Glentress plans bring down the £850k house

David Knox 1607 - 1607 • Published 17 Apr 2009 12:30 1 Comment

FORESTRY bosses have ditched a £3million scheme at the South of Scotland"s leading tourist attraction.

Plans to convert Jufrake House into a major visitor centre were announced three years ago.

Architects drew up plans to convert the property into a wildlife viewing station as well as staff accommodation.

And even a tendering process was started last year for contractors to carry out the work.

But it has now emerged Forestry Commission Scotland have changed their minds - and instead will demolish the property and start all over again.

We asked Forestry Commission Scotland to explain this latest twist.

A spokesman told us: 'It would have been great if we could have found a way to incorporate the existing house in to our plans but when we looked at all the options it was clear that this wouldn"t benefit the project in any way.

'We are committed to developing Glentress Peel as a purpose built, modern facility that will become an important tourist attraction in the Scottish Borders.

'As well as bringing in many spin-offs for local businesses and the local economy, the development also has to provide our staff with adequate office accommodation.

'If we are to meet all these aims, we have to make the best possible use of this 12 acre site and unfortunately that means demolishing the house.

'It"s not only more practical than attempting to convert the house but is also more cost effective option for delivering the aims of the project and meeting our business needs.'

Jufrake House and its adjoining 12 acres of land were bought by the Forestry Commission in 2005 for £850,000.

A year later ambitious plans to turn the private dwelling into a state-of-the-art attraction for walkers, bikers and wildlife lovers were revealed.

And a detailed application was approved by Scottish Borders Council in July 2007.

Parts of the application, which will see a new bike shop and cafe built on land beneath Jufrake House, will still go ahead with a viewing centre incorporated into them.

Ponds on the site have been drained to allow for the erection of the two new buildings and car parking.

And road widening has began at the entrance for the anticipated rush of extra visitors.

But a Forest Enterprise Management Board meeting held last October decided to stall any work on the original plans - and sanction a further £500,000 to bring down the house and replace it with staff offices.

South of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame wants answers. She told the Peeblesshire News: 'This sounds like a complete shambles that has done nothing other than cost the public purse.

'We have enough problems just now with public money underwriting banks without it being wasted like this.

'I want to see the full facts behind these decisions and will use the Freedom of Information Act if I have to.'

Around 300,000 mountain-bikers and walkers arrive at Glentress every year.

But the vast majority of them are day visitors who don"t use any hotels, bed-and-breakfasts or bunkhouses.

And Emma Guy, who runs the Hub Cafe at Glentress, believes the millions being spent could have been used to make the Tweed Valley a week-long destination.

She said: 'The Tweed Valley has world-class mountainbike trails but the problem is that we are really busy at weekends and a bit quieter through the week. We only have enough trails at Glentress and Innerleithen to keep people happy for a couple of days.

'Our feeling is that there needs to be more trail developments to keep people here for a whole week - the money would be much better spent that way.'

Forestry Commission bosses predict the new facilities will be opened by 2010.

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 17 Apr 09

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

• 

  dawn derbyshire
  Unregistered User
  Apr 18, 06:39
  Report comment

  Yes well said Emma or at least a large percentage of the budget.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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