Council makes clean sweep of Watten after recent Groat article
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Highland Council had its workers clear paths and roads in Watten after a recent article highlighted issues with blocked drains in the village.
Wick and East Caithness councillor Jan McEwan took the council to task after receiving complaints from Watten Community Council and doing a walkabout tour of the village to witness some of the ongoing problems with blocked drains.
In an article published in the Groat on October 28, Cllr McEwan said she was not satisfied by the council's response on the matter saying it was "disgraceful". She said she believed there were volunteer groups in other areas of the county cleaning drains but pointed out there were "health and safety" concerns regarding that and it was the council's remit to clear them anyway.
On Monday (November 7), council workers spent at least two hours working their way through Watten to clear drains and lift leaves with a Scarab truck-mounted sweeper. Previously blocked drains that had spread water onto paths and roads were successfully cleared after the job was complete.
A council spokesperson said the vehicle was one of a fleet of sweepers that Highland Council operate throughout the region. She added: "The road sweeping responsibility lies with the waste service and is a routine activity managed by that service. Road drains are the responsibility of the roads service and similarly there are a number of gully gulper vehicles operated by Highland Council and again, routine activity takes place."
Cllr McEwan said: "I have really pushed this as there is no way volunteers can clean the gullies. I think they [Highland Council] were shocked when I mentioned volunteers in Watten and Lybster had been clearing their own gullies and the consequences that could occur for motorists and pedestrians if the gullies flooded and then froze."
The local councillor said she is still working on having a path cleared from shrubs and weeds on Watten's Station Road to make it comply with the council's "safer routes to school" initiative.
