The competition to name Bradley Stoke’s town centre has launched with a £50 shopping voucher and a computer for a school of the winner’s choice up for grabs.

Residents have just two weeks to get their suggestions in to the customer services desk at the current Tesco supermarket, Bradley Stoke Library or to bs.comp@virgin.net / town.clerk@bradleystoke.gov.uk

Felix Gummer, Corporate Affairs Manager for Tesco, said: “This is the opportunity for local residents to put their stamp on Bradley Stoke’s new town centre development.

“Since the project started in the mid-1990s Tesco has been consulting with the local residents over the design and contents.

“The development is now well underway with the opening scheduled for this autumn. The name is the final piece of the jigsaw and this is the residents’ chance for them to have their say!”

The firm had promised to launch a competition to name the centre which they eventually went through with after trying to name it The Brooks Centre.

Mayor Julian Barge, who will help judge the entries, praised Tesco for finally launching the contest and giving residents the chance to make the town centre something locals have an involvement with.

“We were always promised a competition for the name by Tesco so this is the town’s opportunity to get involved. Whatever name is chosen will be there for many years so like the design and content of the building a lot of thought will have to go into the selection by the judges.

“It will have to be a name that is recognisable, reflects our community, and the developers’ architects can work with so that it blends with the existing design criteria.”

The Brooks Centre name for Bradley Stoke town centre has officially been dropped and a new name will be picked through a competition.

Dan Bramwell, representing Tesco at a meeting of the town council, announced that the town’s residents would be asked to pick a name.

“We want everyone in Bradley Stoke to get behind this,” Mr Bramwell said. “Come up with a name they want - there is a judging panel in place, we’ll be putting up posters up around the town, and we’ll be launching it with the media next week.

“We’re looking at a closing date at the end of May and judging in the first week of June.”

We were live at the specially-convened Bradley Stoke Town Council meeting which was called to discuss the Northavon Bowls Club rent row and the new town centre name.

Below you can read our live coverage of the meeting which took place on Thursday, 8 May.

Click the ‘more’ button to read the full account.

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The new town centre should not be called The Brooks Centre, the town council has told supermarket giant Tesco.

The new name was revealed several weeks ago after slipping out in promotional material aimed at shops looking to open in the centre.

The objection came to light following a meeting on Wednesday where councillors said the name had been picked “without any consultation with local residents or the town council”.

Councillors also pointed out the proposed logo was too similar to that of South Gloucestershire Council and that there were too many similarities in the new name to to the Brook Way Activity Centre.

Tesco had been due to hold a competition to name the centre but a spokesman told the Examiner several weeks ago that “time had overtaken them” so they settled on the Brooks Centre.

Councillor John Ashe said: “I am extremely disappointed to hear that Tesco have chosen a name without consultation with the Bradley Stoke public, particularly in light of their promise to hold a competition for local children to gather ideas for a name.”

The new town centre is due to fully open in 2009 with around 15 retail units alongside a rebuilt Tesco which is due to open this Autumn.

Costa Coffee is the latest firm to confirm it is looking at Bradley Stoke town centre as a potential location to open a new cafe, The Bradley Stoke Examiner can exclusively reveal.

This website has already confirmed that Reflections Hairdressing Salon is moving in and fast food firm KFC is considering opening a chain there.

A spokesperson for Costa’s parent firm, Whitbread, said: “We have no firm plans as yet but are currently examining Bradley Stoke for a possible site.”

Costa Coffee already has several cafes open in Bristol including one in The Mall at Cribbs Causeway and another off The Triange in Clifton.

For the latest town centre news check out The Bradley Stoke Examiner’s in-depth coverage.

Bradley Stoke’s new town centre is to be called The Brooks Centre, the Bradley Stoke Examiner can reveal.

The new name for the development slipped out through promotional brochures for potential tenants at the centre.

Tesco had intended to run a competition to name the centre but a spokesman for the firm said time had “overtaken” them. “We have settled on Brooks Centre,” he added.

What do you think of the new name? Hit the comments below and let us know.

Fast food firm KFC is in negotiations to open a chain in Bradley Stoke’s new town centre, the Examiner can exclusively reveal.

A spokesperson for the company told this website that they are “continuously looking for suitable locations to expand our portfolio”.

The spokesperson went on to say: “Due to popular demand in the area, we can confirm we are pursuing plans to develop a site in Bradley Stoke which will potentially create 15-20 jobs within the local community.”

The town centre is due to open in 2009 with 15 retail units which will include shops and restaurants.

The Bradley Stoke Examiner was first to reveal last week that a Reflections Hairdressing Salon would be moving in to the new town centre.