Dava Way Association appreciates help from Scottish Gas Network employees
A GROUP of utility employees has helped volunteers make a popular walking route more accessible.
Dava Way Association (DWA) chairman, Malcolm Campbell, confirmed the Scottish Gas Networks (SGN) workers helped out as part of the company’s community action programme (CAP) which encourages employees to volunteer for one day-a-year.
He said: “The area around Squirrel Neuk Bridge, about four miles south of Forres, has been difficult to negotiate because of mud and water which collects after heavy rain.
“A team of seven employees from SGN brought two diggers and a heavy truck to the Dava Way.
“They accomplished in a few hours what would have taken DWA volunteers several maintenance work parties to complete!”
The team scraped mud and vegetation off the track surface, improved the drainage and laid new base material. The improvements will ensure travellers on the Dava Way will keep their feet dry and wheels out of the mud.
An SGN team manager attended the CAP day.
He said: “We were delighted to to help at a popular walking and biking route.
“One of the sections was in very poor condition due to the amount of water and a build-up of mud, so we cleared everything away and laid a new path.”
He added: “We’ve carried out emergency work and gas network upgrade projects in the area which cause disruption, so it’s great to be able to give something back to the community to say thanks for their support and patience.”
The Dava Way is owned by Altyre Estate, which plans to improve drainage above the bridge to reduce water flowing into the area. This should ensure the problem of water and mud does not reoccur.
Drainage issues at Squirrel Neuk have been a problem for the DWA since the route was opened in 2005.
“We are extremely grateful to SGN for the improvements they have made,” added Malcolm.
