Farmers are being warned that the clock is ticking in the race to meet fresh legislation on the use of pesticides.

New laws mean there are just nine months until a certificate of competence becomes a legal requirement for anyone using aluminium phosphides to control rabbits, rats and moles in their burrows. And the leader of an independent stewardship scheme is urging those affected to avoid a race against time.

David Cross, chairman of RAMPS UK (the Register of Accredited Metallic Phosphide Standards), said: “From November 26, gamekeepers using products such as Talunex and Phostoxin must demonstrate they’ve achieved the new Level 2 Award, even if they’ve had previous training.

“After that date, no-one will be able to use the products without this new certificate of competence. It’s a rule which will affect a lot of people and we want to make sure those who have not yet gained the qualification do so in plenty of time.

“Demand will inevitably exceed supply as the deadline approaches, so I would urge people who will be affected to act soon.”

The use of aluminium phosphide products has long been governed and restricted, but the new rules means users must be certified.

The scheme, which features independent pest control register BASIS along with stakeholders, manufacturer Detia Degesch, distributors and user members, has created a network of trainers to provide courses leading to City and Guilds, Royal Society for Public Health and LANTRA qualifications.

Hill flock productivity has significantly improved at Hundleshope Farm since Ed and Kate Rowell hosted their first monitor farm meeting back in 2012.

Hundleshope, a 1,797acre unit, located just south of Peebles, is one of the network of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) monitor farms throughout Scotland. The majority of the farm (approx 1,450 acres) is heather hill, peaking at 2,200 ft.

A flock of 350 Scottish Blackfaces range over the hill ground, with 430 home-bred Scotch Mules and Texel cross Mule ewes for prime lamb production, plus 170 hoggs, kept on the lower ground.

Improving productivity of the Blackface flock was one of the first projects the Rowells asked the monitor farm community group to help them with.

“The number of lambs being born was so low that we were keeping every ewe lamb, and even then, we still had to buy in additional ewe lambs just to maintain numbers,” recalled Mrs Rowell.

In 2010 the hill ewes had scanned at 67 per cent. By 2013 this had improved to 94 per cent. The 2014 scanning of 113 per cent, yielding 400 lambs at marking, including 150 ewe lambs, was “the best we can recall,” according to Mrs Rowell, whose father John Brown was the previous tenant.

The Rowells had acted upon most of the community group recommendations, which included weaning lambs earlier, dosing for liver fluke, feeding high energy rolls to ewes at tupping time and using EID to identify and cull empty ewes.

An additional recommendation, which had met with a “mixed” reaction from the Rowells, had been to purchase Performance Recorded tups with good Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) for maternal traits.

“I was sceptical,” confessed Mr Rowell, “even though we’d previously selected terminal sire tups on their EBVs for the cross-bred ewes.”

Mrs Rowell was more enthusiastic and in August 2013, three Scottish Blackface shearlings from the same breeder, all born in April 2012 and all with well above breed average EBVs for maternal traits, arrived at Hundleshope.

“I would never have bought them had I been selecting by eye,” said Mr Rowell. “But even though it’s too soon to tell whether or not their daughters have the maternal traits to match their EBVs, already the weaning weights of their progeny match the EBVs, which is encouraging.”

Mrs Rowell added: “Thanks to Electronically Identifying the Blackface flock, we’ll be able to record which lambs are from which ewes and in time build up a history for each ewe lamb considered as a replacement.

“But for now, we’re enjoying the luxury of having more ewe lambs than we need, to select replacements from.

“By being able to be selective with our ewe lamb replacements, along with culling empty ewes, we feel that we’re taking forward steps to improving the productivity and lifting the quality of the hill flock, which will be ongoing with each year’s intake.”

In 2016 the first female crop of the Performance Recorded Blackface tups will lamb to Bluefaced Leicester X Texel tups.

wooler

At their weekly Primestock Sale last Wednesday John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 999 hoggs and 426 ewes.

Larger numbers of hoggs on offer, trade easily maintained at late rates, heavyweights dearer.

Leading prices per head:- Tex.x:- £105, £99 The Hagg, £98 Newstead, £96.50 Kettleburn, £94 Elwick, £93.50 Kettleburn, Elwick and Craigshouse, £92 The Hagg, £91 St Johns Kirk. Suff.x:- £102 Castlelaw, £97.50 Brandon, £94 Castlelaw, £90.50 St Johns Kirk, £90 The Hagg. Bel:- £93.50 Ladykirk. Chev:- £90 Humbleheugh. CM:- £88 South Charlton. Char:- £86 St Johns Kirk. Mule:- £79 West Longridge. BF:- £77 West Longridge.

