A CONTROVERSIAL housing scheme in West Linton has finally been given the go-ahead, despite predictions of traffic troubles.
Springfield Properties can build 92 homes alongside St Andrew’s Close on the edge of the Peeblesshire village.
Scottish Borders Council (SBC) planning committee debated the bid for more than an hour, with Tweeddale West councillor Nathaniel Buckingham in particular worried about the impact on West Linton’s roads infrastructure.
The problem is exacerbated by the development only having one access road alongside the new school, after SBC previously ruled out the use of St Andrew’s Close following a local campaign.
Mr Buckingham, whose predecessor, Neil Calvert, was a critic of the development and part of the planning committee which refused a previous application in 2011, said: “The transport assessment has taken no consideration of Main Street.
“There will be 184 cars coming out of this development and there is no evidence Main Street can accommodate this.”
The local authority’s roads officer, Derek Inglis, said there was potential in the future for the council to impose a compulsory purchase order to create a connection to St Andrew’s Close.
The council’s education department requested that Springfield should contribute nearly £10,000 per house to West Linton Primary and Peebles High.