AMBITIOUS plans for a state-of-the-art adventure playground in Earlston have hit the buffers after failing to secure lottery cash.

The Big Lottery Fund Scotland announced yesterday that five schemes from the Borders had been successful in the latest round of funding applications.

But conspicuous by its absence from the list of winners was the Earlston Community Development Trust (ECDT) which had sought £243,000 to create the facility on the site at Mill Meadow, close to the Leader Water.

Hostility to the proposal has been brewing among a number of townsfolk since June last year when Scottish Borders Council agreed to lease the land to the trust for a peppercorn rent.

And that dissent found public expression in December when a formal application for planning permission was submitted.

Although there were 34 letters of support, the council’s planning committee received 48 letters of objection, some of which claimed the site was potentially unsafe and that a more central location would be preferable. Others bemoaned the loss of a maintained greenfield site and felt their residential amenity would be adversely affected by noise.

Despite these objections, the committee granted consent for the project, but the waters were muddied in January when it was revealed the council did not, in fact, own the site and would have to pay £25,000 to buy it from the Crown before leasing it to the trust.

That gave more leverage to the dissenters, some of whom set themselves up as a potential rival bidder to acquire the land.

It is now evident that the open split in the community has influenced the lottery funding decision.

According to ECDT spokeswoman Mags Powell, in its assessment of the application, the Big Lottery Fund Scotland stated that Earlston was “weak in terms of community cohesion and the project did not bring the community together”.

The funding body felt it was “not clear the project was supported by all the community” and expressed concern over the trust’s ability to deliver because of the land ownership issue.

Commenting on the decision, which is final and offers no right of appeal, Ms Powell said: “The trust is very sad that its efforts to secure an adventure play park for its families and children have been unsuccessful.

“Although we are extremely disappointed at this ill-informed opinion of our community, we will nevertheless continue to strive to deliver the play experiences our children and families deserve.

“We believe the best of Earlston can demonstrate a strong, vibrant and connected community where we can work together in the best interests of all.

“We truly believe the adventure play park project was well developed and strongly supported locally. The site is large and had the potential to accommodate the play park which would comprise just 10 per cent of the land without impinging on current and future use.

“We remain at a complete loss to understand why, as a community, we were unable progress with this project through a combination of rational debate and compromise.” Councillor Iain Gillespie (Borders Party, Melrose and Leaderdale) told the Border Telegraph: “As a local councillor I have always been supportive of the play park.

“The fact the trust has been turned down is a surprise as I believe they presented a very strong case to the funding body.

“I am disappointed for the trust in view of all the effort put into the creation of this project, but I am mostly disappointed for the people and children of Earlston who will not now be getting a brand new play park at Mill Meadow.” Asked if the decision would affect SBC’s land acquisition plans, a council spokesperson said yesterday: “In relation to the land, there has been no change. A closing date has been fixed by the Crown for Friday, May 16.

“The council has yet to determine what steps it wishes to take in relation to the acquisition.” The spokesperson added: “The council shares the trust’s disappointment with the outcome of the lottery decision.