Border Search and Rescue Team has taken possession of a new Land Rover Defender, supplied by Kelso firm Lloyd Land Rover.

Fully kitted for off-road work, the Defender will make a massive contribution to the vital work of the team.

Land Rover sales executive David Miller told us: “We’re delighted to be able to provide this wonderful vehicle for use in the local area by the Border Search and Rescue Team.

“They give up countless hours of their free time to volunteer their skills and services to help our local community, so it’s only fitting they should have use of the best vehicle possible to aid their efforts.

“We wish them every success with the new Defender and look forward to hearing of its involvement on the local fells and mountains.”

Stuart Fuller-Shapcott, the team’s deputy leader and equipment officer, said: “The new Defender will be kitted out with the latest rescue equipment.

“It has room for a stretcher, in the rear, as well as sirens and mountain rescue radios, and full ambulance graphics on the exterior, so it combines the reliability and functionality that we need, as well as being instantly recognisable as an emergency vehicle.”

Mr Fuller-Shapcott added: “We’re delighted Lloyd Land Rover were able to provide the vehicle and kit it out. It’s a good partnership and will significantly improve the service we are able to offer.”

THE chairman of Galashiels Community Council has called for those on the sex offenders list to be classified, writes Kenny Paterson.

Bill White made his comments at the council’s April meeting after a national tabloid newspaper reported that there were 23 registered offenders in Galashiels area.

The figures from November last year showed the TD postcode had one of the highest concentrations of sex-crime offenders in Scotland, with criminals also housed in Hawick (20), Melrose (7), Selkirk (6), Jedburgh (6), Kelso (4), Duns (4), Coldstream (2), Eyemouth (2) and Gordon (1).

Mr White questioned whether Galashiels and other towns in the Borders were dumping grounds for paedophiles, as suggested by the Sunday newspaper.

He said: “I know of two cases where a drunk dropped his trousers in public and he was placed on the register.

“There is a case for grading them (offenders).

“We have lots of schools in the area, so we should know what type are on this register. There are a lot of questions to be asked.”

PC Bob Millar told community councillors: “Registered sex offenders range from an under-age teenager having sex with another under-16, or someone posting an obscene photograph by text or email.

“It is not necessarily a paedophile.”

Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP John Lamont added: “If there is any suggestion that Hawick and other Border communities are being used as an easy dumping zone for sex offenders, that is a very serious concern.

“At the same time, we need to bear in mind that there is a varying degree of types of sex offenders, so some pose more danger than others.

“If parents are worried about anybody, it is important that they contact the police in the first instance.

“It’s up to the police to take further action, not up to people to act.”

A BUSINESSMAN who waged a personal campaign against the region’s first community wind farm being developed in Selkirk has demanded that the project should now be ditched.

“It would be grave injustice should any organisation show its contempt for the wishes of the majority by proposing wind farms at any of the proposed sites,” said Peter Field.

He was responding to last week’s Southern which revealed the results of postal ballot carried out by the charitable Selkirk Regeneration Company (SRC).

Ahead of the recent vote, Mr Field printed hundreds of flyers, urging the 7,000 people living in the TD7 postcode area of Selkirkshire – the constitutional bailiwick of SRC – to reject all three proposed sites. As it turned out, the total votes cast was 949, including an unknown number of young people born before August 2001, who were also eligible to have their say.

In its press release after the Royal Mail had completed the counting process, SRC said 603 (63 per cent) had “voted positively”, while 364 (37 per cent) had voted against any of the options. Although some voters had voted yes for more than one option, SRC revealed that 394 had plumped for option one (the largest development on private land north of the town), 391 had gone for option two and 389 chose option three – both being smaller developments on the town’s South Common.

But Mr Field stressed that, given that the questions on each option asked the public to vote yes or no then, by definition, 555, 558 and 560 people had voted against the respective options.

“This is an unequivocal rejection of each proposal,” he told us. “SRC should now consider its position and perhaps concentrate on alternative fundraising projects that do not divide the community as its foray into wind turbine territory clearly has.”

But SRC director Lindsay Neil said: “What we have been given is affirmed approval for the establishment of wind power to benefit our community, although admittedly we have been given no clear steer on which option to go for.

“The directors will take soundings from our 100-strong membership at our annual general meeting on April 25 before deciding how to proceed. The next stage will be to take our selected proposal to the planning stage.”

