Tamar Bridge Toll Booth Finds a New Home at Saltash United FC
A former Tamar Bridge toll booth has been given a new lease of life after being donated to Saltash United Football Club, where it will now serve as the club’s new ticket office.
The booth is the last spare unit from the previous generation of Tamar Bridge toll booths, and its new home at the football club helps keep a small but meaningful piece of Tamar Bridge history within the local community.
The idea for the donation came about during conversations in the Tamar Bridge control room following the replacement of the final booth. While discussing what might happen to the remaining spare booth, colleagues recalled that Saltash United already had one of the earlier Tamar Bridge booths on their grounds from when the toll booths were last upgraded.
This sparked the idea of bringing the two booths together once again in Saltash.
Bridge Engineering Manager Steve Rimmer approached local contractor Wayne Hambly of South West Surfacing Specialists with the idea. Wayne, a strong supporter of the club and the Saltash community, thought it was a fantastic opportunity but first sought approval from the Saltash United committee.
The committee welcomed the proposal, recognising the value of preserving a piece of local history while giving the booth a practical new purpose at the club.
Working together, Wayne and his team prepared the area at the club to receive the booth, while Tamar Crossings arranged for the structure to be transported and installed by Pete Newman of Newman Haulage – a haulage specialist who has been closely involved in the Tamar Bridge Booth Refurbishment Project from start to finish.
The successful collaboration highlights the strong working relationships Tamar Crossings maintains with local contractors and businesses.
Steve Rimmer, Bridge Engineering Manager, said:
“The engineering and maintenance of the Tamar Bridge structure is both diverse and challenging, and wherever possible, we aim to work with local contractors to support this work. Maintaining strong relationships with local businesses helps build resilience and a shared sense of pride and ownership in the projects we deliver.
Both the engineering team and the contractors we work with take great pride in the crossing and in maintaining the high standards that the Tamar Bridge is known for. Preserving the history of the bridge is also incredibly important, helping future generations understand the story and evolution of this iconic structure.
Positive engagement with local businesses, with those who have seen the bridge evolve over the years, and with younger generations who may be interested in its history – or even inspired towards a future career in engineering – is something I value greatly.
Donating the booth to Saltash United to help preserve a small piece of Tamar Bridge history was an absolute pleasure, and I hope it brings a smile to supporters’ faces as they walk past it on match day.”
With the booth now installed, supporters visiting Saltash United will be able to buy their match tickets from a familiar piece of local infrastructure – giving a unique new role to a small part of Tamar Bridge’s story.