Leading prices per kilo:- Tex.x:- 208.8p (2) The Hagg, 206.4p Craigshouse, 204.9p St Johns Kirk, 203.8p The Hagg, 200p (2) Springhill, Seahouses and The Hagg (2), 200p St Johns Kirk. Bel:- 204.9p St Johns Kirk, 202.6p (2), 200p Ladykirk. Chev:- 203.7p St Johns Kirk and Humbleheugh. Suff.x:- 200p West Longridge. Mule:- 188p West Longridge. BF:- 183.3p West Longridge.

Ewes, larger show forward with more flesh and quality about, again very dear.

Leading prices per head:- Tex.x:- £127.50 Elwick, £124 Haugh Head, £122 Elwick and Shipley Smallburn, £121 Conundrum Farm, £119 Tughall, £116 Bowmont Hall, £111 Eglingham Moor, £108 Tughall (2), £104 Shipley Smallburn, £102 Tughall, £101 Chatton Park. Suff.x:- £124 Eglingham Newtown, £122 Kettleburn, £114 Bowmont Hill. CHM:- £115, £109 South Charlton. Mule:- £106 Elwick, £100 Bowmont Hill, Tughall and Edlingham Newtown. LLY:- £92 Reavley Greens. BFL:- £98.50 Edlingham Newtown. BF:- £90 Edlingham Newtown. Chev:- £89 South Charlton, £87 Humbleheugh.

Rams:- Suf:- £119 Shawdon Woodhouse. Zwa:- £108 Conundrum Farm.

St boswells

At their Primestock Sale on Monday John Swan Ltd sold 95 clean cattle, five OTM cattle, 60 beef cows, 1,631 old season lambs and 397 ewes.

Bullocks (25) averaged 215.7p per kg and sold to 236p (-1.3p on week), heifers (68) averaged 218.8p per kg and sold to 253p (n/c on week). Five OTM cattle averaged 171.1p and sold to 207p (+11.1p on the week) and 55 beef type cows averaged 136.3p per kg and sold to 185p (n/c on the week).

Old season lambs averaged 194p per kg (+7p on the week) £83.87 per head and sold to £109, top price 232p per kg for Texel. Ewes averaged £77.71, and sold to £141 for Texel.

Heavy ewes averaged £89.19 while light ewes sold to £83 for EC and averaged £62.63.

Principal prices per head: Shidlaw £1516.90, £1483.38; Redheugh £1496.28; Lennoxlove £1493.66.

Principal prices per kg: Bee Edge 2.53 M/s W.T.S. Forsyth and Sons, 2.48 M/s J. Cockburn and Son, 2.46 Border Meats, 2.45 Shaws of Lauder; Mosstower 2.44 Border Meats; Longnewton 2.38 Malone of Edinburgh, 2.34 M/s A.F. Thomson and Son, 2.33 M/s J. Gilmour and Co Ltd; Dunslaw 2.38 Alex Smith, Butcher, Edin; Lennoxlove 2.36 M/s C. Kirkpatrick; Upper Nisbet 2.35 Shaws of Lauder; Smailholm Mains 2.35 M/s J. Saunderson Ltd; Shidlaw 2.34 Malone of Edinburgh, 2.33 M/s A.F. Thomson and Son; Saltoun Home Farm 2.34 Robert Wilson, Butcher, Edin; Eccles Bankhead 2.33 M/s J.F. Finlay and Co Ltd.

OTM cattle: Meigle £1328.94 (2.07); Hutlerburn £1043 (149p).

Bulls: Ransfield £1144.80 (135p); Corsbie (F) £1143.10 (115p).

Cows per head: Headshaw L £1322.64, £1258.32; Grahamslaw £1320.60, £1118.26, £1093.26; South Ord £1250.60, £1214.10, £1155, £1091.20; Boon £1206.90, £1070.74, £1046.52; Mosstower £1206.20; Middlestead £1082.88; Northhouse £1080.06; Ransfield £1054.

