A Waverley Housing Association tenant’s 14-month nightmare looks set to be finally over, after she bravely wrote to TheSouthern for help.

Sharon Hamilton of Earlston said her living conditions have been unbearable and she has been forced not only to live in a house that posed a risk to her physical and mental well-being, but also to reluctantly reveal that she suffers from depression.

Mrs Hamilton told us: “I can’t live in my kitchen or my bathroom, because it’s such a mess. I feel like it’s no longer my home. It is affecting my health, physically and emotionally, and it has gone on for over a year now.

“I feel like things are getting on top of me. I can’t get beyond it.”

Mrs Hamilton says the problems began in January 2011 with a small leak that went unfixed but resulted in her having to visit her GP and attend stress courses to cope with the anxiety. The situation also raised concerns about how tenants with mental health conditions are treated by social landlords.

But thanks to her letter and TheSouthern’s intervention, Waverley Housing Association yesterday told us in a statement that it apologised “for any inconvenience she may have suffered”, and that “we commit within the next two weeks to start the process of ensuring all repair work and redecoration is carried out to fix the damage caused by the leak at Mrs Hamilton’s home.”

“It’s been a very difficult year for her,” explains Wanda-Jane Field of the Borders Independent Advocacy Service (BIAS) in Galashiels, an organisation representing people who feel they haven’t been listened to.

In her letter to us, assisted by BIAS, Mrs Hamilton outlined her 14-month struggle.

“I reported a running outflow in January 2011. I then received an order form for work from Waverley to a third party contractor advising that I had mental health problems. The contractor did not contact me to complete the work. I feel this was because private information about my mental health was given out.”

Unknown to her at the time, exacerbating the leak outside was a shower leak which was causing water damage inside her house. “I didn’t realise I also had a leak in my property, which would have been identified had the contractor come to fix the overflow. This leak was finally repaired in the February – a month after my initial report – but my home was extensively damaged.”

Her upset at the damage, she says, was compounded by the unauthorised violation of her privacy. “I was absolutely gutted that personal information of this nature had been given out to a third party without my permission.”

Supported by the BIAS, she wrote a letter of complaint to the social landlords.

“In April I received an apology from Waverley regarding the giving out of my personal information. They offered me £100 compensation – which I have not accepted as I do not feel it to be sufficient to cover the upset and distress that this has caused – and [they] agreed to cover the cost of the repairs caused by the leak through insurance,” she said.

However, her ordeal was not over.

“[Waverley] also advised me that I must delay completing the redecoration and laying a new flooring until March 2012, to allow for the installation of a new heating system in line with their planned maintenance programme.

“I was so distressed and frustrated to be told I must live in these conditions for a further nine months that I requested to be rehoused in temporary accommodation until the repairs and central heating were completed. I also asked that the planned work to install the central heating be brought forward so I could return to normal life, and try to put the tremendous disruption behind me as soon as possible.

“Both requests were refused by Waverley Housing.”

However, the housing association later caved in to pressure after Mrs Hamilton’s MP, Michael Moore, wrote Waverley a letter, “asking them to reconsider their position”, and on 14 September, Waverley “finally agreed to install the central heating. It was completed in October”.

However, 10 months on and Mrs Hamilton’s situation was still not resolved, and she reached her lowest ebb.

“They also advised that because I had not submitted the insurance claim within the required time that I was liable for the cost of redecoration and laying of the flooring. While I was pleased to have central heating, my life cannot return to normal while I continue to live in the chaos caused by the leak. I cannot afford the cost of the repairs. I face living in this mess indefinitely.

“I feel Waverley have some responsibility in this matter. They had told me that I had to wait until March 2012 for the heating to be installed before proceeding with redecoration. My advocacy worker was present at the meeting when the claim form was given to me – and neither of us can remember being told that I had 30 days to return it.

“I consulted a local firm of solicitors who wrote to Waverley asking them to take some responsibility. Waverley’s response was to assert that they have no responsibility in this matter.”

But after TheSouthern forwarded Mrs Hamilton’s letter to Waverley’s chief executive Margaret Ross. Media House, a Glasgow PR company specialising in crisis management, responded on behalf of Waverley Housing.

“We recognise the complex issues surrounding Mrs Hamilton’s case and apologise for any inconvenience she may have suffered.

“We acknowledge that there was a breach of data protection in relation to Mrs Hamilton’s personal information and we have taken steps to throughly review our procedures to ensure such an issue does not occur in the future.

“Following the water leak and subsequent damage to the house, we entered into dialogue with the Borders Independent Advocacy Service (BIAS), who were assisting Mrs Hamilton in discussions regarding the required repairs.

