IT is right and proper that the Scottish people get the chance to vote on whether they wish to see independent status restored to their nation.

The latest development in the independence debate involves the former Borders MSP, Jeremy Purvis, who has been unveiled as the leader of the campaign for what is termed “devo-plus”.

This is a proposal whereby Scotland would be responsible for income and corporation tax and its share of North Sea oil revenue, but not, as under “devo-max”, raise all taxes north of the border.

Whether the SNP’s agreement to put devo-plus on the ballot paper for the referendum in autumn, 2014, instead of devo-max is an indication First Minister Alex Salmond and his nationalist colleagues are no longer certain of a vote in favour of total seperation, and now realise the need for a fall-back, is anyone’s guess.

Hopefully, the next two-and-half years over which the debate on independence will occupy many more column inches in newspapers, will see a mature, sensible debate, as would be expected from a country that has given so much to the world.

But there is one small, insidious note that has started to seep out from some quarters and that is the view that if you are anti-SNP or anti-independence, then you are anti-Scottish.

That would be an insult to a huge number of Scots and should be stamped out now.

DEFEATED at the polls last May after eight years as the Lib Dem MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, Jeremy Purvis this week stepped back into the national political spotlight, writes Andrew Keddie.

The 37-year-old, who lives in Galashiels, was announced as the leader of the Devo Plus group, launched in Edinburgh on Tuesday to “inform and enhance” the debate leading up to the referendum on Scottish independence.

With members drawn from the Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dem parties, as well as leading non-nationalist Scottish reformers, the new group favours neither full independence or so-called Devo Max – where all taxes are raised in Scotland with Holyrood paying a grant to Westminster for reserved services – nor the status quo.

Instead, Mr Purvis outlined the Devo Plus formula which would see taxes, including Income Tax, Corporation Tax and a share of oil revenues, transferred to Holyrood, but with Westminster retaining National Insurance, VAT and other small taxes such as TV licences.

“The choice ahead for the people of Scotland is a clear one,” said Mr Purvis, who was his party’s finance spokesman before losing to long-time SNP rival Christine Grahame last May.

“It is whether to continue to be part of the UK or to leave it. Each political party, alongside trade unions, community and civic bodies will debate and discuss, but the people will ultimately make the choice.

“That choice can be an enriched one, if it is not simply a contest between separation and the status quo and, to secure a stronger Scotland within the UK, we believe there can be a better way forward.”

Mr Purvis said the fundamental principle of the new group was for a long-term sustainable relationship to exist between the two parliaments and, to achieve that, there must be further reform and a shift from Scotland being almost totally grant dependent on Westminster.

“In other words, if Holyrood is permanently not responsible for raising its funding, there will never be any real incentive for it to improve the tax base in Scotland as it will not gain from this improvement. Similarly, there would be no negative consequences to bad decisions made in Holyrood that damage the tax base.

“It is clear a sizeable number of people in Scotland are not looking for independence or the status quo, but for the best way of securing a strong Scotland within the UK for the long term,” said Mr Purvis.

“Devo Plus will offer precisely that. It is not a compromise solution, but it is the best solution – regardless of the referendum.”

Not surprisingly, Mr Purvis’s prescription drew criticism from Ms Grahame.

“This heralds the launch of yet another Lib Dem/Tory coalition with the prime aim of tying Scotland down,” said Ms Grahame. “Here we have the Lib Dems yet again betraying their core principles: in this case federalism.”

Ms Grahame said she was intrigued to see her “old adversary” heading up Devo Plus.

“I wonder how this campaign fits in with the various other flavours of devolution that the Lib Dems seem to be offering, such as the Home Rule Commission set up by Willie Rennie [Scottish Lib Dem leader] and the Scotland Bill currently being steered through the House of Commons by Michael Moore MP.

“Mr Purvis tells us he will vote ‘no’ in the referendum, yet he wants that to be a positive vote for change. The last disastrous Lib Dem/Labour coalition, including Mr Purvis, which governed Scotland up to 2007, failed to make any positive impact for the benefit of our nation.I would respectively suggest a similar cobbled-together alliance of the unionists will be bad news for the Scottish people.”

However, The Scotsman reported yesterday that a Scottish Government source had indicated, after Mr Purvis’s announcement, that Devo Plus, which acceded to SNP demands for the devolution of Income Tax and Corporation Tax, could be on the referendum ballot paper as a more viable alternative to Devo Max and that Mr Salmond could agree to include the new option if a strong body of opinion lined up behind it.

A COMMUNITY group wants Scottish youth hostel bosses to donate the Melrose youth hostel to it free of charge or at least sell the building so it can run it itself.

Melrose Youth Hostel is one of the last three surviving SYHA facilities in the Borders – the other two are at Kirk Yetholm and Broadmeadows in the Yarrow Valley – and all are earmarked for closure later this year.

SYHA’s reasons have been lack of user numbers and because too much money needs spent on the properties to bring them up to standard.

