A SOLUTION to the parking problems in Peebles is one of the local authority’s top priorities, according to a Tweeddale councillor.

Worries that it might be several years before traffic chaos is curbed in the town centre were firmly dismissed by Stuart Bell.

The councillor for Tweeddale East told this month’s meeting of Peebles Community Council: “Three or four years is an unreasonable length of time for the council to make a decision on this.

“Peebles is recognised as a parking hotspot and there is a need to do something.” He was responding after the community council’s planning chairman Crick Carleton said it would be “upsetting” if Peebles had to wait for three or four years for anything to happen.

Mr Carleton wants to see traffic wardens back on Peebles streets and errant motorists slapped with fines.

“Most of the problems are caused by people who live in or near Peebles. Our view is that we have hit a brick wall on this,” said Mr Carleton.

One of the biggest problems is widespread flouting of the restrictions attaching to single and double yellow lines.

Mr Carleton said: “It is readily accepted that most problems are down to local residents feeling that this is okay because there is no traffic warden, rather than focusing on the rationale behind the restrictions and the disruption and risks to others that such abuse of controls can generate.

“We are at a loss to propose a remedy for such anti-social behaviour.” He said that local legislation needed to be enacted that would allow Scottish Borders Council to operate a warden service and to apply fines.

“We would like confirmation from SBC that every effort is being made to bring a rapid and positive conclusion to the void that has resulted from a mismatch between Police Scotland cutbacks and SBC legal powers.

Police Sergeant Alistair Bruce said: “We will do as much as we can in relation to the parking. I am well aware of the issues - it’s just getting the time to do it.”