CONCERNS have been raised by local businesses in Selkirk town centre that trade is being badly affected by disruption caused in the town by the current four-way traffic light system.

The shopkeepers are worried that customers are being driven elsewhere due to the congestion.

And fewer drivers are being tempted in to the town's main car park.

Work is currently ongoing on a town centre hotel in order to improve its appearance and access.

And further roads disruption is expected for the rest of the year with major resurfacing planned for parts of the main A7 through the town.

Traders have already noticed takings are down.

Caroline Penman, chair of Selkirk Chamber of Trade, said: "Some of our local businesses are finding the current trading conditions pretty tough.

"The disruption with the traffic lights really doesn’t help things.

"I would encourage local people who normally do their shopping in the town centre to keep shopping local.

"For the next week or two, it might take an extra few minutes to do that, but it is really important that we keep supporting our local businesses."

The current traffic light controls are due to external work at the Fleece Hotel.

New double-glazed doors are being installed into the front of the building on the Market Place, while the current entrances to the hotel are being turned into windows.

Due to the narrowness of the pavements around the building and the history of traffic incidents on the busy corner the new entrance will create a safer access for customers.

However, the work requires scaffolding which edges onto the A7, and for health and safety reasons a traffic light system is in operation.

Gordon Edgar, recently re-elected councillor for Selkirkshire, said: "I think the refurbishment work at The Fleece will make a huge difference to Selkirk town centre once it is finished, but it is really important that we keep using our local shops while the work is going on.

"There is a real risk of some of them closing if we don’t.

"I hope that locals can find that wee bit of extra time to use the shops in our great town."

The town centre disruptions are set to continue later in the year, as Transport Scotland plans to spend around £1 million on road improvements throughout Selkirk.

These will include resurfacing from the town centre down to the Toll, and some patching works on Hillside Terrace.

Councillor Edgar added: "There will be a reasonable amount of disruption but this will be of great benefit to Selkirk once the works are completed."

The Transport Scotland work is scheduled to begin at the southern entrance of the town in July, with work at the northern entrance scheduled for November.

In addition, there are further plans to redesign the road layout in the Market Place as part of the streetscape scheme, commencing towards the end of June.