Bridge over Wick’s Telford mill lade in ‘a serious state of collapse’
Fears have emerged that a bridge on the outskirts of Wick could collapse – cutting off the only road access to a riding school and potentially affecting operations at the town’s distillery.
The concerns centre on the deteriorating condition of a stone crossing over the mill lade designed by Thomas Telford more than 200 years ago to carry water from Loch Hempriggs to Pulteneytown.
The bridge is towards the top end of March Road, and as many as 10 campervans a day are said to be going over it to reach the Castle of Old Wick on the coast nearby.
Artist and historical researcher Jenny Bruce claims that the bridge – on a section of private road – is in “a serious state of collapse” and that “a nasty accident could occur at any time”.
It is the only road access to Castle View Stables, run by Ashleigh Campbell, who describes the state of the bridge as “an ongoing concern”.
Ms Bruce has a long-standing interest in Telford’s civil engineering work in Scotland, and in Caithness in particular. Born in Berriedale, she was brought up in Wick and now lives in Edinburgh.
Water for Old Pulteney whisky is carried to Pulteney Distillery via the lade. Ms Bruce believes that in the event of a collapse “complications could happen to the distillery’s filtering system if debris entered the tanks”.
She also claims there is a danger of flooding to Wick cemetery and the A9.
Ms Bruce calculated that 70 campervans went over the bridge in one week last month. The figure was based on a daily check undertaken by Ms Bruce and others.
There is also, she points out, daily traffic to the stables. Ms Bruce believes the stables could be “cut off for some weeks if anything happened”.
She is worried that the weight of heavy vehicles is “destroying the parapets” of the bridge, with large stones having been dislodged.
Ms Bruce suggests that “a simple solution would be to construct a temporary metal bridge” close to the existing stone crossing, “and then for the distillery to close off the water whilst the bridge is dismantled carefully. All the stones could be marked and numbered and stored in a suitable location until money is realised for proper restoration of the bridge.”
She hopes that a local charity might be in a position to apply for funding for this work.
Ms Bruce says Highland Council, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), Old Pulteney, Historic Environment Scotland and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Panel for Historical Engineering Works have been informed, along with local Highland councillors and others.
Ms Campbell said she was encouraged by Ms Bruce’s intervention.
“The bridge over Thomas Telford’s mill lade is an ongoing concern for myself and my husband, as the only residents above the bridge, as well for as the other users of the private road – walkers, cyclists and tourists visiting Castle of Old Wick and using various paths that lead off from the road,” Ms Campbell said.
“It appears to be an issue as no-one will accept responsibility for the bridge because of the unknown ownership of the private road.
“Castle View Stables has a contingency plan in place in the unfortunate event of a collapse.
“We look forward to finding a solution to restoring and protecting the bridge. We are in support of the work that Ms Bruce is doing.”
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “This is not a council road or bridge, nor is it a listed structure. Maintenance and repair is likely to be the responsibility of the landowner.”
Pulteney Distillery was also approached for comment.
Work on the mill lade, including stone bridges and sluices, was completed by architect George Burn to Telford’s design between 1807 and 1809.
Ms Bruce points out that it is the only water scheme that Telford designed, as “all others he simply amended”.