Owners' Forum Background
At an ICE/HA sponsored conference in London on Bridge Rehabilitation in early October 2000, it was pointed out by some delegates that there was no single national forum at which the major bridge owners of the UK could discuss and co-ordinate research projects and priorities. This need was highlighted when one speaker presented work on a current research project which, it turned out, was very similar to one also being undertaken, quite independently, by another bridge organisation.
Discussions took place between various key people from the major bridge owning organisations as to ways in which better co-ordination and dissemination of current research and development projects could be achieved. As a result, Dr Campbell Middleton of the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge offered to facilitate a one-day Bridge Owners Forum at which the major bridge owning organisations would have an opportunity to hear about research projects currently underway throughout the UK.
The inaugural Bridge Owners Forum meeting was be held at King's College, Cambridge on Tuesday 21st November 2000. Meetings of the Owners' Forum now take place three times a year.
