EMERGENCY vehicles will be allowed through Neidpath Corner at all times when the road is closed to general traffic for six days from today.

Scottish Borders Council has climbed down from its original decision to close the section of the A72 near Peebles to all vehicles out of normal business hours.

The about turn came after the Peeblesshire News last month reported the fears of a community leader that lives would be put at risk if emergency vehicles had to take a major detour.

“Following further consultation with the emergency services, the council will have personnel on site at Neidpath Corner during the full closure period of the A72, to allow emergency vehicles through," said a spokesperson for SBC

“This will only be for emergency call outs and not routine responses."

Gordon Hughes, the chairman of Stobo, Manor and Lyne Community Council, feared residents of Stobo and neighbouring villages would face increased journey times of 30-45 minutes to get to hospital if the road closure was in place.

"This is progress - I am pleased that they appear to have listed to our concerns," he said. "But we are still puzzled over why this is going to take so long."

Traffic management remains an issue when the road is closed as many drivers are expected to ignore advice to take official diversions, using A roads.

From Stobo it will put an extra 22 miles onto the journey to Peebles - and to avoid the longer distance motorists are instead likely to use narrow back roads.

The council spokesperson said: “Members of the public are reminded that local routes may not be suitable for high volumes of traffic while Neidpath Corner is closed for essential repairs from Friday 2 October to Wednesday 7 October, and that the official diversion route should be used.”

Mr Hughes said: "The council don't want to encourage people to take back roads - I can certainly sympathise with that - but there are many who will not relish using the much longer official diversion.

"We certainly don't want any heavy goods vehicles on the back roads but I am extremely concerned that they will also become choked with cars - the roads are narrow with many blind corners and can be quite dangerous.

"The core thing is that this work is completely as quickly as possible and on time - we don't want it over-running as it has done with the works at Blyth Bridge."