RAIL works have been blamed for causing homes to shake in Tweedbank.

Community councillors heard two residents in Tweedbank Avenue had reported strange vibrations in their homes as work continues on the new Borders Railway.

However, Tweedbank Community Council heard there was no work going at the site of the planned terminus which could have caused it.

Speaking at this month’s meeting in the community centre, community councillor Andrew Bramhall, who said he had heard some people at the end of the street had been offered compensation, added: “This person was concerned because the building was shaking.” The meeting was told work was still to start on the station site in Tweedbank and only some light groundworks had been carried out to date.

Speaking after the meeting, local authority leader David Parker, who represents the area on Scottish Borders Council, said: “The railway works are not causing any issues in Tweedbank Avenue, and the street is quite far away from the centre of the works that have been going on.

“I can also advise that absolutely no compensation has been paid to any residents in this street by the railway project.

“You will have seen that we now have the first track laid in the Bowshanks Tunnel and by the end of next week we will also have the first piece of track laid at Tweedbank as the cross over points are to be installed.” Tweedbank Community Council heard concerns over the design of the new terminus had now been resolved (see YourSay on page eight).

However, the meeting heard there were still no plans for any public toilets on the site.

Community councillor Maureen Buchan said: “There is a great lack of public toilets in Tweedbank.” The community council was previously told by a spokesperson for the Borders Railway project that if a train was in the station customers could use the toilet on board.

But, this month, it emerged that the carriages will not be accessible to some disabled passengers.

Community council chairman John Cavaroli, who uses a mobility scooter, said: “All trains will have ramp access but it is not suitable for all mobility scooters because they are too big.” The meeting heard the trains using the new line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank would be the same as those used elsewhere on the national rail network.

Councillor Buchan said: “Why can’t they be like the buses?” But Councillor Jim Torrance replied: “(The trains will complete the journey) half an hour earlier, that will do me.” Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that work will begin on a new footpath, linking the terminus with the existing footpath network in Tweedbank, before the end of the year.

The path, with street lights, will be constructed along the side of Tweedbank Drive currently without a path in place of the section of the Black Path which has been removed to make way for the new rail line.

However, the installation of a new security fence in Langlee could lead to a further closure of Winston Road.