REPAIRS will begin this week on a dangerous wall in Jedburgh which has been at the centre of an ownership dispute.

Scottish Borders Council won a legal case with a householder on Oxnam Road at the town’s Sheriff Court over responsibility of the retaining wall.

Part of the carriageway which connects the town centre with houses in the Howdenburn area, as well as the town’s main factories, had to be closed over fears of a collapse.

And traffic lights were in operation for almost two years before a temporary road realignment was completed.

A spokesman for Scottish Borders Council said: “Judgement has been issued in favour of the council in respect of the validity of the notice requiring the danger to the road to be resolved.

“The council continues to maintain Oxnam Road as part of its publicly adopted road network.

“On completion of the repairs to the retaining wall at Aironlea, the current temporary road arrangement will be removed and the road alignment reinstated. “Unfortunately, due to the location of existing utility services, it will not be possible to alter the road alignment from what was previously in place.” Householders on Oxnam Road blamed heavy plant vehicles from the town’s factories for the cracks in the retaining wall.

And further problems have emerged to the road surface since the road was temporarily realigned.

The council spokesman revealed that plans for future work on the road would be considered following this week’s repairs.

He added: “SBC will continue to inspect Oxnam Road on a cyclic basis, and where identified, it will be considered for inclusion in future planned programmes of work.” The local authority was forced to repair another retaining wall further down Oxnam Road around a decade ago.

Richard Gordon, chairman of Jedburgh Community Council, is delighted that work will finally begin.

He said: “It is excellent news that work will start. Hopefully all the repairs will be carried out before winter sets in.”