TWO of the region's most iconic Victorian structures have received lottery grants totalling more than £1.3 million.
Clifton Suspension Bridge and Clevedon Pier have each received Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grants of £595,000 and £720,000 respectively, and can now get started with important heritage projects.
The grant will enable the Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust to open a new visitor centre beside Isambard Kingdom Brunel's great construction – opening up its history to a wider audience in time for the 150th anniversary of its completion in 2014.
A new learning centre will be built, on the North Somerset side of the bridge, and will provide space for schools and community groups to meet and learn.
The trust's volunteer base, currently consisting of 30 people, will be expanded as part of the project with the help of extended space and improved facilities.
Laura Hilton, visitor services manager at Clifton Suspension Bridge said: "The new visitor centre will create a place for visitors to discover the legacy of Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and his first love – one of the first modern suspension bridges and the longest and highest designed in its time, as well as the geology and biodiversity of its incredible setting.
"There will be displays and interactive exhibits to explain how the bridge works – and how it is still able to cope with the demands of modern traffic without change or alteration to its design, and the stories of those who travelled over and worked on the bridge throughout its 150 year history.
"The new centre will provide in-depth information to an anticipated 100,000 visitors from all over the world annually.
"We plan to work with local people in the development of the new centre, collaborating with schools, colleges and community groups to develop new displays and hands-on activities focussing on the icon of Bristol and its creator.
"Alongside this, a range of exciting new programmes for schools and colleges will see children and young people exploring the bridge in new ways – while behind the scenes tours for booked groups will provide a new way for visitors to understand the structure."
Dayrell McArthur, chairman of the trustees, said "The support provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund is enabling us to embark on a project we would not otherwise be able to fund. The temporary visitor centre has proven that there is strong demand for information about the bridge, its history and its upkeep."
Clevedon Pier, the only intact Grade I listed pier in England, will receive a grant of £720,000, which will enable the Clevedon Pier and Heritage Trust to create a sustainable future for the pier ensuring its survival for the next 100 years.
Central to the plans is an improvement of the visitor facilities and increasing learning and volunteering opportunities for local people.
This will help to generate income for the trust and enable the restoration of some of the pier's most important elements. A new visitor space will be created and used for community events, workshops and learning activities and will also include a cafe and toilet facilities.
Simon Talbot-Ponsonby, chairman of Clevedon Pier and Heritage Trust, said: "This is a huge step forward for the pier trust in helping us to achieve our ambition of providing good facilities for our visitors while also providing us with the means to become financially self-sufficient when it comes to carrying out all the essential maintenance needed on this beautiful pier."
Richard Bellamy, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund South West, said: "These two projects reflect the truly wonderful Victorian heritage we have here in Bristol and North Somerset.
"Today's substantial Heritage Lottery Fund investment will not only enable vital improvement works to begin at both sites but also offer a fantastic range of training and volunteering opportunities for local people, ranging from curating exhibitions to supporting community events."
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