A road under a railway bridge in Wick has become "completely impassable" for walkers because of flooding.

Local community councillors are seeking to establish which organisation has responsibility for the site.

Highland councillor Raymond Bremner wants the local authority to deal with the problem first and "fight about it afterwards".

Water has been gathering directly underneath the bridge in a dip in the minor road leading from the A882 and Riverside Drive to Wick caravan and camping site.

The issue was raised at the November meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council on Monday night.

Community councillor Allan Bruce said: “On Saturday you'd have needed a boat to get through it.”

Mr Bruce was worried that the question of ownership could take “weeks or months to sort out”.

Network Rail signs attached to the walls state that the rail authority should be contacted in the event of a vehicle striking the bridge.

The route is popular with walkers and runners as well as caravan site users during the tourist season.

Councillor Bremner, who represents Wick and East Caithness on Highland Council, said the flooded section is not the local authority’s responsibility.

“I'm minded to say to the council to go in and just clear it, and then fight about it afterwards," he said. "They'll be reluctant, but it'll end up being them that will have to go in and deal with it anyway, even if it's at the request of the railway or whoever it is.”

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Councillor Bremner indicated that he would make a formal request for the work to be done.

He added: “They need to have some sort of confidence that there's an ability to be able to get a recharge.”

Mr Bruce said that while carrying out voluntary work in the riverside area with Wick Paths Group he had become aware of a family who had to turn back because of the extent of the flooding.

“There were parents there with a disabled kid in a buggy and they couldn't come through that way because of the issue. I felt terrible about it,” he said.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Bruce said: “This was first reported by the couple that run the camp site, I think in August. I then reported it in September and chased again in early October as the issue got worse.

"My understanding is the roads department is not responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of this bit of road and I am making enquiries as to whose responsibility it is.

"This is a very popular route used by many people but is completely impassable just now.”

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