MP CALLS FOR A NEW ATTITUDE FROM BEAR SCOTLAND TO A7 ACTION GROUP

11.09.44am GMT Sat 24th May 2008

The A7 Action Group has expressed its "serious disappointment'' that BEAR Scotland failed to turn up to another meeting of the group on Friday in Selkirk.

Local MP Michael Moore, who chairs the group, has written to the company, which has responsibility for the trunk road section of the A7 south of Galashiels, to highlight concerns about the upkeep of the route and to remind them of their promise to attend the group's meetings to hear first hand about local community concerns.

The action group consists of local MPs, MSPs, councillors, community councillors and other interested people who represent or live on the route from Heriot to Langholm.

Mr Moore said:

"The members of the action group are very frustrated that BEAR have now missed the last two meetings in Stow and Selkirk.

"South of Hawick there have been lights at Branxholm for over a year now which is completely unacceptable. People want to know when the work will be done. There is a long list of issues, from street lighting to road surface quality, that members want to put directly to the company - the meetings are only once every 3 or 4 months so we don't think it is unreasonable to expect someone to attend for up to an hour and a half. I hope that following my letter on behalf of the group we will see some action and a new attitude."

On Friday's agenda there was also an update from Scottish Borders Council about plans for a Selkirk by-pass, and a briefing about the delays on the Galashiels Inner Relief Road.

The next meeting of the group will be in Hawick on Friday 12 September.