“We issued an insurance form to Mrs Hamilton that stated that claims should be made within 30 days. Although the form was not returned within this period, we continued to ask BIAS, on behalf of Mrs Hamilton, to return the form as quickly as possible so that the claim could be registered. So far our request has been without success.

“An offer of compensation was also made to Mrs Hamilton as a result of the damage that occurred to her house from the water leak. That offer still stands.

“The installation of a new central heating system at the property has now been completed and we commit within the next two weeks to start the process of ensuring that all repair work and redecoration is carried out at Mrs Hamilton’s home.”

A POLICE blitz on motorists has netted a haul of drivers who have been charged with breaching traffic laws.

Lothian and Borders Police say its a reminder that if drivers choose to break the law, they will be caught.

Sergeant Brian Jones of the roads policing department at Hawick said: “Over the past week, officers across the Borders division have been carrying out patrols of town centres and rural roads. These patrols have led to 11 people being charged with various road traffic offences.”

These include a 15-year-old boy from Hawick who faces allegations of taking a vehicle without the consent of the owner and driving without a licence or insurance.

A 21-year-old man from Hawick is said to have provided a drink-drive reading that was three times the legal limit. A driver from Hull provided a similar reading after being found sleeping in his vehicle.

Police seized a vehicle from a 32-year-old man from Duns who did not have a driving licence and a 39-year-old man from Blyth was captured allegedly doing 104 miles and hour on the A697 at Greenlaw.

Sergeant Jones commented: “Local police are committed to making the roads within the Borders as safe as we can. It is very discouraging that despite repeated messages to motorists, some continue to ignore them and drive at excessive speed, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, use a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seatbelt, or not properly securing children.

“They are not only putting their own lives at risk, but are also risking the lives of other road users.

“This is yet another reminder to motorists that me and my colleagues will be out patrolling our roads. Be assured, if people choose to ignore our messages, they will get caught”.

Since the Borders lost its ba’ games in Peebles, Gala, Selkirk, Melrose, Hawick and perhaps twenty more villages, Jedburgh is the largest local town where an annual hand ba’ survives.

“Jedburgh is popular because it is still playing the original rough, tough game,” explains Hugh Hornby, a player of all Britain’s existing ba’ games, and author of a book on them, Uppies and Downies.

Four hand ba’ games compress into a week in the Borders during February – Bonchester Bridge, Jedburgh, Ancrum and Denholm – and in July the married and unmarried men of Duns engage in a contest during the summer festival.

The Jedburgh hand ba’, is played on the Thursday after Fastern’s E’en (Shrove Tuesday), between the Uppies (Toonheiders, born above the town’s Mercat Cross, and the Doonies (Toonfitters),born below it. The contest is divided into men’s and boys’ games.

To score, the two teams have to “hail” the ba’ over their opponent’s goal: the Doonies must lob it over Jedburgh Castle’s railings, and the Uppies must roll the ball across a road on the spot of the old bridge over the Skiprunning Burn. From where each ball is launched at the Mercat Cross, the distance to the two goals is, in the words of one veteran, “eeksie-peeksie” about half a mile either side.

A cash prize awaits the Uppie or Doonie who does hails, as one donor explains: “Whoever donates the ba’ can put what they want on it: that one’s for a diamond wedding with £60 on it for 60 years married.”

The prizes on this year’s 14 men’s balls ranged from £20 to a gallon of beer. “It’s a good afternoon – plenty o’ drink. That’s the main thing,” said one competitor.

Billy Gillies, 69, a player of 60 years who now shepherds the game, describes the ball: “It’s just a round leather ba’, a bit bigger than a cricket ba’. It’s stuffed wi’ hay, battered in, then sewn up. It’s been like that since time immemorial. It’s quite hard, you can’t quite get your hands right round it – you’ve got to be a big laddie to hold on to it.”

“There are no rules whatsoever,” Billy says, “except that you don’t do to somebody what you wouldn’t want done to you.”

One lad playing in the boys’ game added: “In the men’s ba’ you can play on the ground, but no the boys’ ba’.” There, he says, the only tactic is to run.

A veteran of the adults’ ba’ reveals the difference in tactics between the men and the boys: “If you’re fast, like a lot of they young boys, they can run with the ba’, but I’ve got to smuggle it. Hide it anywhere: up your sleeve, doon your trooser leg - I’m not going to tell you where I hide mines.” .

This means no one walking the street, no matter how innocently, escapes suspicion as a ba’ smuggler.

Another feature of the men’s game is the silent scrum on the street. “People are trying to move the ball from member of the same team to another,” Hugh says: “If you get down in it you can see the ball moving, and people hiding it in their clothing. If they’re lucky they can stand up and don’t get searched, and get away with it. There’s no doubt when you’re at the bottom of the scrum, you definitely feel it.”

