VILLAGERS living along the boundary between Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway say ‘it’s absolutely critical to our survival’ that roadworks and closures are co-ordinated between the two councils.

Residents of Newcasteton say that road closures in either county can have ‘an immediate and dramatic effect’ on their community and have called for council chiefs to come together and find a solution to the problem.

Barbara Elborn, a community councillor for Newcastleton and district, said: “Where we live, we’re at the point of four counties. If there’s a road closure, to do a road upgrade, we get cut off from the rest of civilisation.

“And it has an immediate and dramatic effect on the community and businesses of our village.

“Nobody seems to give a damn until it’s too late, when the road is actually closed, and people can’t make alternative arrangements.

“That’s happened twice in the last six months, and it’ll happen again when Dumfries and Galloway do a road upgrade and the village will be cut off. There has to be joined-up thinking across the county line.

“Just because we live in some place called the Scottish Borders doesn’t mean it finishes at the border. We’re part of a landscape, and the road network goes through it, and there must be some proposal and joined-up policy across the network.

“It’s absolutely critical to our survival.”

As well as sitting along the boundary between Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway, Newcastleton also sits near the intersection between Scottish borders and the English counties of Cumbria and Northumberland.

A spokesperson for Scottish Borders Council, however, confirmed that no cross-border authority exists that could co-ordinate roadworks.

The spokesperson said: “Depending on the nature of roadworks, sometimes a full closure is required. We recognise that this causes an inconvenience generally, and in isolated communities with sometimes limited or no other routes even greater impact.

“Where cross-border routes are undergoing works requiring closures, we discuss this with our neighbouring authorities and where the type of work or location allows, programme works to coincide, in order to keep disruption as low as possible.

“We always seek to minimise the length of a closure and take into account the local tourism industry as well as seasonal weather factors.

“Closures are published by means of public notice and on the Scottish Road Works Commissioner’s website. They are also communicated in advance to the ward councillors and relevant community council.

“In this particular instance, we have encouraged Dumfries and Galloway Council to develop a communication plan to ensure Newcastleton residents are fully informed of the planned works well in advance, by means of letter drop, advanced signing and social media, as well as utilising local networks.”   

Dumfries and Galloway Council was asked for comment but did not respond at the time of going to press.