THE council was unable to find the cash to carry out improvements on a bridge which was subsequently closed for safety reasons, it has emerged.

The Haughhead footbridge was shut earlier this month after a horse rider experienced a narrow escape when her pony put its hoof through the worn-out deck.

But former secretary of Innerleithen and District Community Council (IDCC) Daniel Davis Wood said that the group was aware the risk the path posed back in 2022.

And he added that it was told work on the former railway bridge, to the east of Innerleithen, would start in 2023.

Mr Davis Wood said: “I read the Peeblesshire News front page story [September 6] about the damage to Haughhead Bridge with some surprise.

“The damage and risk to the bridge was known to IDCC as far back as September 2022, and in October, November, and December of that year, it was reported to the community council that funding for repairs had been secured.”

He said that a report by Tweeddale East councillor Marshall Douglas stated that work was due to begin by the end of April last year.

In the minutes of those months’ community council meetings it states that the work would be part of the ‘Tweed Paths initiative’.

Following the incident, Mr Douglas said: “It was certainly the belief of councillors that the bridge would have been repaired, through the Tweed Paths initiative, and that officers were considering when to schedule repairs.

“The recent incident has obviously exacerbated the situation, and the condition of the path is being reviewed.

“The minutes reflect the situation at that time. 

“The intention to initiate repairs was certainly as reported but funding was being sought from other partners.”

A spokesperson for Scottish Borders Council said: “Council officers explored potential funding options for improvements to Haughhead bridge but were unable to secure any.”