However, one player of 14 years insists it’s “nae sore”.

Billy Gillies concluded: “In all, the Jed ba’ goes from strength to strength, and it’s thriving. The men had 17 balls, and the boys had eight. It just shows that people are supporting it by putting balls in.

“The boys’ ba’ has been unbelievable: there’s more people here playing the boys’ ba’ than I’ve ever seen. The men’s ba’ has improved out of all recognition over the past few years. Fostering the boys game 15 years ago is now proving the benefit for the men, which is the way that it should, so today has been tremendous.”

The final scores in the boys’ ba’ was Doonies 5, Uppies 2, and in the mens’ ba’ the Uppies were victorious with 8 hails to the Doonies’ 6.

z More pictures on our website, www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/

Jedburgh’s ba’ game enjoyed a bit of je ne sais quoi this year, with a film crew from the TV station France 3 visiting, writes Sandy Neil.

The reporters were joined by a French anthropologist, Françoise Decloquement, here to study the Jed game, and by fans of a hand ball variant played in Picardy in northern France.

“It is exactly the same game we have in our village of Tricot in Picardy,” explained Françoise, an expert on French traditional games.

“There is maybe a connection with Jedburgh: King David I, who founded Jedburgh Abbey, introduced friars from Beauvais, which is near our game in Picardy, and where they still play their own hand ball.”

Hugh Hornby, author of Uppies and Downies, a book about hand ba’ games in Britain, says: “The story goes that in 1548 a party of Scots recaptured Ferniehurst Castle – the family seat of Sir John Kerr, a mile south of Jedburgh – during the occupation of the area by the Earl of Hertford’s army.

“One of the Scots recognized an English officer who had raped his daughter, and decapitated him. The officer’s head was then used as a ball in a celebratory kickabout. The legend suggests that the streamers traditionally attached to Border balls represent the Englishman’s flowing mane.

“For some 300 years, the game has weathered every challenge to its survival. In only one year, 1901, was it not played because the day of the game coincided with the funeral of Queen Victoria.

“A ba’ painted black and decked with black ribbons was ceremonially thrown up in the Market Place as a way of showing respect, yet continuing the tradition.”

A town council ban in 1849 during a cholera outbreak was ignored, and overturned by a High Court judge in Edinburgh, who ruled: “I, for one, should hesitate to encourage the abolition of an old and customary game, which from time immemorial has been enjoyed by the community.”

These words were still being quoted in 2001 during a ban at the height of the foot and mouth outbreak. Two token ba’s were played, maintaining the unbroken line of Jeddart hand ba’ games since 1704, and probably before.

WEAPONS in schools at one time were confined to the odd catapult, a flexible ruler that carried a mighty sting and a length of leather in the top drawer of the teacher’s desk that left an even mightier sting.

However, things have changed. The teacher no longer has the sanction of the belt and the ruler and the cattie have given way to knives and guns.

Sadly the country is now no stranger to knife and gun crime in and around our schools. But confirmation this week that pupils in the Borders have been carrying knives and ball-bearing guns should send a shiver down the spines of parents and guardians.

Teachers, of course, have known of this worrying trend for some time because they are at the sharp end of it.

The haul of weapons from schools in the Borders may not be an arsenal of mass destruction, but they could have inflected injury and death. And if they have been found in the classroom one must seriously wonder what’s being carried in the schoolbag away from the playground.

Details of the weapons recovered were revealed as the result of Freedom of Information request to Scottish Borders Council. If that question had not been asked would we ever have known? The answer is mostly likely, no.

There is a tendency in government now to hide behind various pieces of legislation that which those in command do not wish those who are commanded, to know.

What is equally scary is the bland response from the council. They have said they take the issue seriously. They will note the figures and continue to monitor the situation closely.

That’s not good enough.

Firm action much be taken to ensure that nothing sharper than a pencil sharpener is found in our classrooms. And, of course, parents too must play their part.

TEN pupils were found in possession of offensive weapons in the region’s schools in the last full academic year, it has been revealed.

And that was more than double the grim haul confiscated during the previous year.

“We take this issue very seriously and note these figures,” said a spokesman for Scottish Borders Council this week.

The figures are revealed in a response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) enquiry posted on the council website.

The request sought details of the numbers of primary and secondary students found in possession of offensive weapons for the five years up to the last full scholastic year (2010/11).

The council confirms that three weapons (two secondary and one primary) were found in 2006/07, one weapon was removed from a primary pupil in 2007/08 and one was taken from a secondary student in 2008/09.

But in 2009/10 the figure rose to four – three secondary and one primary – and last year it rocketed to 10: six in high schools and four in primaries. The council also reveals an inventory of the weapons.

