NEWPORT City Council has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to repair and revamp Newport Transporter Bridge, it was announced today.

Made possible by National Lottery players the ambitious project aims to carry out essential repairs to secure the future of the city’s iconic structure which spans the River Usk.

Development funding of £1,052,800 has also been awarded to help Newport City Council progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date.

The funding is needed to carry out essential on-going repairs to the bridge, improve the gondola which dates back to 1906 and to create a bigger and better visitor centre which will include improved visitor facilities at the site.

Newport Transporter Bridge is one of five remaining operational transporter bridges worldwide and is the most complete original structure of all the remaining Transporter Bridges.

Significant maintenance and repairs to the bridge have taken place over the years, the last being replacement traveller rails and comprehensive repainting carried out in 2010.

The bridge is open to the public from March to October and last year attracted more than 20,000 visitors from around the world.

Commenting on the award Cllr Debbie Harvey, Newport City Council’s cabinet member for culture and leisure said she was delighted the Transporter Bridge project has HLF’s initial support

She said: “We are delighted we have received this support which is the first step in helping us to secure the future of our iconic Transporter Bridge.

"We have ambitious plans to make the visitor experience bigger and better. The bridge has dominated our skyline for more than 100 years and it is great to know we are a step closer to preserving it for another century."