APPEAL reporters have kicked out a bid by a Broughton business couple to have their failed guesthouse plans overturned.

Mr and Mrs David Day had hoped to erect a purpose-built guesthouse on land at Craigswood and create a new access road.

But they met with opposition from Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee in August.

The plans has also sparked objections from 10 households in the area as well as Upper Tweed Community Council The Days took their fight to the Scottish Government in an effort to have the decision over-turned.

But they failed to meet the three-months time limit set for lodging appeals - with their submission arriving a month late on November 3.

Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals case officer Marie Buchan stated: “In order to be accepted, this appeal should have been received by our office within three months from the expiry of the time period that Scottish Borders Council, the planning authority, had to make a decision on your application.

“We have no scope to accept or consider appeals received after this deadline.” A previous application by the couple for siting a guesthouse on nearby land was also refused by Scottish Borders Council in 2011.

An appeal, which was lodged in time, was considered and later thrown out by the Government department.