In secondary schools, the arsenal comprised three knives, five ball bearing (BB) guns, one rock, one wooden stick, one scriber and one weapon described as “improvised”.

Weapons confiscated in primary schools were three knives, one hammer, one screwdriver, one pen knife and one craft knife.

The response does not give information on where and when the incidents occurred, any injuries inflicted or details of any sanctions or punishment taken against the weapon-carrying pupils.

But TheSouthern did report at the start of the 2010/11 session that two pupils had been excluded from Jedburgh Grammar School after shooting at fellow students and a teacher with BB guns in two separate attacks.

The incidents occurred within two days of each other.

In the first, a fourth-year pupil fired pellets at a teacher and, in the second, a third-year student was charged with two minor assaults and referred to the children’s reporter for shooting pellets at two other children in the communal stairway within the school.

Both offending pupils were later readmitted to the school and the head teacher was praised for taking swift action in dealing with the culprits.

Asked this week about the surge in weapons found in schools for the full scholastic year, the SBC spokesman added: “It is something we will continue to monitor closely.”

Meanwhile, the council has also revealed under FoI legislation that there were 130 acts of vandalism at the region’s schools in 2011 which cost the local authority £22,024 to repair.

“It is disappointing that this amount of money is having to be used to repair damage caused by vandalism,” said the spokesman.

“When the police establish who is responsible … it is up to the courts to decide the appropriate punishments.

“We are continually educating our pupils to be responsible citizens.”

The school which endured the largest number of vandal attacks was Burnfoot Primary in Hawick where there were no fewer than 20 incidents which cost the council over £2,200 to put right.

THE collection of fossils found by Stan Wood in the Whiteadder has caused great excitement in the world of palentology and it is not difficult to see why.

Experts say the fossils, dug out of the bed of the river, near Chirnside, by Mr Wood three years ago, will rewrite a key chapter in the history of the evolution of life on land.

Hailed by naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough as a major discovery, the Whiteadder find helps overturn a long-held theory about evolution on Earth.

Scientists have always been puzzled about a period in the Earth’s history between 360 and 345 million years ago, christened “Romer’s Gap” after the American paleontologist and author of textbooks in the 1950s and 60s, Alfred Sherwood Romer.

Romer first recognized the lack of fossils from this 15-million-year period. When the fossil record resumes, a huge variety of tetrapod (four-legged) land forms had evolved. These were the ancestors of modern mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds.

Some experts had concluded that the reason for this gap was low levels of oxygen during the period, which limited evolution on land. But Mr Wood’s fossil haul from the Whiteadder now suggests that a large diversity of amphibians, plants, fish and invertebrates was thriving.

Scientists are examining the several hundred fossilised four-legged life forms, some of which were the first to walk the land, and which prove that animals with five fingers and toes appeared about 20 million years earlier than paleontologists had estimated.

The fossils are part of what experts believe was a whole eco-system preserved in the fossil records. One notable amphibian specimen has been nicknamed Ribbo because of its prominent and well-preserved vertebrate structure, providing scientists with enough information to interpret what the creature may have looked like as it roamed the Tweed basin about 350 million years ago.

The cache of fossils includes vertebrate forms previously unknown to science, and researchers around the world are excited at the information they will provide about the earliest development of life on land.

Mr Wood told TheSouthern this week: “There is a gap in the fossil record where we have no knowledge of life on Earth at all. These fossils fit perfectly into that gap and give an understanding of a period of Earth’s history of which we knew next to nothing.

“I think the Borders has great potential as a site for further exploration – there is definitely more down there.”

The remarkable find is the subject of a newly published paper in the prestigious American scientific journal, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Professor Jenny Clack, of the University of Cambridge, one of the authors of the PNAS paper, said that knowing what was happening during Romer’s Gap was critical to understanding how life on Earth developed.

“The period known as Romer’s Gap covers the key period, the earliest Carboniferous, in both the establishment of terrestrial ecosystems and the acquisition of terrestrial capability by tetrapods, but almost nothing about it was previously known from fossils,” said Professor Clack.

“Now, for the first time anywhere in the world, abundant fossils of tetrapods and associated fauna and flora from this interval have been recovered, from localities in Scotland. We have the unique opportunity to enhance and amplify our knowledge of this time with the new material. Its analysis and that of its context, will be of global significance.”

The display of about 20 fossils at the National Museum of Scotland is a taster of the larger collection, which museum chiefs hopes to acquire with a view to further in-depth research.

A previous find by Mr Wood is one of the star exhibits in National Museums Scotland’s collections of fossils of early land-based life – rated as one of the finest in the world.

This is Westlothiana lizzae – affectionately known as Lizzie – the world’s oldest known reptile fossil. It was found by Mr Wood in a quarry in Bathgate which he leased for four years in the late 1980s.

