A COUNCIL vehicle was clocked travelling at 58mph in a 20mph zone in the Borders, figures obtained via a Freedom of Information (FoI) request suggest.

Last month, elected members backed plans to make the limits – which had been introduced as part of trial – permanent across the region.

According to the data released by the local authority, between November 1-28 a total of 78 council vehicles fitted with trackers broke the 20mph speed restrictions.

Responding to the figures, a Scottish Borders Council (SBC) spokesperson said that there were “some discrepancies” where vehicles were logged in 20mph zones when actually on 60mph roads.

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The spokesperson said: “The council expects everyone to abide by the speed limits in place on our local roads. Our staff are no exception to this and this will once again be reiterated to them by senior management.

“In respect of this data, further interrogation has revealed some discrepancies, where the system has logged apparent speeding over 20mph when in fact the vehicle was in an area where a 60mph limit is in place.”

There were 42 incidents of council vehicles driving between 21mph-30mph and 36 incidents between 31mph-40mph, according to the data.

Figures revealed thanks to the FoI request – submitted by A Non – also show that a top speed of 58mph was hit during November.

SBC said that senior management would speak to employees back in June when a similar FoI request revealed that there had been 83 ‘pinged’ incidents of vehicles breaking the 20mph limits between February 1-28.

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The 20mph limits have proved controversial in the Borders, with SBC officers receiving death threats in a public survey on the new measures.

The restrictions were rolled out across the region in October 2020 as part of an 18-month trial.

The aim of the scheme is to make it easier for people to safely walk and cycle during everyday journeys.

At a meeting in December, SBC elected officials voted in favour of making 20mph the ‘default’ limit in the Borders – although some 30mph and 40mph buffer zones are in place.

Gordon Edgar, SBC’s executive member for infrastructure, travel and transport, said the introduction of the scheme was a “bold step”.