A MOTORCYCLE menace is being blamed for giving a local councillor restless nights.

Bill Herd, who represents Galashiels and District on Scottish Borders Council, revealed he was being kept awake at night by the noise of the motor in the streets near his home in the town’s Ladhope Crescent.

He reported his concerns to police at the latest meeting of the Eildon Area Forum on Thursday evening.

And he claimed unless action was taken someone would be killed.

Councillor Herd, who claimed the noise was worst between 10pm and 2am, said: “I’m not wanting him caught because he’s a nuisance to me but because he could be a lethal weapon. I fear for someone’s life in this situation – this guy’s going to kill someone.” Meanwhile, fellow Galashiels Councillor Sandy Aitchison revealed his wife narrowly avoided a tragedy in nearby Magdala Terrace last week after a car parked on double yellow lines forced her to drive on the wrong side of the road – and into the path of oncoming traffic.

And he claimed he couldn’t understand why no action had been taken to prevent the motorist, who he claimed was a persistent offender, parking illegally near the bad bend on the A7 as he had reported the issue already – twice.

Councillor Aitchison said: “We’ve tried a letter drop and it’s not worked. My wife had a near thing just yesterday (Wednesday). Ironically, I’ve reported it twice before.” The Stow-based councillor also admitted reports of another bird of prey being shot in the Gala Water Valley, near Heriot, was “embarrassing”. He revealed he learned of the latest death in a national newspaper during a visit to London. And he claimed it did not present the Borders in a good light.

“It’s really about time we had people up the hill looking for them,” he added.