DRONE footage has revealed the cause of a sinkhole that has closed part of a street in Perth’s city centre.
Bosses at the Perth and Kinross Council sent the device beneath Canal Street to get a better understanding of what caused the “partial collapse” of an old waterway.
Footage from the drone confirmed the crater opened up following the collapse of an old culvert that runs above the historic Perth Town Lade.
Following the survey, a small pile of rubble beneath the hole was discovered.
The local authorities said repairs would need to be carried out by a specialist contractor with the skills to carry out stonework in confined spaces.
The affected section, between Princes Street and Scott Street, has been closed off since the collapse at the start of December and will remain closed until the repairs are carried out.
In a post online, a spokesperson for the council said repairs are most likely to take place at the start of next year and that the single lane closure and traffic management on Canal Street has been extended until January 31 to allow the work to be carried out.
They added: “Once the immediate defect has been repaired our flooding team will carry out more detailed investigations and an assessment of the condition of the full historical sections of the Perth Town Lade, from its diversion from the active sections at Mill Street and South Methven Street to its outfall to the River Tay at Canal Street.
“This will allow any further potential repairs or areas of concern to be identified.”
According to the Courier, the council has arranged for the specialist contractor, Panton McLeod, to survey the area around the sinkhole.
Last week three drone flights were made, setting off from manholes in Canal Street, to assess the damaged area.
Images captured by the drones show the rest of the masonry above the old lade is in “generally good condition”.
The centuries-old Perth Town Lade runs for four-and-a-half miles from the River Almond to the River Tay, and was once used to power a series of watermills.
Some parts of the Perth Town Lade are still exposed, but other long stretches have since been covered over by roads and buildings as the city expanded.
