A FORMER planning chief says he has no idea why he was removed from his post on Scottish Borders Council (SBC).

Tom Miers, of the Conservatives, lost his place as the executive member of the council’s planning committee last month.

But now Mr Miers has told the Border Telegraph: “I’ve had no real explanation of why I was removed.”

The Leaderdale and Melrose representative, elected in 2017, has spoken out ahead of the full council meeting on Friday (September 25), when the Local Development Plan will be considered.

That document includes guidance on which sites can be used for development, as well as those to be protected.

Mr Miers said: “It does seem a bit odd for the council leader to change the planning chairman just a month before the new Local Development Plan – five years in the making – comes before the council.

“As well as this, we face crucial decisions on the development of the Lowood Estate that was bought by SBC for £10 million.

“I’ve worked on both these projects extensively over the last few years, so it’s strange that I won’t be able to see them through to their conclusions.”

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Mr Miers was voted off as head of the planning committee during the most recent meeting of the full council.

“I’ve had no real explanation of why I was removed,” said Mr Miers. “But let’s hope this doesn’t signal some kind of backtracking by the council on these matters.

“It’s crucial that SBC sticks to its commitments: we need to ensure that Lowood becomes an exemplary new settlement, not simply an extension of Tweedbank.

“There’s no point spending £10 million if you can achieve the same for nothing under existing planning rules.

“And the new local plan must allow business greater freedom to thrive in the Borders, as well as preserving our landscape and heritage.

“The central Borders around Melrose and Gala is particularly sensitive in this respect.

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"We must remain vigilant against over-development and the wrong kind of development.”

Council leader Shona Haslam, also of the Conservatives, told this newspaper she regarded Mr Miers as an “excellent” planning chairman.

Reacting to Mr Miers’ comments, Mrs Haslam said: “The timing of change is always difficult but as the council brings back powers from officers after the initial COVID response, it was the right time to bring in changes that have been needed for some time.

“For the last couple of years I have wanted to bring the environment into a central focus of the council and this restructure has allowed us to appoint an executive member for sustainable development without adding any cost to the council taxpayer.

“Councillor Simon Mountford has been appointed as executive member for Enhancing the Built Environment and Natural Heritage and as such will ensure that the council’s focus remains firmly and squarely on ensuring the best possible quality.”

Mr Mountford, who represents Kelso and District, said: “Both the proposed new Local Development Plan and the draft Tweedbank Supplementary Guidance reflect councillor Miers’ considerable input.

“The council is committed to ensuring the highest possible standards of development in the Borders for the benefit of both residents and businesses.”