A HORSEBOX ban imposed on the only ride-out of the Melrose Festival is set to be overturned.

Earlier this year, the organisers of the Melrosians Rideout were forced to find an alternative site after the local authority announced vehicles 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, was still allowed to set up in the Triangle - on the understanding that they would be billed for any damage.

With alternative sites at the nearby primary school and an out of town field deemed unsuitable, community councillors heard council chiefs have been forced to rethink the ban.

Local authority Leader David Parker, who represents Melrose and Leaderdale on Scottish Borders Council, said: “I think that the plan for next year will be to revert back to using the Triangle.

“Everyone was pleased that the Festival Committee tried the new arrangements but in fairness they were not ideal and with the Melrose Ride Out actually attracting more riders this year, that didn’t help matters either.

“There have been some suggestions about using another field out with the town, but that might not be ideal either and, following initial discussions with the Festival Committee, the SBC members are now speaking with officers about reverting back to using the Triangle and allowing a special dispensation or the Melrose Ride Out.”

Meanwhile, next year’s Festival has been thrown into doubt after Darnick Tower - one of the stops on the Tour of Ceremonies - was listed for sale. 

It is being advertised by property agents Rettie and Co at offers over £735,000.

 The Grade A listed building is being sold by its philanthropic New Zealand-based owner Fionna Heiton who, with her Nepalese-born partner Durga Aran, founded a charity to provide early years care in Nepal six years ago.

During that time, First Steps Himalaya has developed 48 classroom projects in 22 rural villages in a country devastated by an earthquake in April this year. 

Commenting at this month’s meeting of the community council, Provost William Windram said: “I think we just have to wait and see what happens.”