THE council’s new pothole-filling machine “won’t solve all the problems” on roads in the Borders, a meeting has heard.

JCB’s PotholePro – which was trialled in the region back in April last year – was discussed at a meeting of the audit and scrutiny committee on Thursday (January 13).

The tool is said to be able to fix potholes four times quicker than normal – and at half the cost.

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has taken the decision to purchase the machine, as well as a second jet patcher, to tackle the issue of potholes on the region’s roads.

READ MORE: Galashiels assistant librarian Debbie nominated for prestigious award

At the meeting, East Berwickshire councillor Jim Fullarton, of the Conservatives, said that the JCB tool could provide a “more fixed solution” to the problem.

Responding, SBC chief officer for roads Jason Hedley said that jet patchers and the PotholePro are part of an “integrated” approach.

“The PotholePro will be another tool in our armoury,” he said. “It won’t solve all the problems that we have out there. It will be part of a team that goes out to do permanent patching.

“It’s likely to be deployed on strategic networks. You will not see this on every road in the early stages. It will be working across our higher priority road network.”

Mr Hedley said that there are hopes that roads can be kept open while the JCB machine carries out its repairs.

He added that he expects the PotholePro to be deployed by mid March.

READ MORE: Borders man claimed he had crossbow during police stand-off, court hears

The tool combines the tasks of three other machines, acting as a planer, cropper and cleaner, according to SBC papers.

Meanwhile, the issue of “ice rivers” forming across roads was also raised.

Selkirkshire councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol, of the SNP, said that the hazard is being caused by water running off fields close to rural routes.

“I have a real concern about run-off from fields going across the roads,” she said. “The surface just degrades much more quickly and when you’re driving back at 9pm the small river across the road is frozen.”

Ms Thornton-Nicol added that on one road between Selkirk and St Boswells there are seven “absolute rivers” which turn to ice in low temperatures.

Mr Hedley said that there is a “huge amount of adjacent landowners on our road network” which contributes to the run-off.

SBC officer Donald Scott said that there is not always an “easy way” for landowners to deal with the water.

He added: “We have to be consistent and fair with our approach so that we’re not just targeting individuals because we’re being notified of the problem.”