AN INNERLEITHEN resident is fed up with drivers parking on pavements in the town.

Frank Leonard says he is sick of inconsiderate motorists leaving their vehicles outside his door in the High Street.

And the retired bus driver says he has raised his concerns – but they have fallen on deaf ears.

He told the Peeblesshire News: “This problem has been going on for as long as I can remember and I have been living here for 31 years.

“I have been to a number of people to try and get the problem resolved. I have raised my concerns at Innerleithen Community Council, with the police and with the council.

“The police told me it is not illegal to park on the pavements, but it is to drive on them.

“Over the past year or so there have been trucks, tractors and slurry tankers pulling up outside my house.

“When they are parked there, it makes it very difficult for people with buggies or wheelchairs to get past.

“Not only that, I suffer with COPD [Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease] and if I open the doors or windows, the exhaust fumes coming from the vehicles, come into the house.”

Mr Leonard wrote to Scottish Borders Council leader Shona Haslam (Cons, Tweeddale East) last year.

He added: “In December I had a meeting with Councillor Haslam at my house.

“She said she was looking into it, but unfortunately there are still vehicles parking on the pavement.”

Cllr Haslam has now said she will ask the recently-launched Community Action Team (CAT) to monitor the situation.

She told us: “Pavement parking continues to be an issue in many of our town centres, it is a nuisance and causes disruption for shoppers and residents.

“We have invested an additional £260,000 to employ more police officers in the Borders who are targeting this irresponsible parking.

“I will request that they have a focus on Innerleithen High Street in the next few months.”