What is that place where Regent Road meets Marine Parade called or even that new piece of road along the seafront? This is your opportunity to decide just that!

The Mercury is joining with Great Yarmouth Borough Council to invite its readers to carve their own little place in history by naming the two new areas created along Marine Parade.

In the future they will both appear on maps of the town - so they both need to be identified.

“What we are looking for are names which are descriptive of the areas if that is possible,” said Regeneration Manager Joanne Butcher.

“While the work has been carried out to create the new areas they have had working titles such as the plaza for the site in front of the Hollywood cinema and Britannia Pier, and the slow-lane for the track which will be open to landaus, the road train and cyclists.

“But the circular plaza area was always intended to be a special landmark feature - and millions of pounds have been spent lifting the seafront into the 21^st century, so we don’t want the landau track to be identified with the inside lane of a motorway or seen as something boring.

“It is a unique piece of two-way road which has been specifically designed to separate the landaus, cyclists and slow train from the main traffic flow. It has caught the imagination of national charity SUSTRANS which is considering adopting it as part of its number one cycle route from Hull to Harwich.

“So please come up with some suggestions. Although something descriptive would be nice - if you want to give either of the names a historical or nautical ring, those ideas will be given equal consideration - as will any sensible ideas that are put forward.”

The new names will not be used in place of Marine Parade but be added to, for example, The Plaza, Marine Parade.

May 25 is planned as the official opening of both sites to be attended by dignitaries, school children a local band… and lots of residents who it is hoped will be there to see the new piece of roadway used for the first time by the land train and landaus.

The winners will be given the honour of cutting the tape at a special ceremony to be held on the day.

Businesses along the Marine Parade have been very generous in supporting the event and the following have donated gifts which will be divided between the two winners:

Pleasure Beach - vouchers for wristbands
Sealife Centre - tickets for adults and children
Yesterday’s World - family day pass
Britannia Pier - tickets to a summer show
Hollywood cinema - tickets
Merrivale Model Village - tickets
Hippodrome Circus - family tickets
Amazonia - family VIP pass, and
Marina Centre - tickets.

E-mail entries for either or both sites to anne.edwards@archant.co.uk by Wednesday 16 May 2007.

The winners will be chosen by a panel which will include representatives of the Mercury, the Council and community representatives.