The organisation’s chief executive, Keith Legge, has now met with a number of community representatives from the three areas affected and has made it clear the organisation will listen to alternative proposals to closure.

However, what is also clear is that unless visitor numbers to these three hostels could be boosted significantly in a very short timespan, then the SYHA has firmly stated they will be closed and sold.

John Hawkins from Melrose, is spokesman for the newly-formed organisation, Friends of Melrose Youth Hostel (FMYH), and says those involved felt a separate stand-alone group was a better option than having an exisiting body, such as a community council, take on the task.

“We didn’t think it should be taken over by someone else, who would then be dealing with this issue as an adjunct to what they are already doing,” Mr Hawkins told us. “So we set up the Friends of Melrose Youth Hostel with the aim of acquiring the Melrose property and continuing to run it as a hostel, which is a vital asset for tourism in this part of the Borders.

“We have already contacted the Scottish Youth Hostel Association and asked it to consider donating the buidling to us, or at least letting us buy it from them. I have my doubts they will just hand the hostel over free of charge, but shy bairns get nae sweets as folks used to say around here.”

A number of local organisations are represented on the FMYH, including the local community council, Melrose Paths, Rolling Hills Folk Club and the local Rotary club.

Asked for a comment on the proposals from the FMYH, a spokesperson at SYHA Hostelling Scotland told TheSouthern this week: “No viable proposition has been received by SYHA Hostelling Scotland from any party.”

ELECTIONS for new community councillors for St Boswells will take place on April 5 and local residents are being urged to put their names forward as a number of long-standing councillors are retiring at this year’s annual general meeting, writes St Boswells correspondent, Kate Warner.

St Boswells community councillors represent the area in local planning matters and current and future development plans; the use of the Green; maintenance of the community woodland and public footpaths around St Boswells, as well as debating local issues and opportunities.

To ensure that all of this important work continues it is crucial that new members come forward.

Meetings are held once a month, except July and December, and are non-political, varied and interesting – with representatives of Scottish Borders Council and the Police Liaison Office attending to update councillors and members of the public on local issues and concerns.

Alison Reed, current chairperson of the village’s community council says she has enjoyed her long stint as a councillor and that it has been a very fulfilling role.

“Being part of the community council has had so many benefits for me – feeling part of the local community, keeping up to date with developments and news from Scottish Borders Council, and feeling that you are doing something positive for the village,” she said.

“If you are interested in your local community, able to see both sides of an argument and would like to participate in decisions which shape your local area then the community council is definitely for you.”

If you would like more information about St Boswells Community Council please contact Mrs Reed at abreed@hotmail.co.uk or call Douglas Oliver on 01835 822100 for an informal chat.

Or why not come along to the next St Boswells Community Council meeting on March 29 at 7.30pm in the Lesser Hall, St Boswells Village Hall, and see for yourself if the role of community councillor might suit you.

Nomination forms for St Boswells Community Council elections are available from St Boswells Post Office or from members of the community council.

NHS Borders has welcomed last week’s decision by Scottish Borders Council to demand an immediate road safety review of the notorious BGH junction.

Councillors unanimously approved the motion of Melrose and Leaderdale councillor David Parker regarding what he described as “the appalling accident record” involving vehicles emerging on to the busy A6091 trunk road.

SBC leader Mr Parker, as reported last week, had originally called for Transport Scotland, which is responsible for the trunk road network, to investigate the creation of a roundabout or a slip road to alleviate the hazard, which has seen 18 accidents resulting in injury in the past decade.

He also highlighted that, despite £10,000-worth of realignment work being carried out in December and the introduction of a “no right turn” for traffic exiting the hospital, a further two injury accidents had been recorded.

At Thursday’s full council meeting councillors went further and agreed to urge Transport Scotland to consider the installation of traffic lights as another possible solution.

A letter will now go to the national agency calling for it to “instigate an immediate road safety review of the BGH junction with a view to implementing a more significant engineering solution to resolve the well recognised accident problems at this location”.

A spokesperson for the health authority told us: “NHS Borders has expressed concern about the safety of this junction on a number of occasions and we welcome the council’s demand that this should be revisited.”

Norman Elder joins an exceptional roll of honour which has grown in size and stature since 1991 when the first Tweeddale Citizen of the Year award was presented to Janette Blackwood to acknowledge her sterling efforts in creating a meeting place for the young people of West Linton.

Subsequent recipients have been as follows:

1992 – Florence Nisbet (fundraising for the BGH Chaplaincy Centre and her work for sufferers from multiple sclerosis and Alzheimers and their carers).

1993 – Isabelle Paterson (community leadership and dedicated service over many years to the people of West Linton).

1994 – Thomas Docherty (service to the young people of Innerleithen and leadership of the town’s Crusader Group).

1995 – Stuart Rose (delivering humanitarian aid, often in dangerous circumstances, to beleaguered villages and hospitals in Bosnia and Croatia).

1996 – Peter Norris (service to the community through the promotion of the arts and crafts in general and Peebles Arts Festival in particular).

