SCOTTISH Borders Council has ‘long-held ambitions’ to transform Lowood Bridge, it has been claimed.

At last Wednesday’s meeting of Galashiels Community Council, members were told local authority bosses want to ease congestion around the 250-year-old structure.

But it won’t happen soon.

Martin Joyce, SBC’s director of assets and infrastructure told the meeting: “When proposing the new Tweedbank development, we had people come out and look at the bridge to ensure it is suitable to cope.

“The conclusion was that the level of traffic the new development will bring, will be insufficient to replace Lowood Bridge. However, there is a long-held ambition by in the roads department to increase capacity.

“This could mean creating two lanes, or a separate smaller bridge. But this is not something the council has made allowances for in its capital budget.”

The Grade-B listed crossing was closed for 20 weeks last year while repairs were carried out as part of a £640,000 strengthening programme.