THE latest stage of a Borders housing development faces an uncertain future after a planning appeal was rejected.

Members of Scottish Borders Council’s Local Review Body met last week to consider an appeal from home-builder M & J Ballantyne over the refusal of 12 new homes and the re-orientation of five more at East Broomlands on Riverside Drive, Kelso.

The application, the latest stage of the Broomlands housing development, was rejected after the council’s roads planning section insisted that a connected road link between the sites should form part of the plans.

Officers say the link road is a requirement of the development brief for this overall area and its aim is to provide both pedestrian and vehicular connectivity between the two developments.

It is claimed that “without this link, there will be two lengthy cul-de-sacs resulting in unnecessary ‘dead’ mileage, in particular for service vehicles”.

But M & J Ballantyne say the proposed link road would pose increased safety risks for a residential neighbourhood and a walk to school route.

The housing firm had the backing of two Kelso councillors, Euan Robson for the Liberal Democrats and Conservative representative Tom Weatherston.

Both councillors have raised road safety fears and highlighted the urgent need to provide new homes – particularly as the local authority recently declared a housing emergency.

The proposed single track link road with no pavement would be located at a narrow gap between two houses with the potential for speeding traffic being hazardous to children attending Broomlands Primary School, the councillors fear.

Despite the two councillors' concerns the committee backed the decision of officers that a link route should form part of the plans.

Members were divided whether that link should be for pedestrians-only or also be available for vehicle traffic, such as bin lorries.

But on the casting vote of review body's chair, Kelso Conservative councillor Simon Mountford, vehicle access was agreed.

Mr Weatherston said: “I’m bitterly disappointed. Both myself and councillor Robson have very grave concerns regarding this access.

“It is all well and good saying that it will be limited to certain vehicles but we know the reality is that will not happen.

“The developer will now have to redraw the plans and come up with further plans to incorporate green space into the development.”