ISSUES with a Borders site used by the travelling community have been described as “ongoing” by a council official.

Tweedside Caravan Park in Innerleithen has 10 pitches and related amenities which are “exclusively for use by Gypsy/Travellers”, according to the council.

But it does not yet meet the Scottish Government’s minimum standards for sites for the community – although a report states that the council is continuing to engage with relevant bodies over the matter.

At a meeting of Scottish Borders Council’s (SBC) audit and scrutiny committee on Monday (November 22), Tweeddale East councillor Stuart Bell said: “I have a hard-earned reputation for pushing for more clarity for things.

“I often respond with anxiety when I hear something is in progress without some clarity in terms of when it’s going to be resolved.”

The SNP representative added: “The subject of Gypsy travel sites is of some concern to councillors of specific wards of this council.

“One of the reasons I was keen on revisiting the annual insurance statement was because of lack of clarity in terms of the timescales of which the sensitive issues with the Tweedside Caravan Site were going to be resolved.”

The Innerleithen site is run by an independent private business which leases it from the council and runs it as a commercial enterprise.

It is open from April to September each year, according to the council.

David Kemp, SBC homelessness and financial support manager, said: “The site is now closed for the season. It’s been especially challenging in the last few months to get enough space to work on it.

“Now that the site is closed I’m expecting we will get some more time to work on this and resolve the remaining issues we have, with a view to us having that resolved in time for the next travelling season.”

Tweeddale West councillor Heather Anderson, of the SNP, asked what enforcement can be taken by the Scottish Housing Regulator over the standards of the site.

Responding, Mr Kemp said: “In relation to the Gypsy travel site, that is an ongoing issue.

“We’re engaged in an ongoing discussion with them, we’re endeavouring to report up to them on a monthly basis.

“At the moment, they are content that we’re continuing to persevere with this matter but we have to get it resolved to satisfy the regulator.”

SBC is currently negotiating a draft management agreement with Tweedside Caravan Park via their agent, according to council papers.

Mr Kemp added: “If we’re not able to secure an agreement with Tweedside Caravan Park then we’ll not be able to continue with that arrangement regardless of what the regulator might require of us, but that’s a situation we don’t want to get to – but that might be the bottom line.”