Dr Neil added: “A Scottish Government loan to SRC, only repayable if and when income, as well as electricity, is generated, will underwrite that cost, although there can be no guarantee that planning consent will be granted.”

A BORDERS ex-army officer has accused the local Scottish National Party of misleading voters with claims that teenage boys in uniform are really “fighting” soldiers and as such should be allowed to vote.

Neil Ballantyne, who runs the Ballantyne’s of Walkerburn military figurines firm, is a former Parachute Regiment officer who lives in Ettrickbridge.

Mr Ballantyne, who has two sons who have been deployed on active service while in the military, was so outraged by statements contained in the SNP survey, that he contacted TheSouthern.

“There is a printed leaflet being passed around Galashiels by our SNP prospective council candidates that states that it is the view of the SNP that 16-year-olds who join the army are ‘fighting’ soldiers and as such should therefore have the right to vote,” said Mr Ballantyne, whose wife, Michelle, is also standing – for the Conservatives – in next month’s local authority elections.

“It is also clear that the nationalists, even on their main national website, are using this logic as a major part of their argument to squeeze down the voting age in the 2014 independence referendum to include 16 to 18-year-olds.”

Mr Ballantyne pointed out that while Britain’s armed forces accept youngsters from the age of 16 into training as junior soldiers, they were not permitted to be deployed on operations.

“Young soldiers – under the age of 18 – are not legally allowed to fight and have to remain at their home base whilst the battalion or unit deploys. On their 18th birthday they are called forward to join their parent unit,” he said. “In my time in the army, the regimental staff were extremely particular if you were under 18 – you stayed in barracks no matter what the situation.”

However, when contacted by TheSouthern, SNP councillor John Mitchell, who represents Galashiels and District, said no offence was intended and there was no attempt to deliberately mislead people.

“We recently distributed 5,000 copies of our survey. In it there was a statement that since 16-year-olds can join the army and fight for their country, because they can pay taxes, then they should be allowed to vote,” explained Mr Mitchell.

“Even if you only cook or clean in the army, you are classed as technically ‘fighting’ for your country. But several people have since highlighted this particular phrase and pointed out that since the Falklands War – when I think someone quite young was killed – the rules have changed over who can and cannot be sent to actually fight. It was just semantics really, but we have apologised for any misunderstanding.”

But Mr Ballantyne said the precedent for this policy on age limits was set during the First World War when it was understood that young men, who did not yet have the right to vote, could not either be sent to war, or vote to send others to war.

“The key here is ‘over 18’. The days of ‘boy’ soldiers seeing active service on the front line at Waterloo or Rorke’s Drift a re gone, this was a turning point in our society,” added Mr Ballantyne.

“My concern is that either the SNP haven’t bothered to find out the facts concerning the role of our under-18s in the British armed forces; or that they have found out, but find their own argument just too persuasive to be bent by the truth; or finally, and this is even more concerning, is that in the independent Scotland that the SNP envisages, they plan to send 16 to 18-year-olds, as voting adults, into military action.”

NO plan is yet in place to fix a troublesome bottleneck junction in Galashiels.

Queues are often lengthy at the narrow Hall Street junction which merges onto busy Island Street near the centre of town.

Councillor Sandy Aitchison said he discussed the long-standing issue with Ewan Doyle, Galashiels Inner Relief Road project manager.

Mr Aitchison told Galashiels Community Council: “The problem is if you want to turn right you block every car wanting to go left.

“The junction is not part of the Gala Inner Relief Road project, but they have looked into having two lanes to turn left or right.

“There is also a possibility that a small roundabout, similar to the one at the Abbotsford Road/Tweed Road junction, be put in place by taking out the adjacent garden area.

“Hopefully we will see something in the not too distant future, but nothing is in place yet.”

Community council vice-chairman Kenneth Windram said: “The Clovenfords to Scott Street route is already a rat run – this needs sorted out.”

THE Galashiels author of a famous Scottish lullaby could have a street named after him on one of the Borders largest housing estates.

National developer Persimmon has put forward Coulter Avenue to Galashiels Community Council as one of the possible road names in its 500-home site at Easter Langlee.

The inspiration comes from Coulter’s Candy, written by Galashiels weaver Robert Coltart who penned the song while earning extra money as a sweets salesman during the 19th century. Despite passing away in 1880 at the age of 43 due to a brain tumour, Coltart’s children’s tune, which includes the famous line “Ally bally, ally bally bee”, became a national favourite.

