The Safety Bridge

So many conflicting thoughts about this bridge.  Firstly, that the local council saw the need to construct a new walkway with handrails over the top of a lovely old wooden sleeper bridge over this disused section of canal because of the fear of people falling in! The bridge was flat and a good 6 feet wide.  Then that the local vandals have made it their mission to break down the hand rails and throw the wood into the water.

I was thinking about reporting the current state of the bridge; but then again I did that a year ago when the first damage was caused and nothing seems to have been done.  So I was thinking that before long the whole of the new structure will probably be removed by the vandals and we can go back to the original bridge.

Seriously, I realise that the council felt the need to do something; after all there was a fear that if they didn't and someone fell off the bridge they would be liable.  But the construction was flawed and was always likely to be vandalised and now it has the council would have to spend more money to make repairs, with the expectation of further damage a definite likelihood. It's a vicious circle.

I hope they review their original decision, realise there is almost a mile of towpath running alongside the canal, which they would never dream to put a handrail along and remove the new structure.  Certainly it is in a more dangerous state now than before they did anything, especially with the missing plank.