Inverness divers help Council in River Ness clean-up

Over twenty members of Inverness Sub Aqua Club will this week (Friday 23 August) help The Highland Council’s TEC Services clean up the River Ness.

The divers who are all local volunteers will be doing an underwater sweep along both banks from the fishing hut at the edge of Bught Park to Greig Street Bridge.

The club which also provides a helping hand as safety marshals to the annual Children 1st River Ness charity raft race was approached by the Council to help with the clear-up in advance of this year’s raft race which takes place on Saturday 7 September.

Litter that is collected by the divers will be deposited on the banks and removed by TEC Services and taken to the Council’s recycling centre.

ISAC co-ordinator, Ian MacDonald said: “We all live and work in the Inverness area and appreciate the beautiful riverside environment that the City has. We are only too happy to help the Council with their efforts to keep our city clean. It has to be said though that the water quality of the River Ness is excellent and we frequently see fish and marine life while we are undertaking the clean-up.”

City Leader Councillor Ian Brown commended the clean-up, he said: “The River Ness is one of the jewels in the crown of the Inverness’s environmental assets.  Inverness Provost Alex Graham, Convener of the Highland Council, Councillor Jimmy Gray and I fully support the work that Inverness Sub Aqua Club is undertaking to keep our city clean. The river is vital to the amenity of our city centre.”

Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Jimmy Gray added: “We are very grateful to the Inverness Sub Aqua club members who give up their own time to help clean the River Ness. Without their assistance our TEC Services staff would not be able to recover the rubbish that gathers in the river. 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.

“I would urge everyone not to throw their rubbish in the river and to either take it home or put it in the nearest bin. Once plastic bottles and the like get into our streams and rivers the damage to wildlife and the environment can be considerable. We have a very important dolphin colony right here on our doorstep in the Moray Firth so I am really appealing to everyone to take care. We wouldn’t have to undertake these clean-ups if everyone did their bit to help keep our City clean.”

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 7.30pm on Friday evenings at the RNLI Station at North Kessock and trains new members throughout winter. For further information about Inverness Sub Aqua Club see their website at www.diveisac.org.uk