CYCLISTS are overtaking motorists adhering to the new 20mph speed restrictions in a Borders town, it was revealed at a local meeting.

Members of Peebles Community Council discussed the Borders-wide rollout of the limit, introduced in an effort to improve road safety for pedestrians and cyclists.

Elizabeth Rae said: “Driving along Kingsmeadows Road at 20mph and I’m being overtaken by cyclists.

“I thought the whole thing about reducing the speed limit was to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

“Drivers get blamed for everything; cyclists and pedestrians should be taking responsibility for their own actions and not put themselves in danger.”

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She added: “I find the 20mph very difficult because it’s between 2nd and 3rd [gear] and I’m not paying attention to what’s happening on the pavement, I’m looking at my dashboard to see that I’m keeping under 20mph.

“However, if I go to 25mph it’s just as easy as travelling at 30mph.”

Graham Mackie, another member, said patience is required while drivers adjust to the new limit.

“I’ve been driving for 55 years subject to 30mph limits, and you can’t just switch to 20mph straight away.

“I think any enforcement should be done with a very light touch – more reminding people than finding them guilty.”

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During the meeting, Tweeddale West councillor Heather Anderson was questioned about police enforcement of the limit.

She said officers “wouldn’t be able to enforce the measures”.

She revealed this had prompted a “strong argument” at a council meeting for landscaping and environmental architecture so that drivers policed themselves.

She added: “We did propose an amendment because part of our concern was that if you simply put up signs saying the speed limit has been reduced, drivers may not necessarily comply with those instructions.

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“What we’ve learned in areas like Eddleston is that you have to do a number of different interventions, like planting trees, markings on the road, different alert signs so the driver understands that they’re going into a stretch of road which is going to be managed at a lower speed.

“What had happened with the Sustrans funding was that an application was submitted by officers for the £1.2m, for a series of proposals that had not come to the council or been discussed with councillors.

“When we proposed our amendments because of our concern about enforcement we were told that the proposal couldn’t be changed because the money was for doing what the proposal said.

“There were concerns raised about ensuring these reduced speed limits were adhered to and that simply putting the signs up wouldn’t be enough.

“At that point the police, I think, expressed a view that they wouldn’t be able to enforce the measures.

“That’s why we were making a strong argument that there had to be landscaping and environmental architecture.”