Petition against renaming Severn Crossing to Prince of Wales Bridge passes 35,000 names

The unilateral UK government decision to rename a major road bridge across the River Severn (Welsh: Afon Hafren) after Prince Charles has drawn a huge amount of criticism in Wales. The number of people signing a petition in opposition to the naming of the second Severn Crossing in honour of the Prince of Wales has now passed the 35,000 mark. Severn Crossing is a term used to refer to the two motorway crossings over the River Severn estuary between England and Wales.

The renaming has been described as a sycophantic display of forelock-tugging towards the English royal family and has gone down like a lead balloon in Wales. Many point out that if the bridge is to be renamed then it should represent someone or something of particular cultural significance to Wales, and done in consultation with the people of Wales. As it stands this decision to name it Prince of Wales Bridge is hugely unpopular and is meeting with growing opposition.