GALASHIELS could lose out on a new school due to time delays caused by objections to the plans, according to council leader Euan Jardine.

It is the local authority's intention to locate part of the campus on green space in Scott Park, a move which has proved controversial.

Mr Jardine, a Galashiels councillor, expressed his fears at a meeting of the town's community council on Wednesday night.

The new £55 million campus, which features an open-plan learning environment and includes multi-use spaces for the wider community, is due to be built on the existing school site and within a portion of Scott Park.

Mr Jardine, of the Conservatives, told the meeting: “There is a real possibility due to ongoing conversations with the Scott Park group, who want to take us to court, that we might lose the school or be pushed to a low point on the waiting list as the planning process would be held up.”

When asked whether this was due to people objecting to it, he replied: “Yes, it’s a continued motion. It’s about community space and green space issues and the land being owned by Gala Common Good etc., but it’s spiralling out of control.

“The council are doing what they can to prevent it but it’s ongoing and there’s a real fear that if the Scottish Government get a feeling that we are not ready and we don’t want it then they will stop it. It’s happened in Fife and Portobello.

“It’s a real danger and I’m just concerned that in 15 years we will look back and think, ‘I wish we had done that earlier’, and I would hate to have that on my conscience.”

When opened to the floor and public for discussion, it was suggested that no other sites had been considered to which Mr Jardine said: “We did look at other options and to suggest we didn’t is disingenuous.”

Five options were put forward by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) for the location of the new school.

But in March last year, John Curry, SBC's service director for assets and infrastructure, said that only one option was "viable".

Speaking after the meeting, Stuart Gordon – on behalf of the Friends of Scott Park campaign group – said: “Whilst we remain strongly in favour of a new campus with the associated benefits it will bring, we are continuing to object to the plans to place the new community campus building in Scott Park and believe we have a good case.

“We are confident that within the planning process an alternative solution can be developed that provides the new school campus within the existing Academy site and still retain the existing Scott Park.

“We are looking to find a better solution through consensus.”