A TWO-day event to get views on £11.3 million cabin and trails plans at Glentress Forest have been hailed as “overwhelmingly positive”, by Forest Enterprise Scotland.

Held in the Glentress Peel Café last Friday and Saturday, a steady stream of people turned up to see and hear more about the plans.

The proposals would see 56 new modern eco-cabins built in the forest plus 16km of new trails being built, including a skills area.

Feedback forms for both the cabins and trails will remain in the Peel Café until the consultation period ends on September 22.

Sallie Bailey, Forest Enterprise Scotland’s district manager said: “There was certainly lots of interest in the plans which was great. People were really positive about new trail developments and what the cabins could offer visitors and the local economy. 

“There was certainly a lot of positive mentions about the location and nature of the new trails and skills area, especially for families who will not have to travel far to ride. 

“Plenty of feedback forms were submitted over the weekend which will contain more detailed information for us to digest. We’d still welcome feedback from anyone else who couldn’t make the drop-in events – there’s still plenty time of time.” 

The drop-in events were part of the pre-application planning process put to Scottish Borders Council by Forest Holidays and Forest Enterprise Scotland.

Feedback from the consultation events will help shape the final plans before formal planning applications are put to the council later in the year.

Forest Enterprise Scotland has produced an online feedback form on the biking trails and car parking facilities which is available at http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/glentress-questionnaire. 

Feedback forms for cabins and trails can also be sent to Tim Ferguson, Ferguson Planning, Shiel House, 54 Island Street, Galashiels, TD1 1NU.