Toll booth recycled to preserve a 'piece of history'

Cameron Weldonin Saltash
News imageCameron Weldon/BBC An old blue Tamar Bridge toll booth in its new home at Saltash United Football Club's Kimberley Stadium. Cameron Weldon/BBC
Tamar Crossings said the move would preserve "a piece of local history"

An old toll booth has been given a new lease of life by a football club to keep a piece of local history in the community.

The booth was donated by Tamar Crossings to Saltash United Football Club, who will refurbish and re-purpose it as a new ticket office.

Tamar Crossings said the football club already had one of the older-style bridge booths from when they were last upgraded about 20 years ago, which prompted the idea of bringing the booths "together once again".

Steve Rimmer, the bridge's engineering manager, said donating the booth to the football club would help "preserve a small piece of Tamar Bridge history".

News imageCameron Weldon/BBC Saltash United Football Club sponsor Wayne Hambly stood in front of the old blue Tamar Bridge toll booth in its new home at Kimberley Stadium. He is wearing a blue hat and t-shirt with a black gilet. Cameron Weldon/BBC
Wayne Hambly said the blue booths were instantly associated with the Tamar Bridge

Wayne Hambly, whose company sponsors the club, built a concrete base and later installed the booth at the ground.

"We all feel the same way about it," he said.

"When we were talking about it we were all excited about it, it just had to be."

He said the blue booth was iconic as "everyone remembers them from the bridge" and that it belonged at the ground to match the one previously donated.

Tamar Crossings said the booth's new home at the football club would help keep a small but meaningful piece of Tamar Bridge history within the local community".

News imageCameron Weldon/BBC The old blue Tamar Bridge booth that had been at the far end of Saltash United's ground which was donated to the club about 20 years ago. It's got a door and a glass sliding window.Cameron Weldon/BBC
The club already has an old bridge booth at the opposite end of the ground that was donated about 20 years ago

The previous generation of toll booths were removed and replaced after about 15 years of use, the last of which was moved in February 2025.

The booth now sits prominently at the front entrance of Saltash United's Kimberley Stadium.

Rimmer said it would bring a smile to supporters' faces as they walked past it on match day.

Tom Potts, a volunteer at the club said it had proved "a big talking point".

"I think its absolutely brilliant. It's going to be great for the club and the community."

Hamley said: "It's a lot bigger than you would think, you can't miss it.

"We're over the moon with it."

He added "unfortunately" holders of Tamar Tags would not get a discount on their match tickets.

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