Rubbish found strewn throughout burn close to Ness Islands beauty spot
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A SHOPPING trolley, seven traffic cones and a wooden crate were just some of the items of rubbish found spoiling a city beauty spot.
The discarded items were found in a burn that runs along the Great Glen Way just a stone’s throw from the Ness Islands.
The rubbish that has somehow found its way into the channel lies at various points along a 300-metre stretch, unappealing eye candy for tourists, walkers and cyclists who pass by.
"It just spoils the look of it", said a dog walker.
"Something needs to be done about it, that wooden crate looks like it could be blocking the path of the fish."
Highland Council said an inspection of the area would be made as soon as possible, to see what items could be recovered from the burn.
A spokeswoman said its community service staff cleaned the area when they could but that the water levels had been high of late and the local fishery board were wary about people wading into the watercourses in case the fish were disturbed.
Chris Conroy, director of the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board, said he could monitor the clean-up if there were fears for the fish.
"We are happy to work with the council to resolve this," he said.
"The Fishery Board would have no issue with that much rubbish being removed at this time of the year.
"We do not want to see litter in the river as much as anybody else."
Bet McAllister, Labour councillor for the Inverness Central ward, said: "I’m just glad that it’s been reported by a member of the public because we need all the help we can get from the public.
"This is going to be dealt with as quickly as possible.
"I am just disgusted that people are throwing things into the burn because there’s quite a lot of wee fish in it."