Its discovery generated excitement and media coverage around the world. “That was the most interesting find in my career – apart from this newer find,” added Mr Wood.

THE diagonal line of dark shale scarring the bed of Whiteadder Water, near Chirnside, would have attracted little attention from most people, but veteran fossil hunter, Stan Wood, was intrigued.

It was 2009, and with the river’s swirling waters almost over the top of his waders, Mr Wood made a discovery he had spent 20 years searching for.

It has since been hailed as one of palaentology’s most important finds and could bring a major economic boost to the Borders.

Edinburgh-born Mr Wood, who has lived in Selkirk since 2006, is a palaeontologist who previously worked for Newcastle University and the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow.

This week, a selection of 20 of the most important specimens went on display at the National Museum of Scotland after publication of details of the incredible find in the prestigious American scientific journal, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Experts believe many of the several hundred fossils, including species previously unknown to science, will rewrite a key chapter in the history of the evolution of life on land.

A consortium of interested parties put together by Mr Wood is now seeking to raise more than £3million in funds to allow the further exploration of sites in Berwickshire and elsewhere in the Borders.

Even famed naturalist and broadcaster, Sir David Attenborough, was drawn to comment: “One is accustomed these days to hear of sensational new fossil finds being made in [other] parts of the world. But to learn of a site in this country […] which must surely be counted among the most extensively explored, in geological terms […] is wonderful and exciting,” he said.

With Mr Wood’s discovery making the news as far afield as San Francisco and Croatia, VisitScotland regional director, Paula McDonald, says it could bring fossil experts from around the world flocking to the Borders.

“We are hugely proud that the ‘eureka fossils’ were discovered in the Scottish Borders,” she told TheSouthern. “The find is said to unearth a missing chapter of the evolution story and overturn a long-held theory about land-dwelling on Earth

“This is the only find in the world from that 15 million-year period and truly puts Scotland and the Scottish Borders on the international stage,” she said.

“Our hope for the region would be that palaeontologists from all over the world take the time to visit the Borders and discover other hidden treasures.”

For decades scientists have been in the dark over a 30-million-year period in the Earth’s history. Known as “Romer’s Gap”, after the American palaeontologist who first noticed the discrepancy, it is notorious for its lack of a fossil record.

But when the fossil record re-emerges, the ancestors of today’s mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds had already appeared.

Nick Fraser, keeper of natural sciences at the National Museum of Scotland, calls it a real “eureka” moment in paleontology.

“These fossils aren’t much to look at in and of themselves, but they may prove to be profoundly important in advancing our understanding of the earliest development of land-dwelling life as we know it today,” he said.

Speaking to TheSouthern this week, Mr Wood, said the Whiteadder find was one of the most satisfying discoveries he had made in a 40-year career as a fossil collector and preparator that has already seen him exhume many previously unknown species.

“Back in 2009, I was working underwater along the bed of the Whiteadder, not far from Chirnside. I started in a few inches of water, but gradually had to change to wellies and, finally, waders as I went deeper in,” he explained.

“What had drawn my attention was the seam of shale which contained these fossils and which was running parallel to the surface of the water, driving in at an angle. It was while I was pottering about there that I discovered this Aladdin’s Cave containing fossils important to the record of evolution.

“They give us an understanding of that part of the Earth’s history of which we knew next to nothing.”

Mr Wood says the haul is important because the fossils include examples of flora together with those of animals, and means the collection contains an examples of an entire community of life.

A former shipyard engineer and insurance salesman who turned to fossil hunting in 1968, Mr Wood, has almost three dozen previously unknown species to his name as a fossil collector.

As well as the fossil of the oldest-known reptile in the world, pulled from a disused Bathgate quarry in 1987, Mr Wood found the complete fossilised remains of a shark in 1973 that was also unknown to science.

In the years since, he has published numerous scientific papers on his work and was the subject of a BBC2 TV documentary in 1980, after finding a rich seam of marine fossils, including many shrimps, fish and sharks new to science at Bearsden.

He believes Berwickshire and other parts of the Borders have great potential for further record-breaking scientific discoveries.

“There will certainly be more down there. Unfortunately I won’t be able to take part,” said Mr Wood, who disclosed he has incurable cancer.

Of the plan for multi-million-pound funding to allow the further investigation of the fossil record in Berwickshire and elsewhere in this region, Mr Wood told us: “The hope is that such work would contribute to a real understanding of that part of the Earth’s history.”

z For more on these historic findings, turn to page 11.

AROUND 75 local children, teachers and parents will be dancing along a mile stretch of the Kelso bypass from Shedden Park to Sainsbury’s at 3pm on Saturday to raise money for Sports Relief.