Cows per kg: Mosstower 1.85; South Ord 1.71, 1.69, 1.65, 1.59, 1.55, 1.49; Ransfield 1.70; Headshaw L 1.67, 1.47; Boon 1.57, 1.53, 1.49, 1.47; Grahamslaw 1.55 Northhouse 1.45.

Lambs per head: Suff.x;- £109, £99, £98 Bonjedward Mill, £106, £102 Lurdenlaw, £97 Dunslaw, Tex;- £107.50 Ashcraig, £105 Bonjedward Mill, £96 Lurdenlaw, Chev;- £97 Lurdenlaw, £85.50 Lylestane, £83 The Dod, BF;- £90 Craig Douglas, £85 Ashcraig, £82 Hartside, Bel;- £88, £87.50 Lylestane, £86.50, £86 Thistle Doo, Suff;- £87.50, £83 Brunt Court, Ham;- £85 Dunslaw, £81 Lauder Barns, £80 Redhouse, Mule;- £85 Lumsdaine, £83.50 Swinnie, £79.50 Aikeyside, BFL;- £84.50 Hartside.

Lambs per kg: 2.37 Todhills, 2.14 Inchkeith, 2.12 Corsbie, Bel;- 2.30, 2.00 Lylestane, 2.16, 1.95 Thistle Doo, Chev;- 2.21 Thistle Doo, 2.18 The Dod, 2.15, 2.09, 1.98 Lylestane, Suff.x;- 2.11, 2.02 Blackburn, 2.08, 2.01, 2.00 Dunslaw, 2.01 Aikeyside, 1.99 Highfield, BF;- 2.01 Stoneypath, Mule;- 1.96 Inchkeith, 1.94 Swinnie.

Ewes: Tex;- £141, £140 New Blainslie, £118 Symington Mains, Belt;- £121 New Blainslie, Suff.x;- £119 Lauder Barns, £113 Blackburn. L, £111 Corsbie, £107 Broom, HB;- £119 Bonjedward Mill, Char;- £103 Helmburn, Zwa;- £99, £93 Lauder Barns, Suff;- £98 Stoneypath, EC;- £83 Girrick, Jac;- £79 Henderson Gdns, Chev;- £75 Whitefield, £73 Carcant, BF;- £73 Eckford & Lumsdaine, £71 Newarkburn, £69 Fauldshope, £67 Ashcraig,

Rams: Suff;- £123 Hermiston, Tex;- £100 Todhills.

Border Livestock exchange

During the week ending February 27, Border Livestock Exchange sold 174 Prime Cattle including 61 cows, 1,280 prime lambs, 364 cast ewes, 900 store lambs, 310 breeding sheep and 376 store and breeding cattle.

Prime cattle were slightly firmer on the week with Aberdeen Angus cross steers from Hallrule Farm, Bonchester Bridge, selling to 387p per kg. Continental crosses sold to 379p per kg for Charolais crosses from South Farm, Seahouses, and £1,625 per head.

With trade for cast cows improving, larger numbers of weekly consignments are coming forward. Dairy cows from Kelloe Mains, Duns, sold to £1,128 with Pure Continentals from Bowsden Moor, Berwick, reaching £1,467 per head and 300p per kg. Sharplaw, Hownam, sold Continental crosses to £1,210.

Prime sheep also firmed with Suffolk and Texel cross lambs selling to 425p per kg (£89.00 per head) from Newlands, Belford. Lleyn export lambs also to 425p per kg from Wharmley Farm, Hexham.

The company sold a record number of store and breeding cattle and sheep with prices well above sellers’ expectations with yearling suckler bred store cattle averaging well over £1,000 per head on farm. Store and breeding sheep are also selling extremely well.

longtown

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart plc had forward 12 prime cattle, five young bulls, 11 OTM cattle, 5,026 prime hoggs and 3,965 cast ewes and rams at their weekly sale at Longtown last Thursday.

Prime cattle were slightly cheaper on the week but very much in line with the national trend.

Prime bulls were a fantastic trade peaking at 221.5p and 218.5p for Limousin from Messrs Taylor, Fellend, Bassenthwaite and 219.5p for Limousin from G. Mitchinson and Sons, Gallowberry.

OTMS cattle were dearer than last week peaking at 162.5p for a Limousin cow from R. and H. Braid, Moffat. Many more could have been sold.

Another grand show of 5,026 prime hoggs was forward to the usual ring of buyers present trade was steady all day.

