A BORDERS councillor has described the state of a park in the region as "like having messy teenagers", as locals continue to raise concerns relating to the travelling community.

During a meeting of Selkirk Community Council on Monday evening, councillor Caroline Cochrane said she felt Selkirk, the community and the travellers had been "let down" and called for a permanent site to be found for the families.

She said: "Today I've emailed the other 33 councillors in Scottish Borders Council and asked them for support to put the search for a new, permanent site on the agenda as soon as possible.

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"I feel Selkirk has been let down, the community's been let down, as have the travellers been let down by not having a proper site either."

She added: "I feel it's like having messy teenagers.

"I just feel like we're constantly tidying up after them and it's not fair."

The Live Borders site has been used as a designated traveller spot for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, providing a space for members of the travelling community to stay in order to limit the spread of the virus.

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However, at numerous meetings of Selkirk Community Council over the last 12 months, members of the public have expressed their concerns over littering, fly tipping, and dog waste around the site, as well as on the rugby pitch and play park.

At Monday's meeting, councillor Gordon Edgar jumped to the defence of one family who have stayed at the site for the last year, saying they want the site to be tidy too.

He said: "They [travellers] do try and keep [the site] clean but they need a wee bit of help.

"I spoke with one family on the site, they actually designated a youngster to go with a black bag and a pick-up stick and go and pick up round about the grass area and the play park.

"They do try."

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A representative from Selkirk Leisure Centre added that he and colleagues had also been clearing litter from the site.

Members of the public requested a public meeting where the Selkirk community can all participate in-person to resolve the issues at Victoria Park.

The community council said they would look into a public meeting, however, agreed to take a break in August.

Vice-chair of the community council David Deacon added he would chair a meeting next month should there be any update on the park.

As part of SBC's and the Scottish Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, two Borders sites meet the necessary requirements for the travelling community under government resrtrictions - these are Victoria Park and a private site in Innerleithen.

While restrictions are in place, provision of these sites are being funded by the Scottish Government.

According to the SBC website: "The Innerleithen site is at capacity leaving Victoria Park as the only viable and most suitable site at which we are able to meet our obligations in respect of supporting Gypsy/Traveller families during the pandemic.

"We understand the Scottish Government is planning to review the guidance in the near future and once this has been done, we will make any required changes to the arrangements we are fully committed to returning the site to Live Borders as a commercial venture as soon as this becomes possible.

"In the meantime, Live Borders has committed to taking on more active management of the site with discussions underway to confirm details of what this will involve."

Further details on SBC's policies for the travelling community during coronavirus restrictions can be found here.