1997 – Brenda Pope (contribution to the community in Tweeddale through Friends of the Peebles and District Citizens Advice Bureau).

1998 – James Harris (contribution to community life over many years, encompassing a broad variety of activities and all age groups).

1999 – No award.

2000 – David Geddes BDS (outstanding initiative and energy devoted towards delivering much needed dental services in Nepal).

2001 – Keith Belleville (outstanding service through his involvement with St Ronan’s Silver Band, St Ronan’s Border Games and the encouragement and development of the youth of Innerleithen).

2002 – Peebles Rugby Football Club (winning promotion to Division One and the attendant honour this has brought to Peebles and Tweeddale).

2003 – James Munro (service to the community through involvement with Home Basics Tweeddale, the Eastgate Theatre and Tweeddale Association of Voluntary Organisations).

2004 – James Noble (contribution to the wellbeing of the community through involvement with the Tweeddale Sports Council and Peebles Tennis Club).

2005 – Charlotte Hunter (contribution to the communities of West Linton, Carlops, Newlands and Kirkurd towards the success of the Newlands Flower Show and fundraising efforts for the benefit of cancer charities).

2006 – Thomas Shearer MBE (sustained efforts in make an attraction of the Beechgrove Garden, Broughton, and charitable fundraising).

2007 – Donald Swanson (contribution over a period of 60 years to the community side of Scottish rugby and, in particular, to Peebles RFC).

2008 – Mollie McIntosh (more than 60 years of outstanding service to Tweeddale and, in particular, to the community of Walkerburn).

2009 – Allan Beveridge and David Turnbull (outstanding joint contribution to Peebles March Riding and Beltane Queen Festival Committee over 33 years).

2010 – Douglas Wright (contribution to community life in Peebles over many years and the organisation of the Scottish Borders Walking Festival).

Peebles man Norman Elder,62, has been honoured as the 2011 Tweeddale Citizen of the Year at an award ceremony in the town’s council chambers.

Scottish Borders Council convenor Alasdair Hutton, who presented the ashwood fruit bowl crafted by Peebles woodturner Mike Candlish, praised Mr Elder’s decades of service to the Tweeddale community, doing good works on many of the town’s civic committees, such as the Christmas Lights Association, the Beltane Committee, Peebles Rugby Club and the Peeblesshire Agricultural Society.

Thanking Mr Hutton and the award’s judges for both the prize and kind hospitality shown to his family and friends during the evening, Mr Elder said in his acceptance speech: “I feel privileged to live in an area which is rich in good organisations. However, I am only a small cog in a large wheel. There are many people working hard both within and outwith these organisations to ensure the smooth running of events. Without them, traditions, history and fellowship would not happen.”

“My theory is that actions speak louder than words,” the auto-electrical goods salesman said. “Most of the committees I’m on, I just do what has to be done. My father was like that: he never said no to anything he was asked to do.”

Describing his years of service, Mr Elder said: “It was my work with the farming community that got me involved in the Peebles Agricultural Society, first as a helper, then a trade stand convenor, and in 2007 I became the first non-farmer president, which was an honour.”

“My first involvement with the Christmas Lights Association was as a Callant helping the Gutterbluids put up and take down the lights.

“Today (30 years later) Ian Thorburn and myself are the only two survivors from the Gutterbluids on the new committee of volunteers.

“My interest in rugby started as a spectator, then I got asked to help take money at the gate. Eventually I joined the committee and still take the gate money, help set up the pitch, and volunteer to help behind the bar when required. I have never played a game of rugby in my life.”

“I joined the Beltane Committee more than 20 years ago. My first convenorship was children’s sports, and later lorry convenor – a role I shared with Norman McCormick. We rely on the contractors, farmers and others who give their lorries and drivers free of charge to help make our Saturday morning parade an outstanding spectacle. Work starts at the Beltane hut from February onwards – preparing and repairing the sides of the floats.”

“Probably the Beltane Festival is one of the brightest festivals in the Borders because we involve children. Saturday morning sees 500 children on the church steps all in fancy dress. When the two bands come along the street from the Cross Kirk, behind the procession of children, and start playing together, it brings a lump to your throat, and the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.”

Mr Elder, who was born in Peebles’ War Memorial Hospital in 1949, spent his early years in Blyth Bridge and West Linton, and now lives in Damcroft with his wife Christina, a nurse at Galashiels Health Centre.

“I am pleased to say my sons have not been put off: David is a member of the Beltane Committee and chairman of the Christmas Lights Association, and Scott, though not on the committee, is a willing helper at Beltane time. Christina is also a past Beltane chairman.”

“I hope I can continue to contribute to these organisations and the community for years to come. I’ll not give up, but I’ll probably take a step back, because climbing on ladders and jumping on and off lorries is not as easy as it was.

“We must encourage young people to come forward and join or help in these organisations to introduce fresh ideas,” he concluded.

David Younger, Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale and chair of the selection panel, in his vote of thanks acknowledged the continued support of SBC to the awards.

