MEMBERS of the community will have the opportunity to air their views next month on controversial proposals to build 130 houses on parts of a Peebles caravan park.

The community council has set up a public meeting next month to discuss the development plans at Rosetta Holiday Park. It will take place at St Joseph’s Neigbourhood Hall on Tuesday, September 15 at 7pm.

The community council’s planning chairman Crick Carleton said: “The purpose of this meeting is to update residents on this development application, and to facilitate the discussion on how local residents can best input to the planning processes and inform themselves of the planning issues involved in these proposed developments.” Scottish Borders councillors representing Tweeddale and members of the council’s planning department are expected to attend.

Residents have bombarded the community council with complaints about the development which was approved in principle by Scottish Borders Council planners in April.

The application includes the possible construction of a vehicular bridge joining Kingsland Street and Dalatho Street across the Cuddy.

The project appears to go against long-term plans for Peebles - and the council is considering a request from the applicants to waive the rule that requires a quarter of developments to be used for affordable housing. Aberdeen Asset Management is asking for this concession to enable it to fund the bridge and road link.

Mr Carleton added: “Full planning applications have to be submitted in respect of both the development of Rosetta Holiday Park and the proposed bridge linking Kingsland Street with Dalatho Street.

“Assuming both developments are approved, no development of the Rosetta Holiday Park can commence until the bridge and any ancillary and associated traffic management and flood prevention measures are approved.”