AMBITIOUS plans have been launched for a community buy-out of a former mill site in Peebles.

Controversial proposals by owners Moorbrook Textiles for housing at the former March Street Mills are currently being considered by Scottish Borders Council.

As we reported last week, planning bosses were left red-faced after sending letters to objectors claiming the proposals to build 69 houses had been approved in principle.

It raised eyebrows as, only hours earlier, members of the planning committee had decided to postpone their decision until after a site visit.

This week, members of Peebles Community Trust have come out fighting against the officials' recommendation to approve Moorbrook's plans for the five-acre town centre plot, which includes allotments first developed during World War II.

Directors and PCT members plan to go door-to-door to seek the backing of 10 per cent of the town’s voting population – the proportion of the electorate needed to demonstrate popular support for a Community Right to Buy.

Objectors claim planning officers are allowing Moorbrook to reduce its legal obligations for affordable housing and developer contributions towards local infrastructure.

The move has been described as a 'grant' to the company that will transfer the cost of cleaning up the industrial pollution and chemicals contamination to local council tax payers.

Chairman of Peebles Community Trust, Lawrie Hayworth, said it was “a slap in the face for Peebles” to turn what is the contaminated site of one of the town’s major employers, into a gold mine for owners Moorbrook and a future commercial developer.

He said: “Any reduction in contributions is effectively a grant to Moorbrook, whose spokesman told councillors earlier this month that they want to spend the money they make from selling this site in other parts of Scotland.

“Why should the people of Peebles and the Borders be penalised to subsidise investment in other places? We feel we now have little choice but to embark on an ambitious project to create something that the town actually needs. There will never be another chance to do something positive with this site.”

News of the site visit by councillors was welcomed by Peebles Community Council last week.

Mr Hayworth added: “We are pleased that the planning committee recognises the importance of the site to the people of Peebles and will visit the site to get a clearer picture.”

“We have been able to express our concerns about the viability and other costs but we are alarmed that the planners are urging councillors to approve proposals that fail to respond to the council’s own assessment of current needs.”

Mr Hayworth said SBC’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan, identifies the need for further affordable homes and extra supported accommodation, and claimed the mill site was the only place in Peebles where this could be achieved.

“There is no alternative town centre land capable of meeting this shortfall. We have surveyed the site and established a partnership with a local developer and with a housing association to do it ourselves. Our proposal will protect the allotments and provide much-needed employment, training and start-up facilities.

“We estimate we need the support of around 750 people and we will be calling house to house and setting up our stall on the High Street to gather those names. We will also be convening a public meeting in the New Year to set out our plans.”

Back in 2016 the trust mooted an idea to create a 'hub' within the site for community organisations, social enterprises and training centres.