Previous plans to honour Coltart have included a statue and festival of children’s songs in his name.

Three names were put forward by Persimmon – who have dropped the estate’s controversial Melrose Gait title – for the first phase of the scheme due to be completed this year.

Queen Elizabeth Drive and Queen Elizabeth Circle would reflect the monarch’s diamond jubilee year, while Kingfisher Grove represents one of the varieties of wildlife seen on the nearby Allan Water.

No objections were made when Queen Elizabeth Drive and Circle and Kingfisher Grove were discussed at the community council last Wednesday. Other suggestions include Redpath Square, as a tribute to Galashiels-born artist Anne.

Meanwhile, a 49-home development by Miller Homes which forms part of Persimmon’s development was approved by Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee on Monday.

The land was previously subject of a successful planning application by Inverness-based Tulloch Homes before SBC’s policy required new estates to include at least 25 per cent affordable housing came into force.

As a result, Tulloch’s agreement for 15 per cent affordable homes will stand.

PEEBLESSHIRE health spa Stobo Castle has chosen a new Face of Stobo.

Ayrshire 19-year-old Chloe Campbell, pictured, triumphed from more than 350 entries across Scotland.

Stobo Castle managing director Stephen Winyard said: “It is fantastic that Chloe has won this competition and we feel she is a great representative of Stobo’s health and wellbeing ethos.

“We wanted someone who would appeal to our wide customer base and Chloe is not only a beautiful girl, but she also has a great personality which makes her the perfect fit.”

The business student from Kilbirnie will front an advertising campaign worth in excess of £100,000.

And she wins a portfolio shoot with Peebles photographer Kenny Martin and a three-night stay in Stobo’s best room.

She said: “It was thrilling to hear that I had won the Face of Stobo competition. I look forward to working with Stobo over the coming year.”

A regular photographer of models, Mr Martin was one of the judges of the competition.

He said: “Chloe just seemed to suit the whole profile of Stobo. She seemed to understand what was needed from somebody who is going to be the face of Stobo.

“I only had five minutes to take three different shots with the final six models. It was great fun. I’ll be doing a portfolio with Chloe when we can set up a time to suit us both.”

Stobo’s new face is studying for an HND at the City of Glasgow College and has done some modelling over the last three years.

Last year’s winner Lauren Tempany has moved onto the international catwalks, working for Alexander McQueen and Julien McDonald.

EARLSTON’S Lorna Duncan has been appointed Abbotsford House major gifts fundraising manager, as the estate attempts to find a further £3.7million to secure the property’s long-term future.

The newly-created role will see Lorna, who has previously worked to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Care and the Edinburgh Academy Foundation, spearhead a cash drive to help complete the £14million project.

Jason Dyer, chief executive of The Abbotsford Trust, said: “We have been extremely well supported to date and have raised over £10million to restore and protect one of Scotland’s most precious cultural assets, however, we still need to raise a further £3.7million to make sure the project will be in a secure financial position in the years to come. Lorna has the ideal experience to drive this element of the project forward and we are delighted that she has joined the Abbotsford team.”

The regeneration project will see the opening of a new visitor centre this summer in addition to the reopening of the main house in 2013, following vital restoration and refurbishment.

Donations can be made via www.scottsabbotsford.co.uk or by contacting The Trust on 01896 752043.

THE people of Stow will get three months to air their views on the future of the former Royal Hotel site, writes Kenny Paterson.

Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee on Monday passed a planning brief for the Townfoot Road area alongside the main A7 road, with the Adopted Local Plan indicating there is capacity for 11 homes.

Demolished last year following a seven-year dispute, a replacement for the 19th-century building can not be higher than two storeys and must reflect the former hotel’s qualities, according to the planning brief.

Stow councillor Sandy Aitchison told TheSouthern this week: “Obviously this saga has gone on and on over the years and the village is crying out for a solution which gives the developer something but also gives us back the village.

“The fact that mixed use is still one of the recommendations is also important in that it says that, in part at least, it should add to the amenity of the village.

Mr Aitchison described the brief’s request for an innovative design using materials such as sandstone, whinstone, harling and slate as the most important part of the document.

“A good architect given this opportunity should be able to produce something both good to look at but paying some attention to the site in which it sits,” he added.

IT is asking too much of private builders to demand that 25 per cent of the houses they build on any particular site should be affordable, writes Andrew Keddie.

