THE local authority’s decision to give the go ahead to a £40m housing development in Peebles was this week described as “depressing” and “despicable”.

Scottish Borders Council has ignored strong local opposition in giving planning permission in principle for 130 houses on parts of Rosetta Caravan Park.

The plans will see the existing caravan park operation, which has been on the site for more than 25 years, relocated onto the fields behind Rosetta House.

Aberdeen Asset Management has agreed to build a bridge over the Eddleston Water linking Rosetta with the main Edinburgh Road as part of the deal.

The scheme has been modified several times - it was initially for 163 properties - and has been opposed by Peebles Community Council, Peebles Civic Society and 400 residents who signed a petition.

Crick Carleton, the chairman of the community council’s planning committee, said: “This is all very depressing. It feels as if we have been stitched up.

“What influence do we have as residents over planning issues such as this? It seems virtually nothing.

“Despite large concerns they have gone and agreed it. It’s housing that’s not required or wanted.

“We’re going to have three or four years of construction and no-one seems to have given a thought to how the infrastructure of Peebles will cope when it’s all finished.

“It’s just plain wrong that a proposal of this size is treated as infill - it’s outside the strategic planning process.

“We need to go back to the Scottish Government and get the regulations changed so that over 30 houses can’t be regarded as infill.

“There is still some hope that this might not happen as there are many hurdles to go through yet. But Aberdeen Asset Management is a big company and I am sure they will put whatever they can into it.” Cliff Scupham has led the residents in their complaints against the project and he described it as “despicable” that the revised applications had been given the nod.

In an email, published in full alongside this article, he called for all local planning applications to be determined locally.

He criticised the part played by the Scottish Government’s planning reporter in overturning local objections.

“Our planning system needs to be overhauled radically so that it is built upwards on the wishes of local residents and Peebles community groups,” he said.

“Only when there is a democratic, accountable, and decentralised planning system in Scotland can people feel empowered over the local decisions that most affect them.” He wants only elected MSPs, councillors and community councillors to be given substantive authority over local planning issues involving local people.

And he argued that a Scottish Government planning reporter should only have authority to overturn local community decisions if they were of strategic importance.

“At present this inspectorate can intervene and challenge decisions on the smallest of development plans,” he said.

The overall plans for the site would see touring pitches and static caravans moved to the upper Rosetta fields along with 60 new lodges.

SBC’s principal planning officer Craig Miller said the council was able to relax its affordable housing rules for the new development on condition that the new bridge and road link was put in. He added that subject to other conditions the proposals would comply with Development Plan Policies.