Wednesday November 4th 2026
Tweedbank Running Track
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Time is running out for an athletics track in the Scottish Borders with more than £500,000 needed to replace it.
The outdated synthetic running surface at Tweedbank Sports Club urgently needs replacement.
When members of Scottish Borders Council’s Finance Executive Committee meet on Tuesday, November 10, they will be asked to endorse £518k in funding from the authority’s Pitch Replacement Fund.
SBC’s estate of synthetic surfaces has continued to grow in recent years, including six full-size 3G pitches, nine full-size 2G pitches, one full synthetic athletics track, four compact athletics facilities, and three Multi Use Games Areas in the Borders.
A further full size 2G, 3G and compact athletics facility will also open when works at the new Galashiels campus are completed in 2027.
Synthetic surfaces can handle more intensive use than grass surfaces, but they require regular maintenance and eventually need replacement.
The running track at Tweedbank was installed in 2013 and is now judged to have “reached the end of its operational life” with replacement seen as a key priority.
The surface exhibits widespread wear, patch repairs and shrinkage to the track and as a result, it no longer meets the standards required for UKA TrackMark accreditation.
And there is a significant risk that areas of the track will require closure to the public if repairs are not carried out.
A report to members states: “To restore the venue to an acceptable and compliant standard, Sports Labs recommend a full re-surfacing of the polymeric track, including any necessary base repairs once the existing surface has been removed.
“This will provide a durable and cost–effective long term solution, re-instating the facility as a high-quality community and competition venue. The estimated cost of the work is £0.518m.
“The work to replace the track requires to be undertaken within the best weather window available.
“Given the current track condition, the proposal to replace the track is being brought ahead of the full review.
“If not approved ahead of the wider review, there will be insufficient time to appoint contractors to begin works in Spring 2027.
“Failure to carry out the work at this time will significantly increase the risk of health and safety closures.”
If funding is agreed it would leave £922k in the council’s Pitch Replacement Fund as of March next year.
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