Daily Echo readers want new city trail to commemmorate historic liner (From Daily Echo)

Daily Echo readers want new city trail to commemmorate historic liner

9:10am Sunday 13th September 2009 in

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BOSTON has its Freedom Trail and Blackpool has its Golden Mile, while the Walk of Fame is one of Hollywood’s top attractions.

Today the Daily Echo can reveal that Southampton now has its own famous walk for visitors to stroll along – the QE2 Mile.

The newly crowned pedestrian route – stretching from London Road down to Mayflower Park – is to be the focus of a new bid to attract tourists.

An enormous anchor from the world’s most famous ship is to go on show, while a £30,000 pavement trail will tell the city’s history.

The title was this week chosen by Saints legend Matt Le Tissier, Councillor Royston Smith and Echo editor in chief Ian Murray.

More than 90 suggestions were put forward by Southampton residents following a public competition held by the Daily Echo and council.

The panel of judges whittled the entries down to a shortlist that also included Titanic Mile, Bargate Mile, Ocean Mile and Spitfire Mile.

After deliberating at the Echo’s offices in Redbridge, they settled on naming the mile-long stretch after the Cunard liner that called Southampton home for nearly 40 years.

Despite being sold to a Dubai investment company for £50m, the trio said the legendary ship’s name should live on in Southampton for generations to come. Matt said the QE2 was a defining icon not only of the city, but of Britain.

“I have been in Southampton for 24 years, it is my home, and the QE2 has always been associated with this city and will be for many more years to come,” he said. No official street names along the route – such as London Road and Above Bar Street – will be changed, but a naming ceremony will take place next month.

The route through the city

The mile walk will eventually connect the proposed Cultural Quarter near the Civic Centre with the shops along the High Street and the future Royal Pier/ Mayflower Park development.

Cllr Smith said a location to display the QE2’s spare anchor, which has been kept in storage by the council since her final departure last year, was being sought. He also revealed that work on laying 20 tiles detailing the story of Southampton would begin next year.

“It will bring together the new arts centre, heritage museum and a world class waterfront – they are the three projects that will make Southampton great.”

Mr Murray added: “It is a brilliant idea that we should identify officially this important artery in the city and by giving it a world class name.”

Cunard Line managing director Peter Shanks said: “QE2 was Cunard’s longest-serving liner and she travelled further than any other ship in history.”

Work on the £6m project has already included repaving the High Street, widening pavements and installing new street furniture and lighting.