Failed attempt to ditch bridge options
David O'Leary • Published 9 Sep 2011 09:30
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THREE Tweeddale councillors have been unsuccessful in their attempts to have options for a new Tweed bridge dropped from proposal papers.
Neil Calvert, Catriona Bhatia and Graham Garvie each tried in vain to convince their fellow councillors at Monday's Executive meeting to omit options B1 and B2 as locations for any new future crossing.
Option B1 would follow the old railway line and dissect the town's allotments. Option B2 would cut through Whitestone Park.
They were ruled against by their Newtown compatriots who favour letting each option rise or fall on its scrutinised merits.
After being given the green light by councillors, Edinburgh transport consultants, MVA Consultancy, will now set about producing the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) Part 2 Report, which will feature more detailed consideration of each of the eight proposed new bridge options.
MVA were first commissioned by SBC in August 2010 to undertake an appraisal of transport issues associated with the medium to long-term development of the town, eventually compiling STAG Part 1, in which they identified six possible new crossing locations.
Two further options were later identified at a public consultation event held in the Eastgate in March.
At Monday's meeting councillor Calvert said: "Option B1 will only create another traffic jam at the other end of the town, whilst B2 runs straight through Whitestone Park, which would greatly affect many of the town's sports teams."
Councillor Garvie was even more forthright. He said: "B2 is a complete non-starter for me and B1 runs through local allotments and Common Good land. I say no, no, no to them both.
"Eight options is too many in my opinion, six would be more than enough."
However Selkirk councillor Carolyn Riddell-Carre summed up the feeling amongst other councillors when she said:
"If these options are wrong then they will eliminate themselves in due process, if we wipe these out by the stroke of a pen then we will only leave ourselves open to legal challenge. In all likelihood this matter will end up with a public inquiry which will ask if we have looked at all the possible options."
Berwick councillor Michael Cook echoed this. He said: "It is better than these options are ruled out by practical assessment rather than by political decision."
MVA Consultancy are now expected to complete the STAG Part 2 Report by the early part of 2012.
This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 09 Sep 11
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