That is the view of Councillor Carolyn Riddell-Carre (Con, Selkirkshire), Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for planning, who is urging the public to support a review of that policy because of the economic downturn.

Despite a dearth of new build housing activity and general stagnation in the construction industry, the maintenance of the 25 per cent requirement is the “preferred option” in the main issues report (MIR) of the council’s local development plan which is out to public consultation for the next 10 weeks.

The plan, if approved, will set out a framework against which future planning decisions on housing, employment land, town centres and the protection of green spaces are made.

Mrs Riddell-Carre, who is not standing for re-election next month, told Monday’s meeting of Selkirk Community Council that the present affordable housing policy was too prescriptive and should be reviewed.

“It’s all very well to demand 25 per cent affordable housing on a site of luxury houses each worth, say, £250,000, but for developments in the medium price range, the 25 per cent requirement is a real burden on viability and will have the effect of pushing up prices.

“It’s a difficult one,” she said. “We want affordable housing, but we don’t want low-cost market housing becoming too expensive. I believe the policy needs reviewed because, at the end of the day, 25 per cent of nothing is nothing.”

Earlier on Monday, at a meeting of SBC’s planning committee, Mrs Riddell-Carre failed in a bid to amend supplementary planning guidance on replacement windows.

She believed it was unfair to demand that householders in listed buildings and conservation areas must replace rotting sash and case wooden-framed windows “like for like”.

She admitted that 20 years ago double glazing units were “hideous” but she believed technological advances meant this was no longer the case.

Although failing to get the guidance amended, Mrs Riddell-Carre won an assurance that planning officers would review the issue and report back to a future meeting of the committee.

FEARS for the long-term future of nurseries, playgroups and out of school clubs run by the independent and voluntary sector in the Borders have been voiced this week.

According to John Paton-Day, who is Scottish Borders Council’s children’s and young people’s champion, one nursery manager has already handed in her notice after the Scottish Government decreed that all people in her position must, as a condition of registration, study for a degree in childhood practice.

And another, Lynn McCulloch, has told TheSouthern that she is “seriously” considering her position in light of the requirement.

Mrs McCulloch, who runs the East Green Nursery in Earlston, catering for 80 children aged from two-and-a-half to five, says the demand is “a step too far”.

“I believe under managers feel the same: that this is a quite unnecessary extra burden for a sector whose staff and the service they deliver are already more than adequately monitored and regulated,” said Mrs McCulloch.

Councillor Paton-Day wants the new council elected on May 3 to lobby Holyrood to have the decision reversed.

Since last December, the Scottish Government, in a bid to dovetail pre-school education with the Curriculum for Excellence, has insisted all new managers of nurseries, playgroups and out of school clubs must either be already on a Level 9 degree course (BA in Childhood Practice) or be enrolled to start such a course. This will also be a phased requirement for existing managers who have, since 2008, been registered with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

“I am acutely aware that independent child care providers in the Borders are under increasing pressure to maintain an affordable service,” said Mr Paton-Day. “So it is unwise for any government to demand any change that could significantly increase the cost of provision, as well as threaten the ability of some independent providers to maintain any provision at all.

“All nursery managers should already be qualified to what is known as Level 8 which is equivalent to a Level 4 SVQ (Scottish Vocational Qualification) or a PDA (Professional Development Award) in childhood practice and most feel that this is a suitable level of qualification.

“No-one can deny the value of study and continuous updating of modern childhood practices, but that is not what the Level 9 requirement provides. What it will do, however, is encourage those who gain the degree to move out of nursery management into areas where higher salaries are available and the effect of this could be to the detriment of nursery care in our region.”

Mr Paton-Day highlighted a recent survey, carried out by SBC’s childcare services unit, of 31 nursery managers in the Borders.

“Some believed they were already suitably qualified and feel enough is enough. No-one can be sure of the short or long-term effects, but one thing is certain: we run a very real risk of losing some very experienced and valuable nursery managers.”

He said he was also concerned that, from this month, the Scottish Government had removed the subsidy repaid to child minders for the cost of disclosure accreditation – known since last year as the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme – to ensure those who have regular contact with children do not have a history of harmful behaviour.

“The PVG cost of £59 will now have to be paid by every person over the age of 16 living in a property where child minding is carried out,” said Mr Paton-Day. “This could result in deterring people from providing this service and will disproportionately affect rural areas such as the Borders where so many parents rely on a child minder in order to work or study.

