Bradley Stoke’s new town centre is to be called the Willow Brook Centre following a competition to name the development.
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The original name, The Brooks Centre, was dropped following objections from Bradley Stoke Town Council.
Tesco, who are building the new town centre, had promised to invite residents to name the centre but went back on its promise.
But the supermarket giant made amends by eventually organising a contest which has seen the name unveiled as the Willow Brook Centre.
The winner of the competition has opted to remain anonymous and has donated the prize money to the mayor’s charity - the local branch of the National Association for Colitis and Crohn’s Disease.
Supermarket Tesco has matched the prize fund meaning the charity will benefit from a £100 donation and a new computer.
Mayor Robert Jones said: ”I think Willow Brook Centre is a good choice. The name is in keeping with others around the town but unique enough to avoid confusion.
“Most importantly the community has been involved in the process and I hope the people of Bradley Stoke will now take pride in their town centre and support the businesses that move in.”
Cllr Jones thanked the anonymous winner for their donation to the charity he is backing.
“I’m sure NACC will put the computer to good use and the £50 is another step towards what I hope will be a really big total by the end of my year in office. As Tesco so often remind us every little helps and I am grateful to them also for their generosity.”
Felix Gummer, Tesco’s Regional Corporate Affairs Manager, said: “Tesco are pleased that we are able to support the Mayor’s Charity, a very valuable cause, and it is a very generous offer by our anonymous winner.
“It is our pleasure to match the winner’s generosity. The judges were unanimous in their thinking that the name is well suited for Bradley Stoke and, importantly, it will give the new centre a distinctive feel and identity which is essential so that it is not confused with any other local shopping destination.”
The Willow Brook Centre will feature a Tesco Extra from this autumn with a new town square, 15 small retail units and five large units from next year.
What do you think of the new name? Click here to add your comments to this story.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Steve Sadgrove // Jun 22, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Why can’t it just be called “Bradley Stoke Town Centre”?
2 flurfy chicken // Jun 22, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Here, here. I expect every one will be calling it that any way.
Willow Brook Centre is a nice name but conjours up visions of peace and tranquility, not a crowded, busy, mainly grey shopping centre.
3 zoe // Jun 26, 2008 at 1:44 pm
It would appear that perhaps the anonymous “winner” is not quite as it seems. I do not know if it just me, but Tesco wanted to call the new town centre Brook Centre, yet the “winner” has called it Willow Brook Centre??? The word Brook is within the name?? And the winner wishes to be anonymous??
Something does not seem to add up here some how?
4 Susan Hartry // Jul 1, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Where did ‘Willow’ come from - it means nothing to us having lived in the area for decades. Originally we thought the name BROOKS CENTRE was BRILLIANT as it is where the 3 brooks meet - when the competition opened up for an alternative we suggested the THREE BROOKS CENTRE (close). But WILLOW - where did that come from. I suspect as many others we’ll always refer to it as TESCOs anyway so it really makes no odds.
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