THE head teacher of one of the region’s largest primaries has been relieved of her duties following an inspection visit to her school last week.

The news that Cathy Mady has been removed from her post at 286-pupil Knowepark in Selkirk was conveyed to members of staff by Scottish Borders Council’s education director Glenn Rodger on Friday and a letter was later issued to parents.

On Monday, her place at the helm was taken on an interim basis by Jacqueline Wilson, head teacher of Kingsland Primary School in Peebles, who has, since January, been assisting the management team at Knowepark.

Significantly, the decision to remove Ms Mady was taken after inspectors from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) spent two days at the school last Wednesday and Thursday as part of a follow-through process.

The inspectors had previously promised to return to Knowepark within a year to assess if a number of shortcomings, highlighted in a report on the school issued in May last year, had been addressed.

That inspection was a follow-up to previous HMIe reports published in 2010 and 2008, the latter relating to performance before Ms Mady took over from her long-serving predecessor Nancy Marshall.

Asked for an explanation of what had transpired at Knowepark, a spokesperson for SBC’s education department said yesterday: “Following discussions with the head teacher and management team and staff, SBC has taken action to change the current management structure within Knowepark Primary.

“This change has resulted in the withdrawal of the current head teacher from the school and a continuation of the additional head teacher who has been working to support the improvement agenda at Knowepark since January.

“This change has been made following concerns that improvements within the action plan, developed in response to the HMIe inspection, were not progressing fast enough. Parents and carers have been informed of these decisions and the changes made.”

Mr Rodger added: “I am confident that staff and the council will work together to ensure that the children at Knowepark receive the best possible education and I will be monitoring the situation very closely.”

Although it is not unprecedented for a head teacher to be replaced in the Borders, the local secretary of the main EIS teaching union, Kay Miller, yesterday expressed concern at the way things had been handled at Knowepark.

“The report issued last May praised Ms Mady, while urging that the pace of change to implement the Curriculum for Excellence needed to be increased by staff,” said Ms Miller.

“But it crucially stated that, in order to achieve that improvement, the school would need further support from the council.

“The feedback I am getting is that the head teacher and her staff have been frustrated because they do not really know what is expected of them to meet the targets of the action plan referred to.

“I have certainly had no feedback that Knowepark pupils going up to Selkirk High School are in any way underperforming compared to students from other primaries in the catchment.

“These are stressful times for teachers and this union is concerned about the well-being of all staff at Knowepark.

“Considering this decision was taken before the inspectors had published a report, I think serious questions have to be asked about the role of the local authority and how things got to this stage.”

In last year’s HMIe report on Knowepark, it was stated that, compared to 2008, “teamwork amongst staff is now more effective and staff are working together to discuss and share improved learning approaches”.

However, the report cautioned: “The head teacher now needs to engage all staff in a robust evaluation of the quality of learning and teaching ... the school will need further support from the local authority in order to improve.”

THE watchdog Care Inspectorate (CI) has upheld no fewer than five complaints levelled by the daughter of an elderly resident at the specialist home for dementia sufferers at Craw Wood in Tweedbank.

As a result, inspectors have given the 25-unit facility, run by the Eildon Housing Association, the lowest gradings in its gift.

Indeed, the home has been officially branded “unsatisfactory” across three key criteria: the quality of care and support, the quality of the environment and the quality of management and leadership.

This compares to the respective gradings of “weak”, “weak” and “adequate” which were issued after an inspection in November last year.

And they are in stark contrast to the “very good”, “very good” and “good” ratings given to Craw Wood three years ago.

The CI defines “weak” as indicating concern about the performance of the service. “Unsatisfactory” represents a more serious level of concern.

The damning new assessment comes after January’s revelations in TheSouthern that police were probing the provision of care services at the facility.

The investigation began after Elaine Winwood, a care worker from Kelso, was informed by a member of staff at Craw Wood that her 72-year-old mother had allegedly been verbally and physically abused by another staff member on Christmas Eve.

Both employees were suspended and Eildon later confirmed the number of suspended staff stood at five, one of whom was later dismissed.

Meanwhile, Ms Winwood took her complaint over the standard of care her mother was receiving to the CI whose complaint inspector Annwyn Noble and inspector Sandra Thomson made an unannounced visit on January 18. A return visit was made by Ms Noble on January 23 and she has now conveyed the results of the investigation to Ms Winwood.

And she has upheld complaints that Ms Winwood’s mother had few opportunities to spend time outwith the home socially; that conversations with staff about her mother’s health were not always passed on to other staff; that her mother’s nutrional needs were not always met and she was not supported sufficiently by staff at meal times; that some staff were not suitably knowledgable about dementia care; and that staffing levels on the late shift and overnight did not meet her mother’s needs.

In her observations, Ms Noble notes that on one occasion there was only one carer on duty within the entire unit and that it was not satisfactory for staff to work for six months before receiving training in dementia awareness.

The inspector also found that staff were unaware of the resident’s weight loss and there was no evidence they offered her sufficient assistance to eat on days when this was required.

