Council at centre of race row

David Knox • Published 25 May 2010 11:26 0 Comments

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COUNCIL bosses are running for cover after Tweedbank track closed - without any notice.

Furious exchanges have taken place between the dozens of groups who regularly use the facilities, owners SBC and operators Borders Sport and Leisure Trust.

It only emerged at the end of last week that the six-laned synthetic track would be shut for a month - when a notice was pinned up at the entrance.

And ever since, a row has raged over who sanctioned the closure for repairs.

Borders Sport and Leisure Trust's chief executive Ewan Jackson admitted in an email on Monday that the situation was 'shambolic'.

And yesterday a spokesman for the Trust issued us a statement. It said: "The running track at Tweedbank has closed in preparation of works beginning on Tuesday, May 18, and will take approximately four weeks.

"This project was originally planned for May, however after consultation with the athletics groups there was concern that this was right in the middle of the track season and suggested that the work take place in August.

"Unfortunately, until last week we understood that this was agreed and work was going to commence then.

"We are currently working towards a compromise that will suit both the contractor and the athletics groups who currently use the track."

Initial promises of a complete refurbishment at the region's only recognised running track, believed to have cost in the region of £80,000, were cut down to a modest repair job as local authority budgets were set.

But even the £19,915 to be spent on weeding, line painting and surface patching will mean a closure until midway through June - when over 300 teenagers are due to take part in the Borders Schools Championships.

Although leader David Parker and many of his officials have been caught up in the row, Scottish Borders Council declined to provide a statement. It is understood that to postpone the repairs until the end of August would cost an additional £9,000 - and neither the local authority or BSLT is willing to foot the bill.

Many local athletes including Scottish champions Guy Learmonth, Faye Nicholson, Demi Yorke and John Glen are currently preparing for regional, national and even Commonwealth competitions. And many groups such as Gala Harriers and Tweed, Leader and Jed Track club use the facility every week.

A council insider told us: "Everyone is blaming everyone else for this one and it has left a lot of people very angry. Someone should stand up and take responsibility as this fall out won't do relations between the council, the trust and users of Tweedbank any good."

Nigel Hall, chief executive of Scottish Athletics, visited the track on Monday night - and agreed to put his weight behind a late bid to keep the facility open until the end of the season.

Athletics coach Bruce Scott said: "Our group alone will have 30 children turning up on Wednesday night and we don't know if the track will be open or not. There are many other groups who will be in a similar situation.

"I am thoroughly disgusted with the way this has been done. Everyone who uses Tweedbank has been held in total disregard."

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