UPDATE: Scottish Canals promise action on "nightmare" pothole street that left a partially-sighted Inverness woman hospitalised
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Scottish Canals has apologised after an elderly woman was hospitalised from a fall on a pothole-ridden Inverness street.
Upkeep of the road just off Telford Street, near Muirtown Swing Bridge, is the Scottish Government agency’s responsibility.
After contact from the Courier, the agency is now promising action to improve surfacing at the trouble-spot.
An ambulance had to be called for the visually-impaired woman who struck her head on the badly-broken surface outside the Jammy Piece tearoom.
As we reported on Thursday, Highland councillor Duncan Macpherson took to social media to highlight the sorry state of the road’s surface.
It quickly emerged that the badly broken tarmac had caused several injuries this year, with at least two 999 calls.
Peter Nairn, owner of the Jammy Piece, witnessed another elderly individual being uplifted by ambulance after a fall there earlier this year.
The road is part of a popular active travel route between the Muirtown basin and the canal path to Torvean.
Describing the road as a disgrace, Mr Nairn said: “It has been in that condition for too long now.
“We’ve had at least two ambulances this year for people who have tripped and fallen badly, two old ladies.
“One of them smashed her forehead just two weeks ago and another burst her lip after tripping and falling in the potholes.
“It is just a mess, a total nightmare.
“My staff are always complaining about that. It really needs to be resolved before someone else gets hurt.”
A spokesperson for Scottish Canals said: “We are aware of some repair works needed around this area of canal-side land near the Muirtown Swing Bridge.
“We are sorry to hear of any incidents involving our canal users accessing this area and will ensure that steps are taken in order for the area to be made safer.”
Highland Council’s only responsibility is for a small section of the road near the junction with Telford Street.
A council spokesman said: “In the main, these do not constitute part of the adopted road and would be in private ownership.
“Where the large area used for parking interfaces with the edge of the carriageway, the area utilised by pedestrians as footway (approximately two metres) would be required to be maintained to a safe standard by Highland Council as roads authority.
“Our roads team will assess and address any potential hazards in that specific area.”
