A new centre is being planned to enable people to explore the story of the two bridges which span the River Tamar at Saltash.

Celebrating the heritage of the Tamar Bridge and Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge, a project known as ‘Bridging The Tamar’ has been awarded development funding of £37,000, from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The cash will help the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee to take forward its plans to build the new centre on the Plymouth side of the bridges, before applying for a full grant of £272,700.

A learning centre would have views of the two bridges and would be developed in liaison with partners including the Plymouth History Centre, schools, universities and community organisations.

The joint committee says that although the two bridges are known nationally and internationally, and while the scene is recognisable to many, most are unaware of the associated engineering and social history.

The proposed centre would include archive material and information about the present as well.