Inverness street heroes face a tough task
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THEY can sometimes resemble Ghostbusters, with special chewing gum removal gear strapped to their backs.
But the crackle of walkie-talkie static can mean anything from an oil spill on Academy Street to graffiti or something unsavoury deposited in a churchyard.
As Michael Bryce and fellow street-sweepers undergo tireless work in Inverness city centre, the daily task of brightening up the old town is never-ending, but never thankless.
The team of four can deal with anything from AWOL teddies and other lost property like the odd set of false teeth – and, once, a blow-up doll – to unpleasant debris from the night economy.
“As a team, we take a lot of pride in our work,” Mr Bryce said. “We’re very lucky as we all work well together. In fairness, we’re given time and resources other council teams might not have to service what is an important hub and gateway to the Highlands. We want to make the city centre as welcoming as possible for everyone.
“We liaise with Mick as boss, or with the police officers, Jason and Ally, in the city centre. There’s a real community feeling and we have a great rapport with businesses, who seem appreciative.”
Mr Bryce (49) has worked for Highland Council for 28 years, including 10 alongside Martin MacDougall (55), who has 32 years’ service in all. Alan Graham (30) has five and David Ross (24), currently off work, counts six years in the job.
Removal of gum, fag ends, graffiti, litter and fly-posted stickers takes up a great deal of time, but members of the public tend not to realise just how broad the remit is.
“Ground and dust unchecked can get really thick on the back edges of walls and pavements. We make sure all the wee corners are clean and all the lamp-posts and traffic light posts remain sticker-free,” Mr Bryce said.
“We use ‘sharps’ boxes for glass and needles and there are places people leave human waste. There is a bio-hazard team but often we can’t risk leaving it too long with kids and families passing by. It can be tough work, but it is rewarding.”
Optimistic for the future, he added: “Covid-19 has set things back, but with improvements afoot for the Castle and Academy Street, I think there are good times ahead for the city centre – and a lot more work for us!”
