A petition to name the footbridge after Barney was launched by a local residents’ association following his death

A bridge in Enfield Town will be named in honour of a beloved cat following a successful local campaign.

Enfield Council has now agreed to name the bridge over the New River Loop, linking River View to Gentleman’s Row, after the friendly feline who recently died.

Barney the cat was popular with local people, who would regularly enjoy petting him on their way into town or to catch a bus, although he also gained a reputation for scaring dogs and not allowing them to pass over the bridge.

The campaign to name the bridge in Barney’s honour was suggested by residents of River View after his death, and was taken up by a local residents’ association. The petition calling on the council to dedicate the bridge to Barney eventually gained 3 59 signatures via Change.org.

After learning that the council had agreed to their demand, Allan Stronach from Gentleman’s Row, River View and Holly Walk (GRH) Residents’ Association told the Dispatch: “We are very pleased to get the response. Barney the cat was hugely friendly.

“People would always look out for Barney when they were on their way to the bus or the shops, people patted him, he was friendly to everyone – except dogs. No dog could frighten Barney out of the way. When Barney was on the bridge, he always stood his ground and would hiss if necessary.

“There were quite a few dog walkers who would use Jephcott Bridge instead if Barney was there.”

Allan said that his research suggested Barney’s bridge might become the first to be named after a cat in the UK.

“Going from what I can find online there aren’t any bridges named after cats, so it could be a bit of history for Enfield.”

Allan added that he hoped a plaque with Barney’s picture would be erected on the bridge to explain the story of how it came to be named after him.

Update (14th November):

An Enfield Council spokesperson said: “The council has agreed to rename a bridge over the New River after a much-loved cat called Barney, who often spent time on the bridge but sadly passed away recently. It is clear from the reaction to Barney’s death there is genuine enthusiasm from local residents to create a memorial for him.

“The council met with residents last week to discuss the design of a new sign in memory of Barney. As the bridge is listed, the sign will be installed close by. We are happy to have worked with local people on this and look forward to completing the renaming of the bridge in Barney’s memory.”

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