Published: Friday, 2nd May, 2008 12:00
Car park closure sends residents round the bend
By David Knox
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Residents were furious that the car park in Carlops was closed.
ROADS bosses have reached rock bottom in the estimations of Carlops villagers.
On the eve of one of their busiest weekends officers from the council closed the village’s only designated car park.
And left the organizers of the monthly market and Saturday’s music workshop furious.
Barriers were placed across the entrance to the village car park suddenly on Friday afternoon because of fears that rocks would fall from an outcrop.
Market organizer Ann Smith said: “The worst that could happen since this closure started is not small stones falling onto cars but the mayhem being created along the Carlops part of the A702.
“Are Scottish Borders Council aware that Carlops has a busy village hall on the main roadside.
“They made no attempt to check that the hall and church would be in use all day on the Saturday and Sunday.”
Council workers alerted bosses that stones had began to fall from the overhanging rocks last week.
And a quick risk assessment led to the immediate closure of the car park, which is known locally as Carlin’s Loup.
A spokeswoman for Scottish Borders Council told the Peeblesshire News: “There have been some rock falls at the site and we are concerned about the risk to the public and parked vehicles if there were further falls. We are also concerned for the safety of our staff.
“Having made a rapid visual inspection last week, officers took the precaution of cordoning off the area and closing part of the car park until we have time to make a fuller assessment.”
A specialist engineer was due at Carlops either yesterday or today to carry out a full inspection of the car park rocks.
And a decision will be made next over any required remedial
work.
The council spokeswoman added: “We appologise to local residents and other users of the car park and assure them that we will try to resolve the matter as quickly as possible.”
But locals believe the closure is an over-reaction and are appealing for their only car park, which doubles up as a recycling centre, to be reopened.
Tweeddale West councillor Neil Calvert told us: “The villagers are rightly concerned about where they should park as the main road can be busy.
“The closure is also an inconvenience for visitors who come to Carlops for walking and other events.
“The council has aired on the side of caution and I want this problem to be dealt with as quickly as possible.”
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