“We wanted to raise the profile of the charity this Sports Relief weekend, and give the kids something fun to do. We’re just going to take music and free-style,” explained organiser Michelle Douglas, who has dance studios in Kelso, Duns, Melrose and Earlston. One young dancer, eight-year-old Emily Girdwood from Kelso, enthused: “We will all be in our uniform and there are even some teachers from Edenside School dancing with us too.”

Anyone wishing to take part is invited to come along to Kelso’s Shedden Park at 3pm with a donation for the charity.

Borders MP and Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore MP, has hailed today’s statement from the Chancellor as a Budget for the many, not the few, following the announcement of a rise in the income tax threshold.

The Chancellor announced in his Budget statement that, from April 2013, the Personal Allowance will increase by a further £1,100, taking the limit to £9,200. This means that more than 45,000 people living in the Scottish Borders will be £550 a year better off, with a £220 tax cut in 2013 on top of cuts of £200 last year and a further £130 next month. In addition, 4,700 people in the Borders will have been lifted out of paying income tax altogether.

Speaking immediately after the Budget, Michael Moore said: “As a Liberal Democrat, I have campaigned for years for a fairer taxation system, where help is provided for those who need it most and where the richest pay their fair share. I am delighted that we are delivering on our party’s pledge to go further and faster on raising the personal tax allowance.”

Other key measures include a cut in corporation tax in 2012 to 24% and a National Loan Guarantee Scheme announced yesterday to help smaller businesses receive cheaper loans. Commenting on these measures, Michael Moore said: “In these difficult economic times it is vital that businesses are given a helping hand. The reduction in corporation tax to 24% means we have reached our original target for this Parliament, and the planned further cut to 22% in 2014 will provide an extra boost further down the line. These measures will provide real help to our local businesses.”

FIRST Bus has said the cutting of routes and up to 200 jobs in the Lothians will not affect its Borders services.

The UK public transport operator is scrapping 20 of 37 bus runs in East Lothian and Midlothian, putting jobs at risk at their Dalkeith and Musselburgh depots.

The firm has blamed cuts in funding and rising costs for the move, but has insisted its services in the Borders will not also be scaled back.

First Scotland East managing director Paul Thomas said: “We have made a number of major changes to our services in East and Mid Lothian but we have no such plans in the Borders.

“Our customers in the south of Scotland can rest assured that we will continue to provide reliable, high quality services.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesman and South of Scotland MSP Jim Hume has held meetings with Mr Thomas regarding the company’s services.

He said: “First Group has taken a huge hit with cuts to funding by the Scottish Government.

“The SNP must face up to the fact that they’ve put intolerable pressure on bus operators by their double whammy of cutting the bus operator grant nationally by 20 per cent and drastically changing the formula for grant payments, all without formal consultation.”

The Scottish Government said strong competition from Lothian Buses had contributed to First’s difficulties in the Lothians, with Transport Minister Keith Brown due to hold talks with both operators regarding the loss of the 20 routes.

Meanwhile, bus fares in the Borders rose on Sunday. Tickets under £2.39 increased by 10pence, between £2.40 and £4.30 by 20p and fares above £4.30 are up 30p.

In November last year, Hamilton-based Banks Renewables gave a presentation to Hawick Community Council about its proposals for a 14-turbine wind farm at Birneyknowe.

The meeting heard that the plans were at a “very early stage” and would involve the possible erection of 14 turbines on a 842-hectare site four miles from the town and less than two from Bonchester Bridge.

But this week the company announced that, if it is successful in getting planning consent from Scottish Borders Council for an 80-metre-high testing mast at the site, the data collected will “shape designs for a wind farm of up to 20 turbines”.

Such a development would, claims Banks, generate up to 68MW, enough to meet the electricity needs of 38,000 homes. At that scale of generation, its appropriateness in that location would be determined, not by SBC, whose views would merely be consultative, but by the Scottish Government.

“Annually, [such a development] could remove around 76,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that would be released producing that amount of energy by non-renewable means,” said Phil Duke, the company’s development director.

He was commenting after comfirming his firm had this week formally submitted its planning application for the test mast to SBC.

“The wind mast is a slender and unobtrusive structure, but the information it collects will help us build up the most detailed possible picture of wind speeds at this location and is thus an essential part of the overall process.

“Out philosophy of development with care is fundamental to what we do and we have already had constructive discussions with two local community councils [Hawick and Hobkirk] and, moving forward, we will be looking to hear from as many local people as possible.”

Mr Dyke said the feedback from these early meetings had highlighted a lack of employment and training opportunities as a major issue locally, which could see his firm setting up or backing dedicated education and training schemes.

