Mystery surrounds blocking of drainage pipe on Great Glen Way in Inverness
Flood damage has been caused to the Great Glen Way in what appears to be a deliberate act of vandalism.
The incident on the Great Glen Way, where it links with Inverness at Mile End, was discovered when Highland Council workers were alerted to erosion damage.
A professionally-made metal device used by engineers and contractors for bunging up culverts had been used to prevent water entering the pipe during the recent torrential rain, causing a major overflow that damaged almost 200 metres of the track.
The “sabotage” was discovered by members of the council’s long distance routes team that maintains the 79 miles of path from Inverness to Fort William along the Great Glen fault line.
The team used The Great Glen Way’s Facebook page to alert walkers to take care on the badly eroded surface.
They posted: “Take care on Mile End Brae. Somebody had blocked one of the culverts pipes with a pipe sealer and this has resulted in approximately 185 metres of path washout.”
Their post went on to explain: “The pipe that was blocked is a culvert which allows water from a drainage ditch to flow beneath the path into an area of gorse, where it soaks away nicely and has done for the last 20 years or so. The bung has caused the water to flow down the path instead of under it and has resulted in the path being washed out.
“The path has been tidied up and the water is running unimpeded in the ditch and through the culvert again.”
When it was suggested that the bung might have been there since the track was built, the long distance way team responded: “We built the path and maintain it. This has just appeared recently!”
A local man, Brian King, posted: “It’s very prone to waterlogging there,” and Great Glen Ways responded: “It certainly is when people seal up the culverts.”
A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “The council has a Long Distance Routes team that maintain the Great Glen Way. It was they who found the culvert sealed on Monday and posted the incident on the Great Glen Way’s Facebook page.
“They are currently trying to find out who may have inserted the seal and would appreciate it if those responsible would contact the Great Glen Way office on 01320 366633.”
