MEMBERS of Peebles Community Council are divided in opinion over the implementation of 20mph speed restrictions.

Chairman Les Turnbull said that the community council is evenly split which has made it extremely difficult to take a particular stance when it comes to the consultation.

During this month’s community council meeting, he said: “Regardless of what you’re view is, whether you’re for or against, it’s really important that the survey is completed by as many people as possible. Whilst we can’t take a community council perspective I would encourage you all to go online and complete the survey as individuals.”

Community councillor Graham Mackie asked the Borders councillors how the trial would be evaluated. He added: “It seems to me that the most important thing was, is it reducing accidents, injury and deaths?”

However, Tweeddale East councillor Shona Haslam, of the Conservatives, explained that the point of the trial is to encourage active travel – more cycling and walking.

She said: “The evaluation is being carried out by Napier University, who will come back with independent findings on whether it’s reduced speed and if it’s increased active travel, and that’s the outcomes of this particular trial.

“It would be impossible to do an evaluation based on accidents and deaths because we have very low rates in the Borders, even though every one is tragic, but also because the amount traffic has decreased in the period of the pandemic.”

Meanwhile, concerns were raised by a member of the public regarding the positioning of the signs.

Tweeddale West councillor Heather Anderson, of the SNP, said: "There are a number of regulations explaining why the signs are where they are and why they have to be there.

"Our traffic department doesn't do anything that doesn't comply with the regulations and follow the letter of the law.

"Rest assured the rules have been followed.”