Selfless volunteers beaver away to clear storm debris on Wick shore

Members of Wick Paths Group (WPG) took advantage of the fine weather on Sunday to clear shoreline rubbish as well as a huge amount of boulders at the North Baths that had been reported in last week's paper.

Storm Barra swept across Caithness on Tuesday evening and into Wednesday morning last week and Wick weather watcher Keith Banks said: "There were lots of damaging gusts in the storm force 10 category, with a peak gust of 60mph observed in Wick at midnight."

Secretary of WPG, John Bogle, had put out a call for volunteers to help clear a large amount of rubbish deposited on the river banks between the two road bridges in the town.

Mr Bogle reported: "It is estimated that half-a-tonne of rubbish was collected. Everything you can imagine was collected, old bike, tyres, office chair, wood, traffic cones, plastic bottles, rope etc etc.

"Our own drain specialist, Allan Bruce, also cleared out two drains which emptied two puddles at the side of the road."

While this was going on, WPG chairman Willie Watt cleared the access road to the North Baths which had become impassable after Storm Barra.

Mr Watt had worked with contractors and volunteers to refurbish the popular pool earlier this year and had already removed a vast amount of rubbish and boulders to provide access. The road leading to the North Baths had been littered with boulders again after the storm and Mr Watt used a digger, courtesy of Subsea 7, to clear it all once more.

"Thank you to Subsea 7 for the loan of the digger and to those who turned out today to help," added Mr Bogle.

Mr Watt said: "Unfortunately the winter storms have visited again and thrown up the small and not so small stones onto the roadway.

"The good news is that the section we strengthened along the side of the road has held firm. There is always a battle with the wave action, however, so we will keep our eye on it over the winter."

It is not known if the North Baths has suffered any damage from the storm.

Related news:

Barra kicks up a storm across Caithness

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