Bridge trail proposed for town's bicentenary
Historic EnglandProposals have been discussed for a heritage trail to celebrate the bicentenary of a town in 2030.
A Middlesbrough Council committee heard suggestions of using model replicas of Tees-built bridges to tell the town's story, as well as a "passport to culture" to encourage people to visit local museums and attractions and take "holidays at home".
The local authority panel heard requests for funding and council backing to provide CCTV for a heritage walk.
District environment lead for the council Geoffrey Taylor claimed it was a chance to celebrate the past, help people in the present and inspire future generations.
He said: "This is a proposal which we cannot deliver on our own, we don't have the manpower or the funding."
But Taylor said students could be trained to create metal replicas of bridges to be displayed along the heritage trail, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
"It would be helping those students to learn as well as creating something of really lasting value and enhancing pride in our community," he said.
Taylor also highlighted the need for additional CCTV along the walk to "make it safe".
Councillor Tom Mohan said the biggest barrier to improving Middlesbrough is the "image problem" and asked Taylor how that could be addressed.
"We have to tell the story and this heritage trail is one way to do it," Taylor said.
"You would start to grow a different understanding of what Teesside is about."
Chair of the committee David Branson said the ideas would be considered as part of the 200th anniversary celebration plans.
