Calls for second one-way to ease Selkirk gridlock

Councillor Caroline Cochrane believes a second one-way system should now be considered

Calls are being made for a second one-way system to be considered for a Borders town.

Just weeks after Transport Scotland announced it was taking forward plans for a new roads system around Selkirk high street, a local councillor is pushing for similar changes on other streets.

Damage to parked cars and gridlock are regularly reported around the western entrance to the town due to blind bends and difficult junctions.

Councillor Caroline Cochrane has started a petition calling for Mill Street, Buccleuch Road and Yarrow Terrace to also have one-way regulations.

She said: "This is something that is being raised time and time again - and it should be treated as a high priority."

Parked cars on Mill Street, Buccleuch Road and Yarrow Terrace are regularly damaged

Last month, Transport Scotland said it - along with partners Bear Scotland and Scottish Borders Council - had identified a series of safety improvements for Selkirk's heavily congested town centre.

They include a one-way system being introduced on the main A7 as well as new pedestrian crossings.

Tommy Deans, network manager at Bear Scotland said at the time the objective of the project was to enhance safety, while maintaining an appropriate level of service for trunk road traffic through the town centre.

Although one-way regulations were introduced around Buccleuch Road, Mill Street and Yarrow Terrace a decade ago - during repairs to a crumbling hotel wall - costs ruled out it becoming permanent system.

Residents in Buccleuch Road, Yarrow Terrace and Mill Street are supportive of the plans

At the time the local authority stated new road markings, junction improvements and a Traffic Regulation Order would cost in excess of £220,000.

The roads returned to two-way traffic after more than three years.

Ms Cochrane believes issues around the streets, which all have blind bends, have not gone away.

She added: "We've tried introducing passing places but they are not working and there continues to be damage to parked cars and gridlock.

"People who live in the area are having to put up with this every day.

"I want to take this petition back to Scottish Borders Council and show them how much support there is for a one-way system to be included in future road projects."