MEMBERS of the local authority's ruling Executive Committee will next week be asked to dig up an extra £500,000 to salvage the problematic Peebles 3G pitch project.

The Peeblesshire News revealed last month that spiralling costs had led to internal rows and doubt over the future of the scheme.

The administration policy group at Scottish Borders Council had unanimously agreed to postpone any decision.

But in a dramatic second-half comeback, officials will table fresh proposals on Tuesday which will ask for an additional £564,200 to locate the pitch at Victoria Park on top of the £1.095 million was set aside in the 2015/16 Capital Plan .

If agreed, the total cost of the 3G pitch will come to almost £1.7 million.

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson told the Peeblesshire News: “The preferred location of Victoria Park requires new changing facilities, car parking and access road, while previous preferred locations at the Gytes and Peebles High School proposed that existing facilities be used for the 3G pitch.

“In addition, the initial budget was based on estimated costs prior to the final site selection in autumn 2013. Now there is a preferred site, a more detailed design, as well as subsequent inflation, has to be accounted for.

"All of this has resulted in an increase in costs.”

Since a 3G pitch was first mooted for Peebles 18 months ago sites at the Gytes, the High School, Haylodge and Craigerne Lane were all considered as well as Victoria Park.

One by one the sites were dismissed due to either flooding or size constraints, leaving just Victoria Park and Criagerne Lane.

During a public consultation exercise there was opposition to both sites - 66 responses against Craigerne Lane and 15 against Victoria Park.

Although the official report, which will be submitted to members of the Executive, highlights the problems of the sidelined sites it fails to build a case for Victoria Park.

And project manager Michael Woods admits that further consultation will be required with organisations that currently use the park, including Horne's Funfair, Peebles Scouts, the Rotary Club and the Round Table.

He stated: "Relocation of activities that previously occupied the proposed pitch area and part of the surrounding will be required. This could elongate the planning process, result in amendments to the proposed scheme layout and incur additional costs."

A number of trees which line Victoria Park will have to be removed to make way for the proposed development.