Roads near Kelso being used as racetracks by motorcyclists, police told

Motorcyclists have been seen roaring along circular routes such as the A698 Kelso-to-Coldstream road and the B6350 from Sprouston to Cornhill at excessive speeds.

Additionally, some of those bikers have taken to removing the silencers from their vehicles’ exhaust systems, meaning that they generate an almighty racket in the process.

That’s a situation alarming Kelso councillor Euan Robson, and his concerns are deepened by the fact that accident statistics show that rural roads are where most serious accidents and fatalities occur.

He raised those concerns at last Friday’s meeting of Scottish Borders Council’s police, fire and rescue and safer communities board, and he was reassured by the police’s response to his fears, with a pledge being given to work with motorcycle groups to press home the message that the national speed limit needs be followed.

Mr Robson said: “I was concerned to raise the issue of motorbike routes with the police at the board meeting.

“We welcome visitors to the Borders and make them welcome. Tourism is a vital part of our economy.

“Unfortunately, a minority of bikers are using publicised routes as racing tracks and, worse still, a few seem to have removed silencers from their exhaust systems.

“There was one summer’s day when you could hear from Kelso these guys going down the B6350 and you could hear them coming back again.

“The roads either side of the Tweed between Kelso and Cornhill appear to be one of the favourites for this.

“You can hear them going down one side of the valley and back up the other.

“Despite publicity for the 20mph trial period in the Borders, accident statistics actually show that it is rural roads where most serious injuries and fatalities occur.

“I was pleased that the police response is to work with motorcycle groups to press home the dangers of speeding on these roads and to enforce the national speed limit.

“I have asked the police to emphasise the accidents, and sadly a number of fatal accidents, involving motorbikes, where folks think they can go at high speed and don’t understand the road conditions and severity of bends and there have been occasions when people have sadly lost their lives.

“The police confirmed in the meeting that altering exhaust systems to create a din and racket is antisocial behaviour and will be dealt with accordingly.”