“We are hopeful the wind mast will be approved and move us a stetp closer to working in partnership with the community around Birneyknowe to deliver a wind farm which benefits the environment as well as local people and business,” said Mr Dyke.

“Such a wind farm would provide a significant boost for the Borders economy through the local supply chairn and create jobs during the construction process. Local companies will be encouraged to tender for the contracts.”

More than 3,300 homes and businesses in Selkirk now have access to faster broadband.

The town is among the 21 communities across Scotland to benefit from the roll-out of BT’s next generation broadband service.

The investment makes available download speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (mbps) – more than double the speed previously available from BT.

BT also announced that 1,900 homes and businesses in Eyemouth will be added to the faster broadband roll-out programme and upgraded later this year.

The technology is already available in Peebles and Kelso, while Innerleithen’s victory in BT’s Race to Infinity ballot meant super fast broadband was made available to the majority of the town last month.

Brendan Dick, director of BT Scotland, said: “The rapid roll-out of faster broadband continues to reach more communities in the Borders. This major investment is playing a vital role in the area’s future prosperity. The technology is changing for the better the way we live and work, helping businesses work more efficiently and flexibly and find new markets. And households are better able to make use of the huge range of online educational and entertainment opportunities available.

“But there is still much to be done and we want to work with the public sector to find solutions for the most challenging locations.”

Liz Cameron, Scottish Chambers of Commerce chief executive, said: “The news that a large number of exchanges up and down the country are going live with a new, upgraded standard of service is great news for Scottish business in terms of their ability to connect with markets and customers.”

I write in response to the two critics of the stance taken by the Reverend Leslie Steele (letters, August 21) – a stance which is taken by many Christians who are extremely disturbed by many of the changes being imposed upon us.

Because of our deep concern in the light of many of these changes, Christians are often vilified and viewed as being doggedly belligerent, but in fact this is rather a deep expression of our allegiance to the one, Jesus Christ, whom we seek to honour in our daily faltering walk. Our ministers in particular bear a heavy burden of responsibility as they dispense the truth from God’s Word.

However, it is perhaps worth mentioning one area of life which will never change, namely the day of our passing from this scene of time and the requirement for each of us to give an account for the way we have passed along our journey of life.

So, to our two friends and to the very many more, I would implore you to take a peep into the Maker’s handbook – the Bible – and perhaps you will discover that God really loves you too.

J. Waugh

Elm Row

Galashiels

ALTHOUGH the SNP is not due to publish its manifesto for the SBC elections until next week, the party of government at Holyrood is thought to be bullish about its chances on May 3.

All six councillors who currently form the main opposition group to the Con/Lib Dem/Independent administration are seeking re-election, and their bid to emulate Alex Salmond’s landslide victory last May will, it believes, be strengthened by new candidates.

These include former Scottish rugby internationalist Alastair Cranston in Hawick and Denholm, and two community council stalwarts – Clovenfords’ Stuart Bell in Tweeddale East and Tweedbank’s Jim Torrance in Leaderdale and Melrose. Into the fray will also step freelance journalist Maggie Stansfield in Kelso and District.

If the details of its policy programme are not yet finalised, it is known that the local SNP wants to replace the current executive/scrutiny decision-making system at Newtown with a more inclusive committee set-up.

Councillor John Mitchell, seeking re-election in Galashiels and District, said this week that, if the SNP is in a power-sharing position after May 3, he would at least expect the Lib Dems to support this change.

POLICE are hunting for two men who stole and crashed a bus in Kelso in the early hours of this morning (Thursday).

The Volvo single decked vehicle, belonging to UK operator First, was found badly damaged in the Thomson View area at 12.20am, not far from Kelso Racecourse where it was taken.

Police say two men were seen running from the bus and one was described as having a dark hooded top.

A First Scotland East spokesperson said: “We can confirm that one of our buses was stolen from our parking area in Kelso in the early hours of this morning.

“The bus, which was out of service at the time, is a single decker Volvo and has been badly damaged.

“We are working closely with Lothian and Borders Police to establish what happened and apprehend the perpetrators.

“We would urge anyone with any information to contact the police force immediately.”

Police have today (Thursday) continued their search for missing Duns man Tony Quinn.

Mr Quinn was last seen on Sunday evening in the tiny settlement of Longformacus, north west of his home town.

The 55-year-old has failed to contact with friends or family and concern is now growing for his welfare.

He is described as white, 5ft 7ins tall with a slim build, brown eyes and long well kept brown hair, which is swept back from his face.

Mr Quinn was last seen wearing a dark jumper, dark blue jeans, black shoes and a grey jacket. He may also have been carrying a small green bag.

A police spokesman said: “Tony has not been seen or heard from since Sunday evening and as such we are eager to trace him as soon as possible.