Eildon’s chief executive Nile Istephan said yesterday: “We are continuing to work closely with Scottish Borders Council, NHS Borders and the Care Inspectorate to address issues identified.

“In response to the concerns highlighted we have instigated a wide range of measures in our action plan, and these will be closely monitored by ourselves and the regulatory body.

“We are also able to confirm that, following thorough investigations of reported incidents, and confirmation from the police that they had concluded their enquiries on these issues, staff members who had been suspended on full pay pending these investigations have now had their suspensions lifted.”

SBC’s social work director Andrew Lowe told us: “The social work department is continuing to closely monitor the care provided and there continues to be additional management support from SBC into the home.

“The day-to-day quality of care for people in the home remains our key focus and, having read the inspection report, we are aware of the need for ongoing improvement in a number of key areas.

“However, we know that Eildon has an action plan in place and a number of actions are being taken forward, including the provision of additional training. We will continue to monitor progress.”

FIRECREWS used special hydraulic gear to free a woman from the wreckage of her crashed car near Selkirk this morning, writes Bob Burgess.

The 49-year-old driver, who hasn’t been named, was taken to the Borders General Hospital with spinal injuries.

She was trapped after her vehicle left the A699 Selkirk to St Boswells road close to the entrance to the Gala Rig race course.

The crash happened around 9am and fire teams from Selkirk and Galashiels together with paramedics eased her from the crashed car shortly before 10am

She’d been driving towards St Boswells when her Renault Clio left the road and went into a field.

Police say no other vehicle was involved in the crash.

THE BORDERS’ education chief has ruled out following another Scottish council’s lead by postponing new exams which form part of the new curriculum for excellence, writes Kenny Paterson.

Glenn Rodger said he was confident secondary schools in the Borders would be ready for the new system – which will replace Standard Grades and Intermediates – but he admitted there is still “a lot of work to be done”.

Mr Rodger responded after a suggestion at Tuesday’s education executive meeting that Scottish Borders Council could delay the introduction, as East Renfrewshire Council announced it would do in January.

The local authority, which covers communities to the south of Glasgow, will not put its pupils on to the new national exams this year as its headteachers believe they have not been given enough detailed content.

But Mr Rodger said: “East Renfrewshire Council are the only local authority in Scotland to take this action.

“The other 31 authorities have had progress reports which show we are on course to get to the point of delivery within the timescale recognised nationally.”

He added that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) was working with SBC ahead of curriculum for excellence, which aims to encourage staff to put together more of their own lessons.

“The latest survey showed there is a lot of work to be done but that was always part of the timetable,” said Mr Rodger.

“East Renfrewshire don’t do Standard Grades at present, which is one of the reasons for their decision.

“If I thought it was in the best interests of our pupils I would do that [follow East Renfrewshire] but I don’t think that is the case.”

LATE opening of libraries on selected evenings and, for the first time, access to council services on a Saturday are two innovations which Scottish Borders Council hopes will receive the blessing of townsfolk in Jedburgh, Selkirk, Kelso and Innerleithen, writes Andrew Keddie.

These are the four towns, along with Berwickshire’s Duns and Coldstream, in which the libraries and contact centres are being integrated in a bid to save the cash-strapped council £130,000 a year in employee and property costs.

The decision to merge the facilities was taken in December, councillors having been convinced that library staff could be trained to carry out contact centre duties and vice-versa, in towns where usage of both facilities was low.

The proposal, which attracted fierce local opposition, particularly in Selkirk and Innerleithen, when it was put out to public consultation last autumn, was also informed by the fact that cash transactions for council tax and other SBC services could no longer be accepted across the network of contact centres.

Now, in a new bid to engage with a sceptical publc, the council has launched a further consultation on a series of detailed proposals which seek to make the best use of the reduced opening hours.

The keenness of the council to implement the proposals as soon as possible is evidenced by the fact that the closing date for feedback, either in writing or via the SBC website, is March 18.

Under the new arrangements, the integrated service will operate in Jedburgh for a total of 25 hours a week, compared with the current 33 library hours and the 38 hours 15 minutes when the public may access the contact centre Monday to Friday.

The joint facilities will run from 10am-1pm and 2-5pm Monday and Thursday; 2-7pm Tuesday; 10am-3pm Friday and 9.30am-12.30pm Saturday. It will close on Wednesday.

Selkirk will experience the same total cut in opening hours, but the new service will be available six days a week instead of the current five: 10am-1pm and 2-5pm on Monday; 2-7pm on Tuesday; 10am-1pm Wednesday; 2-5pm Thursday; from 10am-3pm Friday and 9.30am-12.30pm on Saturday.

The changes are less radical in Kelso and Innerleithen.

In the former, the library will retain its 33 hours, which is three hours and 15 minutes less than current contact centre services are delivered. The joint service will start at 10am daily – an hour later than at present – but it will be available until 7pm on Tuesday and from 9.30am till 12.30pm on Saturday.

