Fears grow over plan to remove half of bridge linking Tipperary and Kilkenny
Concern has been raised in Tipperary over plans by Kilkenny County Council to demolish its half of a bridge linking the two counties.
Locals in the Carrick-on-Suir area had been told to avoid the Tinvane Bridge, also known as the Kilonerry Bridge, a popular footbridge over the Lingaun River, because it is structurally unsound.
The bridge links Carrick-on-Suir with Piltown in Kilkenny, and is a popular route with walkers. It was officially closed last December.
Tipperary County Council previously said that there was no safe alternative crossing for the bridge, and that pedestrians must make a suitable detour.
At the February meeting of the Carrick-on-Suir Municipal District, councillors were told by district engineer Michael Scully that Kilkenny County Council were planning to demolish their half of the bridge, rather than repair or replace it.
“The update on the bridge from our side is that we have instructed a contractor to install a more permanent gate and fence at the crossing on our side just to try and make it safe because, anecdotally, we still hear that people are crossing the bridge, even in the state that it’s in.
"As regards a permanent fix to it, the last I heard from Kilkenny was that they intend on removing their half of the bridge completely,” Mr Scully said.
The district engineer said that at previous meetings over the years, Kilkenny County Council took responsibility for maintenance and ownership of the bridge, but now they appeared to be seeking a joint approach where each county would look after half of the bridge.
Fianna Fáil councillor Kieran Bourke said that he was worried about Kilkenny County Council’s plan to demolish the bridge.
"I’m very concerned to hear that Kilkenny County Council are going to remove half that bridge, that’s all very well for Kilkenny County Council when it’s in the rural part of the constituency, but that bridge is very much part of the fabric of Carrick-on-Suir,” he said.
"It’s a walk area, it’s a huge part of Carrick-on-Suir and I think we as a local authority, need to fight that tooth and nail.
"I remember sitting down at a meeting four or five years ago, when we were put in our place about Kilonerry Boreen when the then-engineer with Kilkenny County Council told us in no uncertain terms that the bridge crossing the Lingaun was the responsibility of Kilkenny County Council,” Cllr Bourke said.
In response, Mr Scully said that the council would engage with Kilkenny County Council and see what could be worked out.