Export weight hoggs and lightweight hoggs continue to sell at recent high rates, although a shortage of 38-43 kilo hoggs were forward.

A similar show of 3,965 cast ewes and rams were forward to the usual ring of buyers with trade a lot sharper on the week, especially for the heavy ewes.

March certainly came in like a lion on Sunday, with gales and torrential rain showers, but on the whole the winter has been another mild one.

This was borne out by two kingfisher sightings within a week recently on the mill lade near my house.

It was something I haven’t seen there for a few years, so after the severe winter of 2009/10 which decimated numbers locally, it was good to welcome them back on home ground.

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago having seen the first oystercatchers arriving on my local stretch of river. Well, at the weekend, it appeared that the main invasion had taken place.

On two consecutive days, I counted 44 on the island on the Ettrick Water just below Murray’s Cauld – I’m sure that’s up on previous years.

While out braving the conditions on Sunday, I decided to check out the colony of Japanese Butterbur, which has been established on the banks of the Yarrow for many decades.

Petasites japonicus, also known as fuki, bog rhubarb, or giant butterbur, is an herbaceous perennial plant.

It is native to Japan, where the spring growth is used as a vegetable. I only know of a couple of sites where it grows in the Borders, the other being on the banks of the Tweed near the Yair Bridge.

It is in full bloom just now and the plants at Yarrow seem to be thriving.

I counted around 120 flower spikes.

They looked quite spectacular as there was nothing else in bloom around them and they were pushing through bare river silt and growing right into the water.

They looked for all the world like starfish on a beach.

Despite the fact that they contains some dangerous chemicals, they are used in the Far East for food.

The traditional preparation method for this vegetable involves pre-treating with ash or baking soda and soaking in water to remove harshness (astringency), which is a technique known as aku-nuki – literally “harshness removal”.

The shoot can be chopped and stir fried with miso to make Fuki-miso which is eaten as a relish, thinly spread over hot rice at meals.

The bulb-like shoots are also picked fresh and fried as tempura.

In Korea, it is steamed or boiled and then pressed to remove water.

Isn’t it amazing what exotic species can be found on our doorstep!

Scottish Greens have criticised the Scottish Government after it confirmed that the new Scotrail operator, Abellio, will have a policy of only allowing two bicycles per train on the new Borders railway.

In response to concerns raised by local businesses, Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, asked the Scottish Government for an explanation.

Transport minister Derek Mackay has confirmed the two-bike policy, adding that Abellio’s strategy in the Netherlands has been to invest in storage at stations and encourage passengers to maintain or hire a second bike at destination stations.

Alison Johnstone MSP, who co-convenes Holyrood’s cross-party group on cycling, said: “Leisure cycling and mountain biking are rapidly- growing activities worth tens of millions to the Borders economy, and yet this major public transport project will completely fail to match this with increased capacity.”

Pauline Stewart, Scottish Green Party candidate for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, said: “Considering that we expect the train line to have a very positive effect on increasing tourism to the region which boasts some of the best downhill and cross-country mountain biking courses in Europe, the proposed restriction on these trains is incredibly short-sighted.

“The majority of those who come to the area to utilise these world-class routes, or indeed to compete here, will be very disappointed to hear that they are expected to hire bikes at their destination.”

Scottish Borders Council’s handling of a waste management contract and its decision to write off £2million already spent on the abortive project should be referred to the public spending watchdog Audit Scotland.

That is the view of Andrew Farquhar, the former councillor who last year led an unsuccessful campaign for the reinstatement of kerbside garden waste collections.

He was reacting to the news that SBC had terminated a deal, signed in 2011 with a firm called New Earth Solutions (NES), for the installation of a £23million advanced thermal treatment (ATT) plant at the region’s landfill site at Easter Langlee in Galashiels.

As reported in these columns last week, the contract was scrapped because of “project-specific issues in terms of technology and funding”.

Mr Farquhar is supporting the call from Hawick Independent Councillor Watson McAteer for an investigation into what went wrong.

When Mr McAteer went public with that demand last week, the council claimed the cash it had expended on technical, legal and financial advice and project management had been “properly spent”.

“Given the contractual obligations with NES, the money was used both appropriately and, we believe, effectively,” said an SBC spokesperson.

Council leader David Parker added: “There is absolutely no reason to believe the NES project was anything other than well managed throughout.

“I am sure, in closing the project, our officers will complete an appropriate review to ensure all learning opportunities are maximised.”

