RESIDENTS in Innerleithen are mounting a campaign to ensure a strip of land is kept out of the hands of developers.

Future Property Auctions have placed a guide price of £9,000 on the land adjoining St Ronan’s Terrace and describe it as an “investment opportunity”.

But campaigners insist the spot is an important piece of local history and should be preserved for the benefit of the community.

“It’s worrying because the way the advert of the sale was worded suggested it might be suitable for housing,” said resident Stephanie Davidson, “As a local resident who makes frequent use of this right of way, I should like to add my voice to the list of those who would oppose vigorously any attempt to develop this amenity. “The strip, although woefully neglected and under-maintained by its current owners, is an important part of our community.

“It is a last vestige of an ancient drove road, a much-valued route down to the east end of the town for those who live on the streets it bisects, a footpath used by all the residents of Innerleithen who enjoy walking up into the Woodland Trust pathway system on Caerlee, and a shelter belt and haven of mature trees, plant and animal life.” Mrs Davidson has written to local councillor Gavin Logan and Innerleithen Community Council to express her concerns.

Councillor Logan said: “It is unlikely that the area could be developed but the community will have to remain vigilant.” The issue has yet to be discussed by Innerleithen Community Council but chairman Paul Faris said: “My own view is that this is not something that is desirable and that the community council is behind the group of residents that are fighting this.

“I don’t see why anybody would want to buy the area for development anyway - there’s a burn running through it and there would be an awful lot of issues.

“The strip of land is not especially wide and maybe the best idea would be to use it for people to walk up and down.”