RESULTS from the first 175 people to respond to a survey about Innerleithen’s Hall Street play park show 52 per cent in favour of moving it.

Daniel Davis Wood, secretary of Innerleithen and District Community Council (IDCC), said at a meeting on Monday evening that responses have doubled in the past week.

And he indicated the result was narrow – with 48 per cent wanting to keep the facility in its current Victoria Park location.

The survey was launched last month when IDCC was told that Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has money which could be used to provided a new children’s play park in the town.

It is hoped to get more than 400 respondents before the survey closes.

Tweeddale East councillor Robin Tatler pointed out that a similar survey in Peebles attracted 700 replies.

On the survey site it states: “The play park is becoming run down.

“One big problem is the location: the site does not drain well and becomes boggy after wet weather.

“SBC has advised that the site is unsuitable for adequate drainage, so the situation is unlikely to improve.

“We have two options: remove the play park and construct a new one in a different location or carry on attempting to improve the drainage at the current play park, and refurbish it

“According to SBC, there is money available for both options.

“The council’s preference is to construct a new playpark in a different location because the attempts at improving drainage are regarded as a financial loss.

“The decision is up to the community, so we are running a consultation to gather feedback.”

The flooding issue was highlighted by Robert Brunton, who wrote online: “The job should have been done right in the first place, it is on an old pond where the bottom was clay and it’s still there, so water can’t drain away.

“I would move it somewhere else and use the old pond as parking for the town.”

IDCC member George Brown said: “During the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012 Victoria Park was designated by “Fields in Trust” as a Queen Elizabeth Field, which means its green space cannot be changed.

“It is protected green space so Hall Street car park cannot be extended.”

IDCC member Andy Weir said: “It is interesting that some people want it to ‘go back to nature’ because natural play is a big thing.”

The survey remains open at: forms.gle/7gbjNPFxN4iw3zqP7