“The same charges are causing problems in our small commissioned nurseries where there is a volunteer management committee of parents as each committee member, as well as staff, has to pay for the PVG check.

“Many parents resent these checks and are thus not prepared to sit on committees and this is putting the existence of the small playgroups and nurseries at risk.

“Of course a child’s safety is paramount, but some common sense must be applied.”

Mr Paton-Day said that, if re-elected, he would table an early motion, calling for the new council to demand that the Scottish Government removes the need for nursery committee members who have no contact with children to have PVG checks and to reinstate the funding subsidy for child minders.

“Furthermore, the Level 9 degree course for nursery managers, whose existing SSSC registration depends on them holding Level 8 qualifications, must surely be optional and not compulsory.

“These managers perform a crucial role, not only in educating our very young children but in providing facilities on which our economy depends. I genuinely believe this move, though perhaps well motivated, is unnecessary and has the potential to have a devastating effect on future recruitment.”

Mrs McCulloch said her nursery in Earlston, which she has managed for the past six years, has recently received glowing reports from both the Care Inspectorate and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education.

“It is a hard enough hands-on job running a busy nursery with six staff and 80 children and to be told I now need further qualifications is a real morale-sapper,” she told us. “Our profession is already extremely well regulated and our nursery is performing well, but this requirement means I will seriously have to consider my position.”

A spokeswoman for the SSSC said she could not challenge the facts regarding the changes highlighted but Mr Paton-Day, but she declined to comment on his interpretation.

A BUS firm which holds three school contracts with Scottish Borders Council in Peeblesshire has been sanctioned by the Traffic Commissioner.

McKendry’s Coaches, based in Loanhead, Midlothian, had two coaches removed from its licence for six months because of maintenance issues and a breach of licence conditions.

At a hearing in March, Deputy Traffic Commissioner for Scotland Simon Evans heard VOSA traffic and vehicle examiners conducted unsatisfactory maintenance inspections. Mr Evans also heard that since May 2010, 10 prohibitions had been issued; several being immediate and two because of loose wheel nuts. The hearing was also told of the continued poor MOT pass rate for the vehicles.

McKendry’s transport manager Nicola McCallum was reprimanded after it was discovered she had signed off a goods vehicles operator licence for another firm for five years, despite the company dissolving in 2004.

The number of vehicles on McKendry’s operator licence will reduce from 10 to eight, while Mrs McCallum is required to undertake refresher training within the next three months.

Colin Douglas, passenger transport manager with SBC, told TheSouthern: “The company is reviewing the situation and expects to be able to honour its commitments for Scottish Borders Council, as it can make changes to its operations in the Lothians, by adjusting its workload to the number of buses it is left with.”

The firm’s contracts with SBC run from north of Peeblesshire and West Linton into Peebles High School.

THE Borders features strongly in a new book which reveals the true extent of the Roman Empire’s attempts to conquer Scotland and explores the archaeological legacy left behind by its legions.

Roman Camps in Scotland, published by Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), brings together a full archaeological record of the Empire’s military outposts, which were designed to be the temporary homes and headquarters for conquering legions and armies.

The camps are the least-studied form of Roman monument, but are among the largest features to survive in the landscape to the present day.

Scotland is home to the largest number of surviving Roman camps in Europe – with a particular concentration in the Borders and the south of the country.

Author Dr Rebecca Jones, an RCAHMS archaeologist and expert on Roman frontiers, highlights the sheer number of Roman camps throughout Scotland and the rest of the UK – up to 260 have now been discovered and recorded in Scotland, adding to some 240 in England and Wales.

The camps provided accommodation for hundreds – sometimes thousands – of soldiers at the most basic level. Although they were only occupied for very short periods of time, they have left distinctive imprints in the landscape that can still be detected today.

Many camps are discovered through aerial survey flights, particularly during dry summers, where the outlines of ancient structures lying beneath the soil show up as crop marks. The Roman camps found in Scotland are significantly larger than those discovered in England and Wales, mostly due to the size of the battle groups operating in the north of Britain and the Empire’s repeated attempts to conquer the lands beyond Hadrian’s Wall and the Antonine Wall.

A number of Roman camps – for example, Pennymuir in the Borders – have survived despite thousands of years of changes to the landscape and are still remarkably well preserved.

RCAHMS’ aerial survey collection and existing archives of camp excavations were used extensively by Dr Jones in her research. Now every new, known, and possible camp – whether existing as earthwork remains or as crop markings seen from the air – has been mapped and recorded, alongside details of its historical significance and role in the Roman campaigns in Scotland.

