SELKIRK’S planned synthetic pitch has been put on hold until next year following a row over access.

The planned £1 million all-weather facility for the High School’s playing fields has received a mixed reception.

And a bitter war of words about using the neighbouring Pringle Park for a new access road has led to the delays.

It was initially hoped to fast-track the planning process and kick off the construction stage this summer.

But local councillor Vicky Davidson revealed at this week’s community council meeting in the town that delays were now inevitable.

She said: “It won’t be getting built this summer - we had hoped for a start date at some point during the holidays but that’s not going to happen.

“We will now be looking towards next spring.” Although the 2G pitch has been welcomed by many parents it has angered several sports clubs in the town.

The surface isn’t suitable for rugby.

And the dimensions won’t allow it to be used for competitive football matches.

But the main sticking point has been the planned new road through the Pringle Park.

Ian King from Selkirk Community Council has led the opposition. He told Monday’s meeting that he’d already received a letter of apology from Scottish Borders Council over the plans.

He said: “It is clear from the SBC response that they are out of their depth with this project.

“A project has been identified for the school pitch but it has been done in isolation of its surroundings. These plans are infringing onto Common Good land.

“Selkirk deserves a lot better than this.” The local authority’s own landscape architect has also raised concerns over the surrounding fence at the facility and the floodlight columns as they will intrude on the views from the Pringle Park towards Selkirk Hill.

And he has asked for anticipated problems with increased parking around the area to be addressed.

Other councillors are looking for answers over the community opening hours.

Community Council treasurer Tommy Combe said: “It is all pie in the sky. Nobody is making any commitment about how this will be run for the community - who has the keys, how do you book it and who puts the lights off? Nobody knows. Where do people get changed and where do they park?

“We are not all against the 2G pitch but this is a school facility and the community side of it is just an after thought.” A full planning application for the 2G pitch and related infrastructure was submitted in April.

It is expected to come before members of the local authority’s planning committee later in the year.