A ‘LET there be light’ bid for a new pump track in a Borders village is racing ahead.

An application for a track on land at Tweedholm Avenue West in Walkerburn was endorsed by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) in March last year.

The bid was submitted by Walkerburn Community Development Trust and supported by the village’s community council.

The facility is to be used as a multi-use track suitable for skateboards, BMX, mountain bikes, wheelchair users and adapted wheeled bikes aimed at all genders, ages and levels of experience.

The aim is to develop a cycling culture in the village and to follow the example of Innerleithen, which has been transformed positively by mountain biking over the last decade.

Plans for a pump track in Walkerburn raced ahead further after funding from Sport Scotland Cycling Facilities Fund and SBC was confirmed in September last year.

Now RM Services (Yorkshire) has submitted a planning bid to SBC for a lighting scheme to ensure the facility can be used all year long.

A report submitted with the latest application says: “The proposed pump track is be a top-quality, free-to use sports facility for the people of Walkerburn and the surrounding area for all ages and abilities.

“The site is located adjacent to the River Tweed, with the flooding consideration already been taken into account with a full completed flood risk assessment commissioned and completed In 2022.

“The site has the advantage of being in a safe location for users to use and is visible from all surrounding angles. We foresee the pump track being very successful and well used and a great addition to the area.

“A lighting scheme is required to ensure year-round use of the facility. The pump track lighting system would increase safety to park users and enhance aesthetics of the park to the public.

“The chosen lights are the best available on the market, they have built in light hoods to remove zero upward light ratio, they have forward wide short throw optical reflectors to reduce glare for users and drivers using the adjacent road, perfectly limiting overspill.”