COUNCILLORS are driving ahead with plans to introduce a lower speed limit at an accident blackspot outside Innerleithen.

Pressure has been building over the past three or four years for measures to be put in place to reduce the number of crashes at Caerlee Corner.

Caerlee Corner was first identified as an accident cluster site back in 2012 following a series of crashes in the preceding two years.

Despite improved warning signs and the cutting back of roadside vegetation the accidents kept coming with three serious crashes in the space of six weeks during the summer of 2013.

The corners west of Innerleithen witnessed several more serious crashes throughout 2014 and 2015.

Roads bosses and police were both initially against speed limits being introduced.

Following a U-turn earlier this year, proposals were drawn up for 40-miles-per-hour zones to be introduced at the three dangerous A72 bends which make up Caerlee Corner.

And detailed plans for a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) were unanimously approved at Tweeddale Area Forum on Wednesday.

Local authority roads engineer Gary Haldane said: "Local members and the local community council requested that the site be re-assessed for a 40 miles-per-hour buffer zone supported by the continuing accident record and the high degree of local concern."

The placement of 40mph signs on the western-most bend, will see repeater speed-limit warnings moved from Caerlee Corner to the end of the Glenormiston straight.

A statutory consultation process was carried out in September and October without any objections being raised against the proposals.

And no members of the public voiced concerns last month when they were advertised in the Peeblesshire News.

Local councillor Gavin Logan welcomed the plans. He told us: "Everyone is supportive of reducing speed at Caerlee Corner.

"There is strict criteria we need to meet before the government passes the TRO and we have now done that."

It is expected the new 40mph zones will be in place early next year.

Fellow councillor Stuart Bell welcomed Wednesday evening's decision.

He told us: "Vehicles coming from Peebles on the A72 into Innerleithen will now have a clear indication that they need to slow down.

"I am pleased that after the lobbying from the community the 40 miles-per-hour speed limit will soon be in place."