Published: Friday, 5th June, 2009 12:17pm

Fear and Loathing on The Loan

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FURIOUS villagers in West Linton are threatening to report two of their councillors to the Standards Commission.

Local authority members Neil Calvert and Willie Archibald last week led a vote to allow permission for a house to be built on The Loan.

And on Monday they faced an angry backlash at a West Linton Community Council meeting where they were asked to explain their decision.

Previous attempts going back over a decade to build on the up-market road have failed because of the road conditions and dangerous junction with the A702.

And roads bosses at Scottish Borders Council again recommended that the proposals for a site next to Sandyknowe be turned down.

But their words were ignored at Tweeddale Area Committee, where Councillors Archibald and Calvert won the backing of colleagues Gavin Logan and Bill Herd to push the application through.

One angry resident who was at Monday"s community council meeting told us: 'It is an absolute disgrace – nobody has been allowed to build on the Loan for years because of the road and junction.

"Councillor Calvert admitted he had no professional experience in roads matters yet he contradicted the people who do know, and as for Councillor Archibald he just contradicted himself over and over. I don"t think Councillor Archibald knew what he was voting for.

'I believe they have failed in their public duty and contravened the standards they should adhere to as councillors.'

The outline application by Neil and Gregor Forsyth attracted 20 letters of objection and further opposition from the village"s community council. Principal planning officer for Tweeddale Barry Fotheringham also went against the bid.

He stated: 'The substandard nature of The Loan and junction with the A702 would require substantial levels of improvement.'

But members of the Area Committee voted 4-2 to pass the application with only Catriona Bhatia and Graham Garvie going for refusal. Simon Fraser lives opposite the development site.

He told us: 'There has been a precedent for such a long time that no houses were built on The Loan and I can"t understand what has changed. Where is the consistency in planning? 'This has caused a lot of anger and frustration.

'We propose a vote of no confidence in these two councillors and intend to arrange a date where public expression may be represented.'

Residents from The Loan and surrounding area are holding a further meeting next week to discuss the planning decision. Duncan Mackenzie lives close to the development site.

He said: 'The public trust has not been met by the expenses row at Westminster and there is similar feeling in West Linton over this.'

Eric Small, vice chairman of West Linton Community Council, commented: 'I personally fear that this decision could open the floodgates for other applications on The Loan.'

We asked Willie Archibald to explain his decision, but he refused. He said: 'I"m not going to comment any further on this.' His Tweeddale West colleague was more forthcoming.

Neil Calvert told us: 'I use the road occasionally and felt it was no worse or better than many other junctions in the village. It was on that basis I moved for approval.'