Signs complaints scupper speed limit reduction

Plans to cut the speed limits on two rural routes on the Scottish borders in a bid to reduce accident rates have been dropped.

It follows opposition from residents living beside the A708 Selkirk to Moffat and the A6088 between Hawick and the English border at Carter Bar.

Scottish Borders Council had proposed lowering the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph on both roads.

However, concerns were raised about the number of signs needed to enforce the limit and their landscape impact.

A consultation on changing the limit found that 53% of residents were opposed to plans for the A708 and 50% were opposed to those for the A6088, with 37% expressing support for both routes.

There was particular opposition to the use of "repeater" signs, which the consultation said would be required every 500 metres to remind motorists of the lower speed limit.

Councillor Vicky Davidson, who represents Selkirkshire, said: "It didn't find favour with the community council and some of the locals.

"The majority of the consultation responses were that they didn't think it was necessarily useful or enforceable."