The book draws on Dr Jones’ extensive knowledge of Roman archaeology and is a companion volume to earlier publications of camps in England and Wales. It is also illustrated throughout with plans, maps and photographs, and will be of interest to anyone who wishes to know more about the archaeology of the Roman army, its campaigns in northern Britain and ancient military strategy.

Dr Jones says, for the first time, there is now a picture of the true extent of the Roman war machine in Scotland.

“The repeated campaigns to conquer Scotland were bloody, brutal and ultimately unsuccessful for the Roman Empire,” she said.

“They had to deal with tribes unwilling to be conquered and strained resources, as soldiers were always needed to fight wars elsewhere throughout their vast Empire.

“By mapping and recording the hundreds of army outposts in Scotland, we have provided an important benchmark for further research into the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire.”

GALASHIELS Community Council has come to the aid of the Braw Lads’ Gathering, with a £500 pledge towards new bunting for the town’s annual celebrations.

The donation goes a long way to paying for the £800 total cost of the black and white decorations which will hang across roads during the last week of June.

Kenneth Windram, vice-chairman of the council, said: “It is nice to see the bunting across the town and the community council should support more things like this in Galashiels.”

THRILL-SEEKING OAPs have been caught shoplifting in Galashiels.

PC Bob Millar told the town’s community council that in March officers arrested a number of elderly people for the crime, normally associated with younger culprits.

He added: “It seems to be for the thrill rather than absent-mindedness.”

PC Millar said that 72 crimes had been reported in the town centre during last month, with 55 incidents solved.

Reported crime for the year so far was down from 830 in 2011 to 531.

He added that Langlee had seen 144 incidents this year, of which 84 had been solved, also down on the figures for the corresponding months of 2011.

Meanwhile, PC John Lennon has been nominated for Lothian and Borders Community Officer of the Year.

The Galashiels-based policeman is expected to discover whether he has won the title later this month.

CAMPAIGNERS opposing a wind farm near Hermitage Castle have been granted a stay of execution, writes Sally Gillespie.

Renewables developer Infinis, which hopes to put up 20 turbines at Windy Edge, announced it is putting the project on hold for six months. The company cites the moratorium on wind farm planning permission – turbines can affect the Eskdalemuir seismic monitoring station’s work – as the reason for the halt.

A limit – already reached – was set on the number of wind farms that could be erected within a 50km radius of the station. There are ongoing discussions and investigations by the Ministry of Defence, Scottish Government and others on the issue.

In a letter to the Windy Edge Wind Farm Community Liaison Group, Infinis spokesperson Matt Chapman said: “Unresolved issues related to the Eskdalemuir monitoring station and RAF Spadeadam mean that if a planning application was submitted now, it would be unsuccessful. Any further work on the Windy Edge project will now be scaled back until further resolution and clarity is gained on these outstanding issues.”

He told TheSouthern: “Infinis have identified a really good site which has great potential, but until there is more clarity they are holding off.

“They will be maintaining bird surveys and meteorological monitoring masts but keeping everything else suspended.”

He was unable to say how much the company had invested in the site for the 125-metre-high turbines on Braidlie and Sundhope farms.

Hermitage Action Group (HAG) chairman Malcolm McGregor welcomed the news.

He said: “The community is glad there is some sort of breathing space and we hope the Eskdalemuir seismic monitoring site will continue to be a problem. The area is the wrong location for a wind farm. Hermitage Valley is an outstandingly beautiful valley with one of the most important medieval castles in Scotland, and we think the proposal is entirely inappropriate to this locality.”

He criticised Infinis communication with locals.

“It’s nearly a year since we first learned of the proposal. The company has still not made any effort to communicate with the actual residents in the vicinity of the proposed windfarm. It’s very disappointing.”

Mr Chapman denied criticism saying one of the three representatives from the local community council on the community liaison group represented Hermitage specifically.

He said in his letter the company did not expect to be in touch with the liaison group for another six months adding: “It is impossible to predict the timescale for resolution to the defence-related issues, but when a solution is reached we will be undertaking a comprehensive community consultation prior to the site design being finalised.”

Mr McGregor said: “Even though there seems to be this apparent six-month breathing space, we will continue to marshal our forces and try to gain as much support against the proposals and any future application as we can.”

