'Scared' residents move cars to stop damage by objects thrown from Tamar Bridge
The 11 incidents of items being thrown from the bridge included a bin, a road cone and even a pig's ear and trotter
Last updated 12th Mar 2021
Residents living under the Tamar Bridge have told how they have to move their cars to avoid them being damaged by items being thrown off the bridge.
A survey was sent to people living under the bridge in both Saltash and Plymouth to find out how they have been affected by anti-social behaviour on the bridge.
The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry joint committee - which includes councillors from Cornwall and Plymouth - will today (Friday 12th March) consider a report about the survey results.
Surveys were sent out after a number of comments about problems from the bridge were expressed in public meetings about a safety review of the bridge.
Some of the incidents involved items being thrown from the bridge including a pig's ear and trotter.
There have also been reports of groups of youths shouting and using abusive language on the bridge.
The report shows that 11 respondents to the survey had experienced anti-social behaviour (ASB) - this included footway users shouting, screaming and swearing; objects being thrown from the bridge; people jumping from the bridge; and bridge worker noise.
However just three people said that they had reported ASB incidents to the police while six said they had reported the incidents to the bridge operators.
The survey found that three people said that they had been specifically targeted by people in an ASB incident with objects being thrown from the bridge while they were in the garden.
When asked whether ASB incidents on the bridge had affected their wellbeing six people said yes with some saying that they felt “on edge or scared” when using their gardens.
In response to a question about whether the ASB incidents had led them to change how they use their property eight people said that they had either reduced the time they spent in their garden or stopped sitting in their gardens; and moved their cars to avoid damage from objects thrown from the bridge.
The survey asked residents if there were any specific measures which could be taken to reduce ASB – some suggested the police and community groups work to educate children about ASB while others suggested providing compensation for residents affected and improving parapet safety.
Between 2017 and 2020 the report states that there were 61 ASB incidents recorded with 26 on or below the bridge structure.
A total of 19 (31%) of the incidents happened on the bridge side spans, with 15 on the Saltash side.
There were 11 incidents of objects being thrown from the bridge including stones, a litter bin, a road cone, plastic drinks bottle, an old shovel, and a pig’s ear and trotter. There was also one recorded incident of spitting on residents below the bridge.
The Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry joint committee will consider the report when it meets today (Friday March 12th).