Finally, in Innerleithen, the integrated service will open for 16 hours, increasing access to contact centre facilities by one hour and 15 minutes. The joint service will close on Tuesday, but be open from 9.30am till 12.30pm on Saturday.

Councillor Graham Garvice, the Lib Dem executive member for culture, sport and community learning, said this week that, apart from the user-friendliness of Saturday opening for contact centres, with extended late afternoon openings, more children would now have access to the libraries after school. Lunchtime openings would also coincide with lunchbreaks for customers.

“What is being suggested reflects our commitment to improve the customer experience and providing an efficient service fit for the future,” said Mr Garvie.

“We know that both customer expectations and the role of libraries are changing. Recognising that times are tough and that there are improved technologies and ways of working, we need to do what we can to provide a secure future for both services.

“Now we have approved the integration, I urge local people to have their say on when they should be open.”

‘COMPLETE madness’ on the part of Scottish pipe band bosses is being blamed for the decision to scrap the highly popular Melrose Pipe Band Championships after 17 years.

Those behind the Melrose contest, held every August, have told TheSouthern that a switch of date for the Edinburgh Pipe Band Competition, from July to the day immediately after the Melrose championships, meant the Borders event was no longer viable.

It was just a few days before Christmas that TheSouthern first reported the decision by the Melrose championships’ founding chairman, Ian Graham, pictured right, and his entire committee, to call it a day and step down.

The decision cast some doubt over the future of the championships – run under the auspices of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) – but recent agreement by the Rotary clubs of both Melrose and Galashiels, to take over organisation of the 2012 event, with backing from Mr Graham and his former committee, looked to have secured things for this year at least.

However, Mr Graham contacted us this week with the shock news that the Rotary Club plan was now in tatters, after he could no longer recommend the championships go ahead on Sunday, August 18, in the town’s Gibson Park.

It followed his discovery that RSPBA chiefs agreed to a request from the capital city piping event to shift its date to the day following Melrose’s own contest.

“Two competitions held by the same branch of the RSPBA, on the same weekend, as well as being the weekend between two major competitions – we and others we have spoken to, think it complete madness on behalf of the Lothian and Borders branch of the RSPBA from the point of view of band and spectator commitment and cost,” said Mr Graham.

“We felt it would threaten the Melrose competition and both the Rotary Clubs and ourselves thought it would be too great a risk carrying on with the event.

“For that reason we have decided to cancel the event for 2012.”

Mr Graham says the very successful Highland dancing contest, which is held on the same day as the Melrose Pipe Band Championships will also be cancelled for this year.

However, he added that the Highland dancing contest will again be held in Melrose next year, and if there are no pipe band championships, it will be held indoors.

But, John Hughes, chairman of Lothian and Borders branch of the RSPBA, says it is a complete over-reation by those behind the Melrose event.

He pointed out that the promoters of the Edinburgh contest were within their rights to change the date of the contest as the July date was no longer available and there was no other contest planned on August 19 within 50 miles.

“There have always been contests on the Sunday following the Melrose contest. There are contests every Saturday and Sunday from May to September and all survive perfectly well,” said Mr Hughes.

“It is also worth pointing out that the bands who support Melrose are primarily from the Borders and East Lothian, and the feedback we currently have is that they will continue to support the Melrose contest, irrespective of what other contests are running that weekend. I think this situation is a complete over-reaction by the organisers of the Melrose contest. It would be a pity to lose the Melrose contest as it is well supported by the local community and a good number of bands from the area, and I don’t see any reason why this would change,” he added.

“Any decision to cancel the contest is being taken by the Melrose contest organisers and not this branch.”

But Mr Graham, a drummer with Melrose’s town pipe band, says the decision by the Lothian and Borders branch of the RSPBA to sanction the change of date had done the Melrose championships no favours and the end of the event would be a big loss.

“We would like to thank everyone who has helped over the last 17 years – I can honestly say 99 per cent of the Melrose people were right behind us and showed willingness to help us whenever they could,” he said.

“It was a great event which brought a lot of publicity to the area. It also gave a great deal of pleasure to competitors, spectators, organisers, sponsors and to the many visitors to the Borders.”

AROUND half of Scottish Borders Council’s recently approved £264million revenue budget for 2012/13 will go to pay its own workforce and meet the costs of property overheads.

But around £130million of that overall annual expenditure will be spent by the local authority purchasing goods and services from external suppliers.

And given the parlous state of the regional economy, the council has this week announced it is offering a “helping hand” to local companies wanting a share of that business by organising a supplier awareness event.

It will take place at the Newtown HQ on Tuesday, March 20 at 5.30pm and will feature a presentation informing suppliers about SBC’s approach to tendering and awarding contracts.

There will be a chance for private sector firms to talk directly to procurement personnel, along with other key buyers from across the council’s departments.

“This is an excellent opportunity for firms to learn about our procurement policy and how we award contracts,” said Councillor Michael Cook, SBC’s executive member for corporate improvement, who will host the event.