HAG was formed last August and now numbers nearly 40 local campaigners as well as supporters further afield including broadcaster Eric Robson and writer David Elliot, said Mr McGregor.

Clan author, Mr Elliot is donating £5 of every £7.99 copy of his book ordered through the action group to HAG, and he has started an online petition (www.ipetitions.com/petition/hermitagecastle/).

An anonymous donation of £2,000 paid for a report on the significance of Hermitage Castle by Stirling University professor of medieval and environmental history, Richard Oram which HAG has sent it to Historic Scotland and Scottish Borders Council’s archaeological officer, Dr Chris Bowles

A programme of HAG fundraising in next six to nine months starts with a concert in Hermitage Hall on May 1. For more information contact Mr McGregor at malcolm.rmcgregor@btinternet.com

A PROBE will be launched into why it took Scottish Borders Council’s social work department eight months to determine whether a brain-damaged Hawick man should be provided with a ramp outside his home.

In the event, council officials decided that Les Nichol, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), was not eligible for funding.

But the delay over a bid which, if approved, would have allowed him to come and go on a mobility scooter, has left him, on his own admission, “a prisoner in my own home”.

“I haven’t been to Hawick High Street under my own steam since last year’s common riding,” said Mr Nichol, 59, who lives in a Waverley Housing flat in The Loan at the west end of the town.

His case was taken up last year by Steven Turnbull, chairman of the brain injury charity Heads Together.

“Not only has Les been stuck in his house for the best part of a year, but he has fallen into a depression, which is hardly surprising, after being told six weeks ago by two social work staff – a team leader and an occupational therapist – that his funding bid has been refused,” said Mr Turnbull. As a result of two bouts of pneumonia, Mr Nichol, in addition to a previously sustained brain injury, suffers from COPD which means he is out of breath after walking less than 10 paces.

“Our charity helped Les prepare a funding bid from SBC’s social work department because of his circumstances,” explained Mr Turnbull. “Until recently, we had no reason to suppose he would not get the ramp to cover two steps which are on communal ground, owned by the Scottish Borders Housing Association, leading from his flat to the steep main road.

“There are a further three steps right outside his front door which he must negotiate, but he was also looking for funding to erect a small shed in which he could keep his mobility scooter. He would then be able to negotiate the two stairs and get out into the street.

“Last year, we combined with another brain injury charity, the Act Foundation, to purchase the vehicle and, three times, his council occupational therapist did not turn up when she was due to take him to check out the scooter at a shop in Selkirk. Now we know why, and it’s a sad fact that, today, that scooter is still in the shop.

“I contacted the council on numerous occasions during this so-called review period and was unable to pin them down. Eventually came the news that he was not eligible, which I find incredible given his severe disability. I can only conclude this decision is about saving money, not serving the best interests of a disabled service user, which is sickening.”

After news of the rejection was conveyed to a distraught Mr Nichol, Mr Turnbull contacted a number of local businesses in Hawick to see if they would be prepared to step into the breach.

“I am delighted to say that local builder Paul Kendall, surveyor Peter Ferguson, builders merchants Jewsons and Telfer the Blacksmith are all prepared to give their services free of charge to carry out this simple piece of work, estimated to cost around £1,500, which will completely transform the life of Mr Nichol.

“I believe the system, in the shape of the social work department, has really let him down and I hate to think how many other deserving cases are being sidelined or stalled because council staff are either too busy or have been instructed not the spend money.”

A council spokesperson responded: “The council can advise that this is a very complex case where a full assessment has been undertaken which involved seeking advice and clarification from a range of housing providers and agencies.

“When completed, the outcome of the assessment did not meet the social work department’s critical or substantial eligibility criteria for installation of a ramp.

“In these circumstances, we will always try to advise about other solutions as appropriate in line with the person’s needs and situation.

“A complaint into the delay and the assessment process has been received and we will fully review this in line with our complaints procedure.”

Mr Turnbull said he hoped Mr Nichol’s case would, indeed, by properly investigated.

“So far, all that social work has given him is a manually operated wheelchair which is absolutely useless given the two sets of stairs and the fact that The Loan is one of the steepest streets in Hawick. Mr Nichol lives on his own and would need someone to push the chair. That is why the ramp and storage shed are so important.”

A planning application from Mr Nichol, seeking permission for the ramp and the erection of the shed for the scooter, has been submitted to SBC on his behalf by Mr Ferguson. The bid, still to be determined, has elicited no objections.

