A BID by a booming Borders country estate to install a ticket booth, access gates and overflow car park has been approved – despite raising the hackles of some locals who feared being “locked out”.

Historic Bowhill House in Selkirk has enjoyed a significant increase in visitors to the estate in recent times.

But a rise in the number of visitors parking outside the designated parking areas within the estate is damaging the grounds and has raised safety concerns and, at times, can block access to emergency vehicle routes.

A planning application was submitted to Scottish Borders Council by Buccleuch Estates Limited seeking consent for the erection of a ticket booth, access gates and the formation of an overflow car park a short distance from the main gates to the estate.

The ticket booth would be located on a small, grassed island at the junction of Duchess’s Drive.

There were six objections to the application with concerns regarding the rights of access to the estate for walking, cycling and horse riding, impacts on rights of way, access to the existing car park being impeded and the implications for out of season access.

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One objector labelled the bid “an opportunity to increase estate income at the expense to Borders residents”.

But the applicant confirmed to council planning officers that “access to the estate for members of the public who wish to exercise their right to responsible access would be maintained” and that the measures were merely a way to “safely manage traffic numbers and movements within the estate”.

And when members of the council’s Planning and Building Standards Committee met on Monday (September 5), they were recommended to approve the application, subject to certain conditions being met.

Tweeddale West councillor Eric Small said: “I don’t have any problem with this at all, as long as the public are going to have access and it’s going to be open after the closing time of the estate I’m quite happy with it.”

Councillor Donald Moffat, who represents Mid-Berwickshire, added: “I think this is required for the traffic management and the booth etc fits well with the countryside and I have seen this on other estates. As a planning authority we have to work with estates to try and manage the best access for the public to the estates.

“A lot of estates in the Borders do a very good job of keeping public walks open and we have to work with them.”