COMMUNITY leaders in Langlee are worried they may be forced to repay an £84,000 grant – if their playpark is demolished.

The £100,000 Jubilee Park in Beech Avenue was officially opened in 2012.

But there are now plans to pull it out to make way new houses as part of the Langlee regeneration project.

And community leaders have been told they may have to repay part or even all of their National Lottery grant, if the park is removed.

At last night's meeting of Galashiels Community Council, chairwoman Judith Cleghorn said: "The playpark is on the accounts of the Langlee Residents Association and is valued at £57,042.

"We applied to the National Lottery for funding and they gave us £84,000 towards building it.

"But they might ask for part or all of this grant to be returned if the park is removed by Waverley Housing.

"I spent many hours, as did others, working on bringing the playpark to the area and I hope you will support me to say that we do not want this to go.

"We have had problems with vandalism in the past, but I would say we have had no more problems than any other park.

"In return, we have been offered £1,600 a year to help run the Langlee Residents Association for five years.

"But the fact is, someone will have to pay the National Lottery back and we can't afford to do that.

"I have emails from them saying the may ask for the money back as they monitor any projects they fund over £50,000 for 20 years.

"It is a strange situation."

Members of the community council also said they didn't want to lose the playground.

Bill White said: "I don't know why they want to build on there. I think it will be too crammed.

"We need a place for kids in the area, so I would dismiss this out of hand and fight to keep it."

Tom Ingoldsby added: "I also support is staying there. It is in a good place – right in the middle of the housing area."