“Anyone who believes they know is current whereabouts is asked to contact police immediately.

“Similarly, we would urge Anthony to get in touch with family, friends or police and let us know he’s safe and well.”

Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on

0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

TWO Scottish Power depots in Galashiels have had a total of £7,500 worth of equipment stolen, police announced today (Thursday).

And officers wish to track down a large van seen near both facilities at the time.

The Scottish Power centres at Melrose Road and Winston Road were targeted between 8.05pm on Monday and 4.25am on Tuesday.

The items stolen include a quantity of copper metal and a number of expensive tools.

A police spokesman said: “Anyone who was in the area of Melrose Road or Winston Road, Galashiels around this time and remembers seeing anything suspicious or anyone with information is asked to contact the police.

“The police are particularly interest in sightings of a large van in the area.”

BOWHILL is revealing rooms to the public not seen in 30 years.

The house opened in time for Easter this year – three months earlier than usual – and has unlocked the Sir Walter Scott room and the Buccleuch family’s library.

Bowhill House manager Helen Currie said: “Bowhill has always offered visitors a wealth of art, history and holiday adventure but this year the public will be able to access rooms which have been off-limits for decades.” The Walter Scott room features an exhibition on the Selkirk sheriff and novelist.

Mrs Currie said: “The room lets visitors explore the links between Sir Walter Scott and the Buccleuch ancestors as well as looking at the detail of his life. You will be able to see Scott’s pipe, quaich, desk seal and ink stand surrounded by artwork of the period such as pieces by Sir Henry Raeburn and Wilkie.”

The Bowhill library has also been opened up, giving visitors an insight into the personal family space of the Duke of Buccleuch and his family.

Mrs Currie said: “We’re delighted that these treasures will be open to the public and, for the first time in a very long time, look forward to welcoming visitors from spring.”

Bowhill’s Easter Fun Day takes place this Sunday. For more information on this, opening times and special events, visit www.bowhill.org.uk.

FAR from abandoning the Borders, youth hostel bosses revealed yesterday they are looking at opening a new facility in the region.

SYHA Hostelling Scotland put their Melrose and Yetholm facilities on the market on Monday, but granted Broadmeadows in the Yarrow Valley a further season to prove its worth.

And, just as TheSouthern went to press yesterday, the organisation’s chief executive Keith Legge revealed: “We are exploring options for opening a new youth hostel in the Borders, resources permitting.”

Scottish Borders Councillor Vicky Davidson, SBC’s economic development executive member, said: “That would be very good news, but it’s not something SYHA Hostelling Scotland have mentioned in their meetings with us, although we stressed it would be a great mistake for them not to have any youth hostel presence in the Borders. The 6,700 visitors who stayed at their hostel in Melrose last year is a big market.”

The 80-bed Priorwood House in Melrose is for sale at £850,000, while the five-bedroom Kirk Yetholm property is priced at £130,000.

Action group Friends of Melrose Youth Hostel had hoped the charity would gift or sell the Melrose hostel to them and news of the sale came as a surprise.

The group’s John Hawkins said: “We need to consider our next move, which could be a community buy-out.”

And there have been advances by a party wanting to continue running the Yetholm operation as a hostel.

Councillor Davidson said: “There is interest in keeping the Yetholm hostel as a hostel. They have been in touch with the SYHA directly, but that opportunity may be gone now it’s on the open market. They were surprised they had not been told it was being put on the market.”

Melrose hotel, the George and Abbotsford, has decided against becoming an ‘associate’ hostel because of the changes SYHA would want it to make and hotelier Philip Titley said: “We are really hoping we can keep people within Melrose with the rooms we already have. We want to make sure people still visit and have somewhere to stay within their budget.”

Broadmeadows – Scotland’s first hostel, opened in 1931 – has been given an extra month’s opening, now starting in May, in a bid to increase usage.

Mr Legge yesterday refuted criticism, saying: “SYHA has worked hard to collaborate with all interested parties to find solutions.”

Opening Broadmeadows earlier in the season came about following a community meeting he said, adding: “We have given an undertaking to review the situation again at the end of the year.”

He said the organisation “has been in discussions with independent operators regarding the sale of Kirk Yetholm as an affiliate hostel and going concern” and that there are ongoing opportunities for independent backpackers to become SYHA affiliates

He continued: “Additionally, we are currently exploring longer-term options for opening a new youth hostel in the Borders, resources permitting.

“Since announcing closure of the youth hostels nearly five months ago, SYHA has publicly stated on a number of occasions that we would welcome any viable proposals concerning the future of these hostels.

“Sadly, no such proposal has been forthcoming and regrettably the buildings are now being publicly marketed for sale.”