The future of mountain biking at Innerleithen remains in the balance this week as attempts to resolve the health-and-safety issues which brought operations to a near stand still earlier this year continue.
However, a recent meeting between Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale MSP Jeremy Purvis, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Enterprise Borders and The Hub operators could signal a significant step forward to reopening of facilities at the popular outdoor centre, following fervent campaigns from a range of local constituents, mountain biking bodies, community councils and businesses.
The downhill track at Innerleithen has effectively been out of service since the beginning of May this year, following a Health and Safety review in April.
The review raised concerns about cattle trucks being used to transport riders and their bikes to the top of the trail, which did not comply with governing body British Cycling's guidance on vehicular uplift at downhill tracks across the UK. As a result, Forestry Commission Scotland, who lease the land at Innerleithen for use by the mountain biking community, put a hold on operations until health-and-safety requirements were met.
To overcome the problem, The Hub – an outdoor centre at Glentress that provides services and facilities for bikers – arranged for two trucks to be used to transport riders and their bikes separately but this was also deemed unsatisfactory, except during national competition weekends.
This decision angered owners of The Hub who have subsequently been unable to provide uplifts for riders at popular practice weekends.
Co-owner Tracy Brunger said: "It doesn't make sense that it's deemed safe for competition weekends and not the rest of the time. It's all got incredibly political and has had a hugely detrimental effect on biking and the economy in the area."
In the two-and-a-half years that The Hub has been running practice weekends, the number of riders attending has risen from 20 to around 500, reflecting both the growing popularity of the sport and the high quality of facilities in the area. The success of the practice weekends is also thought to be directly responsible for the Scottish Downhill races being fully subscribed before this year's mountain biking season began. On Friday, representatives from Forestry Commission Scotland and British Cycling met to discuss issues affecting mountain biking across the UK and to work towards finding a permanent solution to the safety issues associated with downhill mountain bike uplifts.
Speaking after the meeting, a Forestry Commission Scotland spokesman said: "The meeting was productive and we are moving forward to a solution for next year. In the meantime, as safety is a top priority, the interim safety measures are still in place as before.
"We are very aware of the importance of mountain biking to the Tweed Valley and want to make the best of it, but not at the expense of safety. To pull together a wider approach to making this a success, we plan to meet with a range of organisations in the area next year to build on the Tweed Valley's reputation for biking."
In the meantime, The Hub is expected to apply for an extension of its lease of the cafe and bike shop at Glentress despite concerns about Forestry Commission Scotland's plans to offer a second lease to other potential operators.
However, FCS has agreed to hold off any decision on this until a feasibility study and business model regarding uplift operators at Innerleithen have been completed.