Scottish Water has stated Peebles sewage system north of the River Tweed is at maximum capacity.

In a report presented to the Community Council members it was suggested that due to sewage capacity no new developments should be considered north of the river until infrastructure work had taken place. The report said Scottish Water was not ready to make the investment and development needed until 2017-18.

Members maintained their view that infrastructure capacity and development should always come ahead of new housing plans.

However a statement from Scottish Borders Council seems to contradict the message being sent to the Community Council. A spokesperson for SBC said: “Scottish Water has indicated it is committed to working work with the Council to ensure that no development is refused on a capacity basis.

“Going forward, we will continue to discuss the issue regularly with colleagues at Scottish Water.” Several developments are already in the pipeline for areas north of the river.

SBC planners suggest that developers, whether seeking approval of a single house or an estate, should make direct contact with Scottish Water to discuss the issue.

A Scottish Water spokesman said: “We recently met senior representatives of Scottish Borders Council to discuss developments in the area and confirmed we will do everything possible to look at options of enabling planned development whilst we design and deliver ongoing growth investment at our waste water treatment works.”