The River Tweed Commission and Tweed Foundation staff joined the Gala Waterways Group (GWG) – started by Alastair Lings – for a blitz on rubbish dumped in the Gala Water last Friday.
GWG has been working to clear the Gala Water of all types of rubbish since July – from its meeting point with the Tweed, all the way up through the town, and the RTC’s Fishery Officers along with the Gala Angling Association have been helping the Group out with the twice-weekly sessions; last Friday saw a whole team Tweed staff effort to assist in the much-needed clear-up.
Tweed Fisheries Management team, with Stevie from the Gala Waterways Group, cleaned up on the Gala Water last Friday
Two teams worked between just above the Skinworks Cauld – where The Tweed Foundation’s fish counter and smolt trap are situated – to Buckholm Mill, a distance of 790 metres of the Gala Water. The clean up recovered a total of 61.75kg of sundry small rubbish items, which were bagged, and a lot of old metal. This included long lengths of old piping (up to 5.9 metres), and 20kg of lead.
28.75kg of rubbish, and a lot of heavy metal piping recovered from 340 metres of the Gala Water between the Skinworks Cauld and Plumtreehall Bridge
33.25kg of bagged rubbish, 20kg of lead pipe and other large bits of metal piping recovered from 450 metres of the Gala between Plumtreehall Bridge and Buckholm Mill last Friday.
Fay Hieatt of the River Tweed Commission said, “Cleaning up the River benefits everyone. Fish, birds and other wildlife that use the Gala river corridor have to negotiate all of this rubbish, with some fatal consequences. It is particularly disheartening to see that the Gala Water – and other areas of our fantastic river system – continue to be used as a convenient waste disposal system. We have a wonderful resource in the Borders in the River Tweed, which all can enjoy; let’s take pride in our River, and keep it clean and safe for everyone .”
The clear-up continues each Wednesday evening (between 6 – 8pm) and every Saturday morning (10am – midday), whilst water levels are safe to do so.
More volunteers are always welcome. If you’d like to help, please contact
the Gala Waterways Group co-ordinator,
Alastair Lings, for more information: M: 07763 850087. E:alastairlings@yahoo.co.uk