Inverness divers assist Council in River Ness clean-up

Twenty members of Inverness Sub Aqua Club this week (28 July) helped The Highland Council’s TEC Services clean up the River Ness.

The club, which also provides a helping hand to the annual Children 1st River Ness charity raft race was approached by the Council to help clear the river of rubbish along the stretch of water from Ness Islands to the Greig Street Bridge.

Two pick-up van loads of rubbish were collected by the divers including shopping trolleys, traffic cones, several mobiles phones, bicycles, signs, broken glass and tins and removed by TEC Services staff to the Council’s recycling centre.

ISAC Club Chairman George Brown said: “While we did gather significant amounts of litter it’s worth saying that the River is actually very clean and we saw lots of fish-life while we were working in the water. Many people – mainly tourists – were interested in what we were doing and were pleased such an exercise was being carried out.

He added: “We all live and work in the Inverness area and appreciate the beautiful riverside environment that Inverness has. We were only too happy to help the Council with their efforts to keep our city clean. Many of us are well used to swimming around and standing in the Ness up to our necks as we also volunteer as safety marshals for the raft race.”

Provost of Inverness, Jimmy Gray said: “Without the help of Inverness Sub Aqua Club our staff would simply not be able to reach the rubbish that gathers in the river. I would like to thank all the Club members who gave up their time to help. It is especially important at this time of year during the tourist season that we ensure that the city’s natural environment is clean and tidy.

“The River Ness is a one of our major natural assets and it’s a shame that we have to ask Inverness Sub Aqua Club to help us with this type of clean up – I would urge everyone not to throw their rubbish in the river and to dispose of it in the nearest bin or take it to Inverness re-cycling centre.”

Inverness Sub Aqua Club has been a branch of the British Sub Aqua club since 1968 and currently has around 60 members. The club meets on Friday evenings at the Highland Rugby Club and trains new members throughout winter at Inverness Leisure swimming pool. For further information about Inverness Sub Aqua Club see their website a www.diveisac.org.uk.