No light at end of Gap tunnel

Kate Smail • Published 12 Nov 2010 09:30 0 Comments

THE fate of a notorious Innerleithen eyesore still hangs in the balance.

At a planning meeting at Scottish Borders Council (SBC) on Monday officials approved an application to build six flats on Waverley Road, which is adjacent to the piece of waste land on the High Street, known locally as the 'gap site.'

But a motion by local councillor Gavin Logan requesting a condition that developers Wilburn Homes would create a community garden on the run-down site were rejected.

Speaking at Monday's meeting Mr Logan said: "The gap site has been a blight on Innerleithen High Street for nearly 25 years and if or when the owners finally decide to develop the site the local community will gladly move out and rejoice that this running sore will finally disappear.

"My ward colleagues, Councillor Garvie and Councillor Herd have indicated their strong support for the proposal. The local MP and MSP have both expressed their concerns in the past over this unsightly eyesore.

"The local community have the will. All we need to do is to give them the chance."

However, Councillor Logan's proposal was voted down by eight votes to five after it was revealed that legal restrictions meant the council was unable to enforce the condition.

Instead an informative was added requesting the developer consider the prospect of a temporary community garden on the site - but they are not legally bound to take any notice of it.

Although Councillor Logan remains hopeful that the developers can be persuaded to make the garden.

He said: "The whole town will be disappointed by the committee's decision.

"However my two ward colleagues and I are going to try and arrange a meeting with the owners, SBC officers and the Innerleithen Community Council.

We will have to try and find an answer to this long standing problem. It is not acceptable to continue to allow this gap site to be a blight on the town."

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 12 Nov 10

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