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12 minutes ago
Giancarlo Rinaldi,South Scotland reporterand David Knox and Thomas Martin,BBC Scotland News
Scottish Borders Council
For much of its length the proposed pathway would run alongside the A7
Ahead of its arrival, however, the local council is looking at the possibility of a £12m path linking Selkirk and Hawick which would connect both towns with the multi-million pound holiday village development.
The hope is that it could increase active travel - walking, wheeling, cycling and horse riding - with daily commuting trips between the two towns expected to more than double when Center Parcs opens.
Opinion in the area, however, is split as to whether the proposals are a "great idea" or the price would be "excessive".
Bryan Hoggan feels the money would be better spent upgrading existing paths
Bryan Hoggan, from Selkirk, is a regular hillwalker and against a proposed route which would largely run beside the busy A7.
"My belief is that people who walk want to get away from the hubbub, the traffic, their busy lifestyles - they are wanting to get away from everything," he said.
"So, I don't see how attractive it would be to walk beside one of the busiest roads in Scotland."
He said that a link already existed - The Abbey Way - that was "hidden away in the trees".
"I think they would be better improving the ones we already have instead of making one no-one has asked for and will cost a hell of a lot of money," he said.
He was also worried about the upkeep of the path once it is built.
Derek Angelis
For Derek Angelis, the hope is that the path might lead to others being extended
Derek Angelis, of Galashiels, said he hoped it might be part of a wider extension of the path network in the region in general.
"I think that any multi-use path linking towns in the Scottish Borders is a good thing," he said.
"The Peebles to Innerleithen path is widely used, and personally I would like to see it extended to Clovenfords as the A72 is lethal there.
"Ditto for a path linking Galashiels to Stow, to link up with the Stage Road to Fountainhall and Heriot. The A7 north of Galashiels is equally lethal."
Craig Douglas said that the cost seemed too high for what was being proposed
Back in Selkirk, businessman Craig Douglas said he had concerns at the costs of the project which could be up to £17m at its highest estimate.
"Anything that benefits the area and the local economy has to be welcomed but the price tag of £12m seems excessive," he said.
"I'm not sure how popular an active travel path next to the road would be."
The new active travel route did not appeal to Judith Douglas
Keen hill walker Judith Douglas felt similarly to others about building a new route rather than improving an existing one.
"I often walk between Hawick and Selkirk on the Borders Abbey Way," she said.
"It would make more sense to upgrade that route - which is away from traffic - so that cyclists can use it as well.
"I can't see me walking on the new active travel route."
The route would mainly follow the A7 between Hawick and Selkirk via Center Parcs
In Tweedbank, however, David Cumming said he also hoped it could pave the way for more pedestrian and cycling links.
"I think that building this path is a great idea," he said.
"It might lead to a path connecting Clovenfords and Walkerburn and that would mean that there would be a connection between Peebles and Hawick and that would be great for cycling tourism - as well as for local people.
"Personally, I am all for it."
Scottish Borders Council is currently consulting on the proposals.
It estimates that if the path was built, there could be more than 200 daily cycling trips to and from Center Parcs made by staff and visitors.
A project timeline would see the section from Hawick to the holiday village built first around the time it opens in 2029, with the second section to Selkirk being constructed after that.
The council said that feedback from the public would be used to shape the next stage of the scheme and ensure it worked for "everyone in our community".
