BEAR says it will probe road blockage

Trunk roads operator BEAR Scotland says it will carry out further investigations into a blocked culvert alongside the A830 in Corpach, after it overflowed during recent rain storms sending water into people’s gardens.

At Kilmallie Community Council on Monday night, resident and businessman Norman Clark described how he and other residents tackled the overflowing drain on the roadside near the Treasures of the Earth visitor attraction by themselves.

‘We checked where the culvert comes out on the other side of the road and there was not a drop of water coming through, so we have no idea where any of the water that was managing to go down it was going,’ said Mr Clark. ‘But there was a lot just bubbling up and flowing down the road into gardens,’ he told the meeting.

‘I would think the culvert is blocked somewhere between Treasures of the Earth and on the other side near the railway line. It was a huge amount of water.’

Mr Clark described how he and others had plunged their arms down into the culvert almost to shoulder depth in an effort to scrape out whatever was clogging it.

‘There was a lot of bark chippings hat must’ve been washed down it.’

And he described how a van with workmen had pulled up to the culvert the residents had already been clearing, took a quick look and drove off. ‘They were totally ineffective,’ he added.

Asked to comment, a spokesperson for BEAR Scotland said: ‘Our teams responded to a blocked culvert on the A830 last week to help alleviate flooding on the route during a period of severe rainfall. Teams removed debris from the grill to help water drain away from the road.

‘We’ve arranged for further investigations to take place at the culvert to identify if there are any additional blockages in this section of the drainage system and will carry out further work if required.

‘In the meantime, our teams will continue to monitor the culvert and address any flooding issues.’