TRANSPORT Scotland are set to splash out almost £1 million on road improvements through Selkirk later this year.

The announcement was made to members of the A7 Action Group last week.

Around £300,000 will be spent on resurfacing a mile-long section of the carriageway between the St Boswells road junction and a mile further south at the junction for Hartwoodburn.

A similar amount of £300,000 will be spent resurfacing the carriageway from the town centre down to the Toll.

And £75,000 has been earmarked for permanent patching works on Hillside Terrace.

Resurfacing will begin at the southern entrance to the town in July with the northern entrance works scheduled for November.

The roads agency will also spend £50,000 improving pavements on either side of the A7 as it passes through the Royal Burgh during October.

And during August £120,000 will be spent on new LED street lighting along the main road.

Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar said: "This is fairly extensive works.

"There will be a reasonable amount of disruption but this will be of great benefit to Selkirk once the works are completed."

Meanwhile, members of Eildon Area Forum last week gave the thumbs up to plans to redesign the roads layout in the Market Place as part of the forthcoming streetscape scheme.

As well as establishing new bus stops on either side of the High Street a new entrance to the Market Place will be created.

As part of the Transport Regulation Order required for the changes, a public consultation exercise will be conducted over the coming weeks.

Local councillor Vicky Davidson said: "The road plans are in line with what the stakeholders have been discussing for some time."

Work is expected to start on the town centre streetscape scheme towards the end of June.

Ian King from the streetscape committee said: "We are looking at old drawings of Selkirk to see what can be incorporated to make sure the changes have a Selkirk identity."