A TWEEDDALE councillor believes there is more to the problems of the A72 than Dirtport Corner.

Councillor Keith Cockburn is heading up a working group to look at the condition of the main artery linking Tweeddale with the rest of the Borders.

And he believes that handing over responsibility for the entire route to the Scottish Government could be the best option.

The A72 has been plagued by forced closures due to accidents and landslips over the past decade.

And a recent report, published last year, highlighted the deteriorating condition of many parts of the route including sections at Blyth Bridge and Wester Happrew, along Peebles High Street, around Walkerburn, and through Clovenfords.

Problems with accident blackspots such as Dirtpot Corner were also highlighted in the report.

Councillor Cockburn believes the entire road, which runs from Galashiels into the South Lanarkshire, is in need of urgent appraisal and action.

He told the Peeblesshire News: "It is easy to just pick Dirtpot Corner and make improvements there, but what about the rest of the road?

"We need to look at the entire A72 and see what investment is needed and how we can achieve this.

"The condition of our roads is one of the biggest issues for people in Peeblesshire and across the Borders - everyone is concerned about the state of our roads.

"These roads need more investment as they are deteriorating quicker than we can currently repair them."

Under the auspices of Tweeddale Area Forum, a working group is currently being formed to develop and take forward an action plan for the A72.

Amongst the long term options for the 60-mile A road is to convince the Scottish Government to take 'trunk' responsibility for the entire route.

There are only four main roads through the Borders which are currently managed and maintained by the Government - the A702, the A1, the A7 and the A68.

Councillor Cockburn added: "A lot of money has been invested in the railway, which is fantastic for the people who use it, but that doesn't include people in Peeblesshire where our roads are a mess.

"We need more investment in our roads and if that means the Government trunking routes like the A72, so be it.

"We are looking into the implications of trunking and whether that means we, as a council, will receive less money for other roads.

"We need to come up with a solution to a problem that is getting worse."

The Tweeddale Area Forum A72 working group will hold its initial meeting next month.