Talk:Clifton Suspension Bridge

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Clifton Suspension Bridge was a good article nominee, but did not meet the good article criteria at the time. There are suggestions below for improving the article. Once these are addressed, the article can be renominated. Editors may also seek a reassessment of the decision if they believe there was a mistake. Reviewed version: May 17, 2007

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The roofed section of the A4 was built as part of the scheme to protect the road from falling rocks. It went in at the same time as lots of steel netting and other stabilisation stuff that you can still see - there's always been a problem with bits of the gorge falling off. I don't believe it has anything to do with the suicides and I have removed the bit that claimed this. Nevilley 11:37, 24 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Nevilley is correct. I live 12 miles from the Bridge and I recall, at the time it was built, that it was only for rockfall protection.

Adrian Pingstone 14:18, 24 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Thank you Adrian! I lived somewhat closer than this - Redland then Clifton - and was quite obsessed with the gorge and bridge at the time (possibly a childhood trauma involving a school project!) and I remember it all pretty clearly despite the haze of the years ... Nevilley 16:19, 24 Mar 2004 (UTC)

Update - same again

Amazingly, someone added that back in, presumably on the basis of their personal opinion or some folklore that they had heard. I have removed it, again. The roofed section is NOT connected with the suicide issue - please see previous user comments above. If someone can come up with good, verifiable evidence for this theory I will be delighted to reconsider. 138.37.199.199 09:44, 25 January 2006 (UTC)

Whoops, I made an edit to this effect the other day, since removed. Should have checked here first, my apologies. I think it's easy to assume it's because of suicides because the roof is only over the section under the bridge, but now am I right in thinking that it's the stress that the bridge puts on the surrounding area of gorge, which makes that section most prone to rockfall?

(91.108.126.142 (talk) 23:52, 11 January 2008 (UTC))

[edit] Balloon festival closure

It's not quite correct to say that the bridge was closed during the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in 2004. I was there this year, and it was most certainly open some of the time. However, the Evening Post and other papers reported that the weight of pedestrian traffic was dangerously high, and that the bridge might therefore be closed entirely during such festivals in future years. Given the gridlock in the city centre even this year, the traffic jams next year don't bear thinking about! Loganberry 16:30, 15 Nov 2004 (UTC)

In fact, it was closed Thursday 0930 - Friday 0700 and Saturday 1200 - Sunday 0900. See [1]. --rbrwr^± 18:48, 15 Nov 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Yes, Gloucestershire.

When Vick made his will, Clifton was still in Gloucestershire. It didn't become part of Bristol until the 1830s. -rbrwr^± 14:34, 24 Dec 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Good Article Review - Result: Fail

GA review (see here for criteria)

1. It is reasonably well written.

   a (prose): b (MoS):

2. It is factually accurate and verifiable.

   a (references): b (citations to reliable sources): c (OR):

3. It is broad in its coverage.

   a (major aspects): b (focused):

4. It follows the neutral point of view policy.

   a (fair representation): b (all significant views):

5. It is stable.

   

6. It contains images, where possible, to illustrate the topic.

   a (tagged and captioned): b lack of images (does not in itself exclude GA): c (non-free images have fair use rationales):

7. Overall:

   a Pass/Fail:

General comments: This article failed fairly quickly, I'm afraid. I didn't feel that it was adequately referenced: this is particularly important in the History section, where verifiable sources would be needed. The idea is that someone could use your reference to do further research on this topic. Examples of things to reference would be the statements:

he judge, Thomas Telford, rejected all designs, and tried to insist on a hugely expensive design of his own. - it would be necessary here, for example to give a reference to this.

An attempt to build Brunel's design in 1831 was stopped by the Bristol Riots... - was it, why? your unreferenced explanation isn't satisfactory, I'm afraid.

These are just two examples of many that require referencing.

Structure and Style: The lead is somewhat short, with an unreferenced statement used as a symbol of Bristol. - I live in Bristol, and even I'd like to see this proven. Take a look at WP:LEAD for more information on how to write a good lead.

I also think that the one-sentence paragraphs in all sections are a failing point. The article reads as a series of disconnected statements in places and does not read well, which is especially true in some areas of the History section, but also in the Suicides section.

Content: There is very little discussion on the process of the bridge's construction, which I would expect from an article about a bridge. Elements of this appear in the history section, but:

1. it gets lost, because its not entirely a historical point.
2. there isn't enough information

My initial recommendations before attempting a re-nomination are therefore:

1. Restructure the article so that relevant content appears under appropriate headings.
2. Include more information on how the bridge was built
3. Copy-editing to remove the short stubby sentences and paragraphs
4. Most importantly, references for everything!

On a positive note, I believe that the article has potential, and with a consolidated effort could be renominated once these issues are resolved. Any further questions, please post them on my talk page.

Regards, Fritzpoll 18:44, 17 May 2007 (UTC)