Glass panels to be removed from ‘glass bridge’ in Tipperary due to vandalism

Glass panels are to be removed from a ‘glass bridge’ in County Tipperary following a number of vandalism incidents, a council meeting has heard.

Fianna Fáil councillor Siobhán Ambrose enquired about the status of the glass bridge in Old Bridge, Clonmel at the April meeting of the Clonmel Borough District.

Cllr Ambrose said: “In relation to the glass bridge over the Old Bridge, I just wonder are we going to replace the glass or are we going to look at another option because every time we’ve put glass in that glass bridge, it has been damaged.

“So are we looking for a different type of material or something because it looks terrible when it’s smashed and there is a cost.”

She went on to suggest that plastic could be used in the place of the glass panels.

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“Like could we do something, you know the way now that even plastic that they kind of look like glass, anti-scratch. I don’t know what materials are there.

“Is that an option? Now, of course that comes at a cost too but I just wonder if that is an option.”

In response to Cllr Ambrose, Gillian Flynn, Senior Executive Engineer at Tipperary County Council outlined what the council’s preferred choice of material is.

Ms Flynn said: “With regards to the glass bridge, we have an Options Assessment Report on the bridge panels and the preferred option is to replace the existing glass panels with stainless steel panels.

“That is sitting with the OPW (Office of Public Works) so I will get a response on that for the next meeting.”

This news was welcomed by Cllr Ambrose, who concluded by saying that “anything is better than what’s there”.