Published: Tuesday, 24th October 2023
The Tosca barge will be removed from the riverbank next to the Boal Quay car park next week, starting on 30 October.
While the works are being carried out, part of the footpath around the back of the car park will be shut. This is for health and safety reasons as heavy machinery will need to access the area where the barge is located.
The council’s cabinet member for property and corporate services, Cllr Bal Anota, said:
“Like many I am sorry that the Tosca barge, which has become something of a local landmark, must go.
“With repeated attempts to set it on fire having damaged the structure, it is now a safety hazard. Having assessed its condition we have reluctantly reached the conclusion that the only safe option is to remove it as we know children are playing on what has become an unsafe barge.”
The work is expected to take around 8 weeks. A short diversion route for the footpath goes around the outside edge of the carpark and re-joins the footpath further down. The extent of the footpath closure is shown in pink on the attached map and the diversion will be signposted.