SCOTTISH Borders Council Leader David Parker has revealed the local authority could perform a dramatic u-turn over its decision to ban vehicles from a sensitive site in Melrose during one of the town’s biggest nights of the year.

But only if an alternative site can’t be found.

Last week the Border Telegraph reported the organisation of next year’s Melrosians Rideout had been thrown into doubt after the local authority announced horse boxes would no longer be allowed to park in The Triangle - a strip of grassland next to the Greenyards which is used as the starting point for riders during the summer festivities.

Melrose and District Community Council heard the local authority made the decision after spending more than £70,000 on repairs to the park.

But the fairground, which visits the town during Melrose Festival week, will still be allowed to set up in the Triangle - on the understanding that they will be billed for any damage.

Festival chairman James Marjoribanks requested a meeting with Councillor Parker, who represents Melrose and Leaderdale on Scottish Borders Council, to find out why.

Speaking ahead of the meeting on October 28, Councillor Parker told the Border Telegraph: “We will explore, with the Festival Executive, what alternatives there may be.

“If there are no alternatives, then it is very likely that we will continue to accommodate the Festivals requirements in the Triangle but the Festival would be responsible for making good any damage that is caused.

“At the moment funfairs and other major events who use the Triangle and similar green space do so on the basis that they have to put right anything that has gone wrong and we require them to have an event plan in place to ensure that vehicles park responsibly and that precautionary measures are taken to limit damage.

“Reinstating damaged ground can be very expensive and, in 2013, the shows who used the public park in Gala along with the circus, had to spend £11,000 over and above the ground rent re-instating the park due to damage caused in wet weather.

“In Melrose, we have spent well in excess of £70,000 trying to sort out drainage issues and, for the first time in a very long time, we appear to have had significant success with the Triangle in particular, in terms of it not being as wet.” But he added: “In parks, and open spaces where we have carried out significant drainage works we are keen to limit general car parking on these areas.”