THE armed forces community in the Borders received a highly visible mark of support from local public sector organisations this week.

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) and partners strengthened their backing for service personnel and their families with the signing of an Armed Forces Community Covenant at the local authority’s headquarters in Newtown St Boswells, on Tuesday.

Representatives from the armed forces, SBC, NHS Borders, Job Centre Plus, registered social landlords, the charitable and voluntary sector, and the business and commercial sector were all present to add their signatures to the document.

The aim of the covenant is to encourage organisations across the region to support the armed forces community to access the assistance they might need.

SBC convenor Councillor Alasdair Hutton hosted the ceremony and signed the document on behalf of the local authority.

He said: “Members of the armed forces deserve our respect, support and fair treatment. They should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.

“And for some, those who have given most, such as the injured and the bereaved, we should be ready to give our special consideration.”

Representing the armed forces at the signing ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Sandy Fitzpatrick – commanding officer of 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (6 SCOTS) – said the signing of the covenant was a clear indication by public sector groups in the Borders of their commitment to increased integration between the community and the armed forces.

“It is excellent news for everyone serving in and associated with the military in the region,” he said.

“The military has always enjoyed a close working relationship with our local community and this is further evidence of its enduring support.”

As part of the covenant, members of the armed forces will also be encouraged to do as much as they can to support the communities they live in and promote activities which help integrate the service community into civilian life.

The UK Government launched the Armed Forces Covenant in July last year and encouraged the introduction of such covenants between civilian communities and the armed forces based or living in their areas.

As part of that launch, the Ministry of Defence set up a community covenant grant scheme.

Its aim is to put the community covenant into action and strengthen the ties and mutual understanding between the armed forces and the communities in which they work, are based or live.

The Scottish Government has supported the establishment of community covenants and encouraged applications for funding.

A GROUP of Kelso youngsters showed the way this week, with a litter pick around part of their home town that netted a bin bag full of rubbish.

The litter pick was organised by local childminder Gwen Bennet, and involved six of the children she cares for. Gwen, who does a similar event each year, received support from the Keep Scotland Tidy campaign, which furnished high visibility tabards for the kids and other items as part of one of their special ‘clean-up’ packs. Gwen and her young charges, who ranged in age from just under two to eight, started at 3.30pm on Tuesday at Abbotseat and worked their way up to the park adjacent to the Co-op in the town’s High Croft area.

“The kids absolutely loved doing this – so much so, in fact, that they all went home with their Keep Scotland Tidy tabards in the hope they could do some more litter picking at the weekend,” Gwen told us.

A childminder for 20 years, Gwen says she was inspired to organise this year’s litter pick in the wake of a number of negative letters from a Kelso resident which were printed in TheSouthern, giving his opinion on youth of today.

“I thought it would be nice to show the positive steps our children take to keep their community litter free and that not all children drop litter.

“Perhaps the story and picture in TheSouthern will inspire some of the older kids to follow this example.”

A FORMER Lib Dem councillor revealed this week he has been approached by both the Borders Party and the SNP with a view to representing them as a candidate at the local government elections in May.

But Norman Pender, who earned a reputation as a maverick when he represented the erstwhile Hawick ward of Burnfoot and Mansfield on Scottish Borders Council from 1998 to 2003, says he is “highly unlikely” to put his name forward.

And, if he does go for the three-member Hawick and Denholm ward, it will be as a non-aligned independent.

“I have respectfully declined an expression of interest from the SNP because, while supporting more devolved powers to Scotland, I have never been a separatist and I made it clear I was against Scottish independence because we have far too much to lose,” Mr Pender told us. “I was told that would not be a problem to my candidature, which I felt was rather unprincipled.

“The Borders Party made a polite approach which I felt was flattering because I think they recognise that I am a free thinker.

“We actually agree on many things, but I cannot really understand the need for people of independent mind to come under any party banner.”

And he confirmed his “total disillusionment” with his former party which currently has 10 of the 34 members of SBC and has, since 2007, shared power at Newtown in a coalition with the majority Conservatives and the three aligned Independents, notably council leader David Parker.

“Notwithstanding the utter abandonment of political principles we have seen from the Lib Dems at Westminster, the present crop of Lib Dem councillors has, for the last five years, propped up a council administration which is patently moribund.”

Mr Pender won a by-election in 1998, two years after becoming chairman of the Hawick Lady Riders Association which controversially and, as it turned out, successfully, championed the rights of females to ride at most of the equestrian events associated with Hawick Common Riding.

As a councillor he was often at odds with the Lib Dem whip, most famously refusing to withdraw a 2002 motion of no confidence in leader Drew Tulley.

The party’s blushes were spared when Mr Tulley, beleaguered by the infamous education department overspend, resigned ahead of the no confidence debate.

And Mr Pender also attracted headlines for once suggesting that Borderers over 60 should declare themselves too old to stand for election to the council.

“I admit, with the benefit of hindsight, that this was a ridiculous proposition. I remember thinking that Drew, aged 62, was positively ancient and that many of the old guard on the council were totally out of touch.

