A decision on whether to build higher safety barriers at the Tamar Bridge is set to be made by Councillors when they meet next Friday.

The findings of a working party set up to explore the options were presented at a briefing today.

Despite the perception amongst some members of the general public and media that a large number of suicides occur at the bridge, say bridge management, the truth is that less than one percent of the suicides in Devon and Cornwall actually occur there.

The company which operates the bridge, Tamar Crossings, has spent the past several months reviewing the existing parapets in light of coroner’s evidence and obtaining information from the emergency services, professional organisations and affected members of the public.

Now, the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee will be asked to consider three options: to keep the current parapets as they are; to increase the height of the parapets the full length of the external sides of both cantilever lanes of the bridge, at an estimated cost of around £6m; or to review public safety arrangements above properties and roads on each end of the crossing, with the possibility of increasing the height of the parapets just at each end.

All three options would also include developing further the current approach taken by the Bridge management, in line with Public Health England Guidance, on surveillance, communication and staff training.