If the event you want to go to is sold out, Paula Ogilvie co-ordinator of the Brewin Dolphin Borders Book Festival says, it may be possible to buy returns or go on a waiting list. Enquiry at the box office

“Early indications are that, since the programme was launched last week, ticket sales are at record levels,” said Mrs Ogilvie.

The sessions with Sir David Frost and Bremner, Wark and Naughtie are already sold out.

How to book

Online: www.bordersbookfestival.org

By email to boxoffice@bordersbookfestival.org

By telephone on 0844 357 1060 (Monday-Friday 10am -5pm).

By post to Borders Book Festival, Harmony House, St Mary’s Road, Melrose, TD6 9LJ

In person at the box office marquee June 14-17, 10am-9.15pm.

The Knight Frank Schools Gala Day on Friday, June 15, will offer more that 1,500 nursery and primary school pupils access to authors and their work during the Borders Book Festival.

This years programme includes Vivian French, Kristine Stephenson, Philip Ardagh, Kjartan Poskitt, Joanathan Meres and Elizabeth Laird as well as free Historic Scotland activities at Melrose Abbey.

Mrs Ogilvie said application forms had been sent to all primary schools and nurseries and she is urging teachers wishing to book a session for their pupils to do so as soon as possible when they return from the Easter holidays.

Thursday, June 14

6pm: Mark Beaumont, FM, £13 (£11 concessions)

6.15pm: Liz Lochhead. SBBM, £9 (£7)

6.15pm: Dr John Reid, Lochcarron Marquee, £9 (£7)

7.30pm: Prue Leith, FM, £13 (£9)

7.45pm: Charles Glass with Rory Bremner, SBBM, £9 (£7); Katriona MacEwan, LM, £9 (£7); James Naughtie, FM, £13 (£11)

9.15pm: Iain Banks, SBBM, £9 (£7).

Friday, June 15

4.45pm: Simon Watt, SBBM, £9 (£7)

6pm: William Boyd, FM, £13 (£11)

6.15pm: Frank Close and Peter Higgs, SBBM, £9 (£7)

7.30pm: Sir David Frost with Rory Bremner, FM, £13 (£11)

7.45pm: James Holland, SBBM, £9 (£7)

9pm: Jeremy Vine, FM, £13 (£11)

9.15pm: Richard Holloway, SBBM, £9 (£7).

Saturday, June 16

1.30pm: Sir Walter Scott Prize, FM, £13 (£11)

3pm: Britain’s Best Historical Fiction, FM, £13 (£11)

4.30pm: Melrose Mastermind hosted by Sally Magnusson, FM, £13 (£11); Jennie Erdal (pictured), DCST, £9 (£7)

4.45pm: Jeremy Wade, SBBM, £9 (£7); 4.45pm: Borders Writers’ Forum, LM, £9 (£7)

6pm: Hilary Mantel, FM, £13 (£11)

hosted by Sally Magnusson, FM, £13 (£11); Jennie Erdal, Davidson Chalmers Storytelling Tent, £9 (£7)

4.45pm: Jeremy Wade, SBBM, £9 (£7); 4.45pm: Borders Writers’ Forum, LM, £9 (£7)

6pm: Hilary Mantel, FM, £13 (£11)

6.15pm: Kathy Lette, SBBM, £9 (£7); Tom Pow, DCST, £9 (£7)

7.30pm: Ian Rankin, FM, £13 (£11)

7.45: Andrew Miller, SBBM, £9 (£7)

9pm: Rory Bremner, Kirsty Wark and James Naughtie, FM, £13 (£11)

9.15pm: Chris Bookmyre, SBBM, £9 (£7).

Sunday, June 17

3pm: Tam Dalyell, FM, £13 (£11)

3.30pm: Vivien French: an introduction to writing for children, DCST, £5

4.30pm: Andy McNab, FM, £13 (£11)

4.45pm: Isla Blair, SBBM, £9 (£7); Exciting new voices in fiction, LM, £9 (£7)

6pm: Alastair Darling, FM, £13 (£11)

6.15pm: Patrick Gale, SBBM, £9 (£7); Allan Massie, LM, £9 (£7)

7.30pm: The Jewel in the Crown with Art Malik and Susan Wooldridge, FM, £13 (£11)

7.45pm: Ed Smith with Rory Bremner, SBBM, £9 (£7)

9pm: John Sessions, FM, £13 (£11).