“I’m 64 now and feel I have much to offer, so I was definitely wrong about a cut-off point, but the fact remains that the present council contains too many members – and they know who they are – who appear just to be marking time and happy to go along with policies which are, frankly, out of date.”

Mr Pender, who was recently refused planning consent to build a bungalow hear his Cavers home with easier access for his disabled wife, admitted he was most concerned about planning policy at SBC.

“The intransigence of denying the people of Jedburgh a supermarket because the optimum site is reserved for industrial use when the whole world knows it will never be used for that purpose, and preserving empty shops for class one retail use on high streets which are full of ‘for sale’ signs, show a remarkable lack of vision.

“On May 3, there is little point in voting for Independents who are happy to jump into bed with the councillors of any political party just to grab a higher paid position on the council.

“It is time for younger, fitter, more intelligent councillors without political affiliations.”

it will take more than a year to become a reality, but the first symbolic step to create a new £9million replacement school in West Linton was taken this week.

Pupils, teachers, Scottish Borders Council and the construction company were all represented on Tuesday when the first sod was cut to mark the start of the 60-week project in the Peeblesshire village.

The existing cramped primary, with its roll of 237 and serving a burgeoning commuter-driven community of 1,500, is close to the former farmland site where a 12-classroom school, capable of accommodating between 400 and 460 pupils, will be built by the Robertson Construction Group.

It will be the last primary to be completed in a £33million new build and renovation programme approved by SBC in 2007 to address the worst examples of schools which were deemed not fit for purpose in a major review of the school estate.

To date, that programme has delivered new schools at Kingsland in Peebles, Lauder and Denholm, along with extensive refurbishments at Halyrude – on the site of the former Kingsland – Earlston and Tweedbank.

A new school to replace Caddonfoot is currently under construction in Clovenfords near Galashiels and is due for completion in the coming weeks.

At Monday’s ceremony, West Linton head teacher Hilary Elliot observed: “It’s wonderful that our children will be able to watch from the playground and see their new school grow day by day.”

A LOCAL MSP fears that a new ban on the use of performing wild animals in circuses in England could encourage travelling circuses to head for the Borders and the rest of Scotland, writes Mark Entwistle.

The Westminster Government recently announced that wild animals will no longer be made to perform in travelling circuses under proposals being developed by Defra (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).

The UK Government says it will seek to introduce primary legislation at the earliest opportunity to achieve its much-stated desire to ban travelling circuses from using performing wild animals.

In the meantime, owners of travelling circuses will be required to meet strict new licensing standards, which will ensure high welfare conditions for wild animals, following the publication of the Government’s consultation on a circus licensing scheme.

Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame, who chairs the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on animal welfare, wants to see a similar ban introduced in Scotland and has lodged a motion urging the Scottish Government to make a clear, timetabled commitment to also ban travelling circuses with wild animals as soon as possible.

She says the constant travel, confinement, lack of companionship and performing unnatural tricks for public entertainment is a long outdated understanding of the animals’ needs.

“I am pleased that the UK Government is making steps to ultimately ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in England, even though the timescale for such a ban is unclear,” Ms Grahame told TheSouthern.

But she warned: “However, I am concerned that once any ban goes through it will encourage owners of circuses to relocate in Scotland and this is something that must be stopped as soon as possible.”

Announcing the ban, animal welfare minister Lord Taylor said there was no place in today’s society for wild animals being used for entertainment purposes in travelling circuses and that wild animals deserved respect.

“We have said many times we wanted to ban this outdated practice, but before we could do that there were serious legal issues we had to consider,” said Lord Taylor.

“We are developing proposals to introduce a bill as soon as parliamentary time allows. In the meantime, we are introducing a Circus Licensing Scheme to ensure decent conditions for wild animals in travelling circuses.”

A consultation on the new welfare licences has been published today. Anyone responsible for a travelling circus in England that uses wild animals in a circus performance will need to hold a valid licence, meet strict welfare standards, prepare and follow plans for caring for every animal and have a retirement plan for each animal.

The licensing scheme will be enforced through inspections by a dedicated Government-appointed inspector and paid for by the circuses. The consultation will close on April 25 and draft regulations will be brought before the House of Commons by the summer.

According to animal welfare charity, OneKind, there are three travelling circuses with wild animals operating in England, making use of an estimated 39 wild animals. This includes tigers, camels, zebras and snakes.

A WOMAN accused of stabbing a man to death at a farmhouse hear Peebles will stand trial on May 8.

At a brief hearing in the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday, lawyers for Eliska Novotna, 22, claimed she was acting in self defence.

Novotna, currently on remand, denies murdering 39-year-old Aruna Ramanauskas at the Old Farm House, Easter Happrew, near Peebles on October 7 last year.

She also denies a charge of trying to hamper investigations by refusing to be medically examined at the Borders General Hospital the following day.

After hearing reports on how preparations for the trial were going, judge Lord Bannatyne fixed a date of May 8 at the High Court in Dundee.