A LONG-AWAITED skate park has been rubber-stamped for a Borders town.

The facility, which includes a tarmac pump truck, will be built on land south east of the tourist information centre in Abbey Place, Jedburgh.

The £270k skate park, which has been more than a decade in the planning, was given the green light by council chiefs last week.

The plans gained large-scale community backing, with 71 supporting comments submitted to Scottish Borders Council, compared to the five filed against it.

Supporters believe the skate park will bring benefits to the children of Jedburgh, provide an activity during the winter months and attract visitors to the town.

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Among a number of matters concerning some locals was the impact of planned floodlights at the site.

A range of conditions have been included with the project’s approval.

According to the second condition, the hours of operation of the approved floodlights will be restricted to 7am-9pm daily and the operating switch timer will be set to provide a maximum of 30 minutes illumination per operation.

The floodlights will also only be available for use between September and March.

The council report approving the project stated: “I must balance the visual amenity impacts against the competing demands of the community for a lit facility. The lighting has been significantly reduced in intensity and unit numbers from what was considered to be stadium lighting before.

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“Six metre rather than 8m columns are proposed featuring one rather than three lighting heads.

“I am satisfied that the proposals will not harm the setting of the Abbey or the character and appearance of the conservation area.

“Shielding on the lights and the introduction of strict lighting duration and seasonal periods will ensure that the lighting does not become a prominent feature of this conservation area.”

The report added: “I acknowledge comments regarding choice of location being a potential for antisocial behaviour, vandalism, litter or health and safety issues and the site presently being well used as a location for informal recreation.

“However these issues are not material considerations. Management of the site and wider area will be critical to its success and to avoid conflict with existing pedestrian users of the riverside/ trim track path.”

Inverness-based firm Alan Jones Associates will oversee the work – the company was the project manager on both the Kelso skateboard and Hawick pump track projects.