicated service to our nation.

‘Renaming one of the most iconic landmarks in Wales is a fitting way to formally recognise his commitment and dedication to Wales and the UK as the Prince of Wales.

‘It is a fitting way to pay tribute to the heir of the throne.

‘We look forward to marking the occasion at a special event later this year when the new Prince of Wales Bridge and its sister bridge will be seen as positive symbols of a newly invigorated economic and social partnership between south Wales and south west England and the strength of the United Kingdom.’

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: ‘Lower charges on the Severn bridges have already saved drivers more than £3m – helping boost the economy in Wales and the south west.

‘This is a great way to usher in a new era for this iconic crossing. When the tolls are removed by the end of this year more people will be able to take advantage of even more new job and business opportunities on both sides of the Prince of Wales bridge.’

The £332million bridge, which took four years to build, was opened by Prince Charles in 1996

 



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk