A REQUEST to delay plans to upgrade the gas network in Galashiels amid fears it could spell “disaster” for the town centre has been rejected.

Earlier this month, Scottish Gas Networks announced it plans to spend £90,000 replacing the ageing metal gas mains and services in and around Bank Street with modern plastic polyethylene pipe - amid fears the existing network is no longer safe.

The works, which include eight weeks of road closures, are due to begin on January 5 and take more than four months to complete.

With three mile tailbacks already a regular feature of rush hour traffic in Galashiels, community councillor Tom Ingoldsby claimed the planned works would have been a “disaster” for the town had Ladhope Vale not reopened to two-way traffic.

But it has since emerged that the arterial road is to close again from January 5 to 26 and the temporary one-way system in Galashiels town centre will be reinstated during this time.

Councillor Sandy Aitchison - the only one of four Galashiels councillors to respond to the Border Telegraph when asked to comment on the works - said: “There is no question it is going to cause disruption and stress for businesses in Bank Street and the rest of Gala as well cos people will think 'I’m not going there.’ “I did ask the question: Could it not be delayed for a year, or a couple of years, to allow businesses to get back to some sort of normality? But basically I was told no there is a safety issue here.

“Unless you deal with that you are culpable should any problem occur. If the council was to jump up and down and say (to Scottish Gas Networks) no you’re not doing that.” The Borders Railway team revealed the work on a wall separating the new rail line from the A7 were due to be completed at Ladhope Vale on December 9.

However, the works were delayed in part due to a site shut down after a rail worker was injured in an incident last month.

Hugh Wark, project director for Network Rail, said: “These final works are necessary to allow for the safe construction of the new station at Ladhope Vale.

“With only a number of months until the new railway is completed, the end is now in sight for many of the major works still to be carried out.

“We’d like to thank local residents and businesses for their on-going patience and support whilst these works are underway.” Scottish Gas Networks is offering compensation to local businesses affected by the works.

SGN Construction Manager Stuart Pender said: “Our work is being carried out in close collaboration with Scottish Borders Council and we will be doing everything we can to minimise disruption and complete our works as quickly as possible.

“January is probably the quietest time of the year and where possible we will use a modern 'insertion’ technique which will cause less upheaval and less mayhem.”