THERE should be no rushed decision and the public should be fully consulted before any final decision is taken on where a new road bridge will cross the Tweed at Peebles.
This is the view of local Tweeddale MP David Mundell after Scottish Borders Council narrowed the location from six to three sites.
According to council officials the present bridge in the town centre will reach capacity by 2020.
Now members of the Scottish Borders Council’s environment and infrastructure committee have agreed a new bridge should be sited in one of three locations, all to the east of the town. They are at Whitestone Park, and two sites at Kerfield Farm.
“These are very important proposals for Peebles and could dictate future development in and around the town too, so any decision should not be rushed and taken with full public consultation,” said Mr Mundell.
“It is fairly obvious that the existing bridge will continue to be the one used by people coming from the west, or most locals. A bridge in one of the sites proposed is more likely to be used by people coming from Edinburgh or the east so the correct location is very important,” he added.
Local councillor Nathaniel Buckingham agrees with this view saying: “It is estimated the existing bridge will reach its capacity by 2020 so it is important this new bridge is sited where it will take sufficient traffic away from the existing historic structure.”