Published: Friday, 29th January, 2010 12:16pm

It's a shabby shack welcome to Innerleithen

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THE Forestry Commission have been told to get on their bike by enraged locals in Innerleithen.

Dave Rogers, of the town's Traquair Arms Hotel, has been left stunned after the Commission delivered a delapidated old mobile home to serve as a new reception area for mountain bikers.

Over 300 top UK riders are on their way to Innerleithen's famous downhill tracks this weekend to take part in the Winter Series.

But last week the Forestry Commission dumped the ramshackle reception room at the entrance to greet the classy competitors.

Mr Rogers firmly believes the caravan offers a clear example of how the Forestry Commission views Innerleithen.

He said: "It's absolutely disgraceful. They keep bleating on about making Innerleithen into a world class mountain biking resort and then they dump this on our doorstep.

"Everyone that's seen it can't believe it. God only knows what those who come to the town for the Winter Series will make of it.

"The Forestry Commission only care about Glentress, they're spending over £8 million up there on a visitor centre.

"Do you think they'd dump a caravan like that up there? No chance.

"Once again Innerleithen is just an afterthought to them."

This is also the view of local mountain biking champion Lewis Buchanan, who will compete in the Winter Series at Innerleithen.

He said: "The Forestry Commission continually ignore Innerleithen to concentrate on Glentress, they never even bother to maintain the tracks.

"Innerleithen mountain bike facilities are in desperate need of upgrading."

A Forestry Commission Scotland spokesman said of the controversial caravan: "There has been a mix up on communications between our contractor and his supplier.

"The portacabin should have been sent directly to our contractor's yard so that he could make it ready before it goes to the Innerleithen site. We are looking to sort this error out quickly.

"The current visitor centre investment at Glentress should be good news for the whole of the Tweed Valley, including Innerleithen. We expect it to attract more visitors and of course this will mean more spin-offs for the surrounding businesses and communities."