Children and adults risking impalement on Inverness water pipe spikes spark action from Scottish Water
Children and adults risking impalement crossing an Inverness burn via a water pipe bridge have sparked action from fed-up Scottish Water chiefs.
The publicly-owned company has lodged plans to install large security fencing where one of its water mains crosses the Mill Burn next to Diriebught Road.
Reckless walkers have been using the pipe as an impromptu shortcut when going to and from Diriebught Road and Millburn Academy.
And despite the pipe boasting the usual spiked steel palisade fans that are designed to prevent people doing so, incidents continue to be reported.
Scottish Water says that people are repeatedly vandalising the spike fans by bending them back so they can pass. Images lodged with the application also show that despite some being bent over, a number of spikes remain standing that will still pose a danger to anyone trying to cross.
Scottish Water is now proposing to install 2.4m tall palisade fencing at each end of the pipe bridge to prevent access.
In a supporting statement lodged with its application, a Scottish Water spokesperson said: "It is evident that the pipe bridge is being used as a pedestrian shortcut to cross the burn to/from Diriebught Road by both the general public and school children at the Millburn Academy.
"The steel palisade fans which were installed on the pipe bridge to discourage this unauthorised use of the route have been repeatedly vandalised and bent back to regain access.
"A more secure and robust solution is therefore required to permanently prevent public access. The proposal is therefore to install a 2.4 m high palisade fencing at both ends of the pipe bridge as a secure barrier to prevent access."
The new 2.4m tall fencing would also be 1.1m long with "additional flying ends comprising of half fans which would protrude at a 45 degree [angle] out across the burn - to prevent pedestrian access onto the pipe bridge".
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