LIVES are being put at risk by the decision to prevent emergency vehicles using Neidpath Corner at certain times while repairs are undertaken, it is claimed.
Scottish Borders Council has announced that the A72 will be closed to all traffic out of normal working hours while safety work is carried out.
And they have revealed that the section of road near Peebles is set to be shut for six days from October 2 - one day longer than originally planned.
General traffic will be excluded for the entire time and emergency vehicles will only be allowed through in convoy during business hours.
Ambulances coming from Peebles and other areas to take patients to hospital from Stobo and nearby villages face increased journey times of 30-45 minutes out of normal hours.
Gordon Hughes, the chairman of Stobo, Manor and Lyne Community Council, said: "This is very worrying and presumably it means the emergency vehicles will be expected to go round Cademuir or through the Meldons.
"It could be the difference between life and death. I had a heart attack myself recently and I dread to think what would have happened if the ambulance hadn't come quickly to take me to hospital in Edinburgh.
"In the case of the Cademuir route there's a weight limit and some bad bridges and I'm not sure what will happen if fire engines need to get through.
"The inference from all this is that SBC doesn't want to keep people at the site outside of working hours - and it's not possible to provide access when there's no-one there.
"You wonder what's regarded as more important, saving lives or saving money?"
A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said: “A meeting is due to be held later this week with representatives of the emergency services to discuss the arrangements and procedures to be implemented to allow the passage of emergency vehicles through the road closure when they are responding to an emergency situation, and whilst the contractor’s operatives are present on site.
“Discussions will also be held with regards to periods when no personnel will be on site and it will not be possible for emergency vehicles to use the closed section of the A72 at Neidpath.”
Repair works are being undertaken to a retaining wall at the narrow stretch of road where there is a dangerous sharp bend.
Despite efforts by SBC to minimise the disruption, the works require a road closure.
Permanent traffic lights are being installed with the majority of the underground works taking place at the same time as the closure for the retaining wall repairs.
Work will be suspended to allow school transport to travel through via a convoy system, while information signs will be erected at Neidpath Corner and other key sections of the A72 to advise motorists of the works.
Key groups such as local businesses and community councils were informed of the closure.
SBC’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, Councillor Gordon Edgar, said: “One of the key objectives for the council was to minimise disruption to road users of the A72 but a road closure has proved unavoidable due to the poor state of the wall.
“The closure is for a maximum of six days but council staff will try to complete the works as quickly as possible.”
The work will cost SBC around £200,000 but Mr Hughes insisted it could have been done for about one quarter of that figure.