Only Councillor Nicholas Watson agreed with the dissenters as the Eildon Area Committee approved the plan from J. S. Crawford.

The firm sought consent for the houses on two-acres of grazing land at Forley’s Park with access from the narrow public road which High School pupils cross to access the playing fields.

The proposals were amended from a similar bid which was rejected in January by Scottish Borders councillors who felt the design and scale of the project was “unsympathetic to the character of the surrounding area”.

The Reporter who enquired into SBC’s local plan concluded the site was “undesirable due to the inadequate access roadway”. Despite this, the land was included in the plan as being suitable for five houses.

Agents for Crawford went back to the drawing board and revised the company’s proposal. The houses on plots 1 and 2 would have dormers instead of rooflights and traditional gables. The units on plots 3 and 4 would have their chimneys moved and bay windows altered.

But these amendments did not assuage six neighbours, including Goslawdales resident and community councillor Norman Roxburgh, who maintained their objections.

“The only changes are to minor details and there is no change to the number of houses or their heights,” said Mr Roxburgh, who reiterated his concerns over road safety.

“The area is very congested when pupils enter or leave school. When the school closes hundreds of pupils use this exit and school buses wait in the area. The danger to pupils and others during construction will be extreme and there is no alternative route to the site.”

Selkirk Community Council also emphasised the impact on road safety and claimed the revised plans did not diminish the unacceptable scale of the development.

But local planning officer Carlos Clarke recommended approval, claiming sufficient measures had been offered to improve the scheme in accordance with SBC policy.

On Monday, all three Selkirkshire members backed the project.

“This is much better than the last proposals and I’m reasonably content,” said Carolyn Riddell-Carre.

“This site is in the Local Plan and there are not many housing sites in Selkirk ... the design changes have helped,” stated Vicky Davidson.

“The road is popular with dog walkers and while I have concerns over increased traffic, this is, by and large, an improvement,” said Kenneth Gunn.

Councillor Nicholas Watson found no seconder for his motion to reject the plans. “This is still a huge and inappropriate over-development,” he said.