Mr Farquhar described that response as “totally inadequate”.

“At my petition hearing, the ATT at Easter Langlee was hailed as the panacea for all the council’s waste management problems and no fears about its delivery were voiced,” he told The Southern.

“Something has gone seriously wrong with £2million of taxpayers’ money down the drain, nothing to show for it, and all this happened on Mr Parker’s watch.

“In these circumstances, he should desist from making any further decisions on how this matter will be investigated and refer it to Audit Scotland for their consideration.

“His claims that the project was well managed throughout need to be substantiated and we need independent confirmation that proper risk assessments were carried out and due diligence exercised in assessing if NES possessed the technology or funding to deliver.”

Councillor Parker responded: “It was highlighted at the very beginning that, as the council was procuring a waste treatment plant at the cutting edge of technology and was one of the first rural councils in Scotland to be involved in this process, there was always a risk it might not be possible to achieve the outcome that was hoped for.

“Council officers have worked very closely with independent advisers and with NES, and the decision not to proceed was taken after significant officer and elected member scrutiny.

“I thus see no reason to refer this matter to Audit Scotland.”

A Borders Railway Community Partnershiphas been set up to work closely with community groups, regional organisations and local businesses, as well as the rail industry and local authorities, to ensure there is strong community engagement and ownership of the line and stations.

The move was announced by Cabinet secretary Keith Brown MSP, who said: “Community Rail Partnerships are an excellent initiative to drive community involvement in local railway lines.

“The Scottish Government has supported the Borders railway because of the significant economic and social benefit for the region.

“I believe that the Borders Railway Community Partnership will help to ensure that these benefits will be felt throughout the communities.”

Emma McCallum, Abbotsford Trust marketing and PR officer said: “We are looking forward to welcoming visitors arriving by train to Abbotsford and can see that by working together we can encourage them to stay longer and see more of what the Borders has to offer.”

Mike Kean, rail development director at Abellio UK said: “We began our engagement several months ago with stakeholders in the Borders. From April 1, when we take over the franchise, we will roll out our plans and we are confident that these will ensure that the impact of the new Borders railway will reach out to a wide range of key stakeholders and result in it being a huge success.”

Now in its third year, Borders Business, Events and Visitors Fair takes place at Springwood Hall, Kelso, on Wednesday (March 11) from 11am to 3.30pm.

The fair will host exhibitors from a huge variety of businesses and organisations, including Business Gateway, with staff holding one-to-one online surgeries. Also exhibiting will be accommodation providers, attractions, health and fitness businesses, retail outlets, event organisers and much more.

Admission and parking is free, with refreshments and light lunches provided by Marie Curie Cancer Care.

To find out more, or to book, call 01750 725480.

w

Cringletie House staff were celebrating after Helen Fraser recently won a Thistle Award. Helen and her husband Robert run Afternoon Tea Tours, offering award-winning private guided tours of Scotland, and Cringlietie House Hotel is where Helen brings guests for afternoon tea in the Borders.

The hotel says Helen has helped it become one of Scotland’s top venues for both the traditional and more unusual afternoon teas, such as the current “snowdrop” version, in conjunction with VisitScotland’s Snowdrop festival.

Following the success of its previous event, Scottish Borders Business Forum is holding a second meeting on the Borders Railway and the opportunities for local businesses, titled What 
do Borders businesses 
need to profit from the 
railway?

The meeting, to take place at Scottish Borders Council Headquarters tomorrow (March 6), has been scheduled to start at 11am to enable more tourism businesses to attend, particularly those involved with visitor accommodation. However, the event is open to all Borders businesses.

Guest speakers will again include Michael Moore MP, Councillor Stuart Bell, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for economic development, and a representative of Abellio, the company which will operate the Borders Railway franchise from September.

Also speaking at the meeting will be Richard Landale, managing director of Kelso Races. He will be discussing the plans being developed by the company to make the most of the opportunities that the Borders Railway provides. 
Following the presentations there will be a question and answer session.

Jack Clark, chairman of Scottish Borders Business Forum, said: “Our last Borders Railway meeting was oversubscribed, so we immediately set about planning another event.

“This second meeting ensures that as many businesses as possible in the Borders have the opportunity to find out information about the railway and can start to think about what they can do to capitalise on this unique opportunity.

“We have moved this meeting to later in the morning to try and attract more tourism-related businesses, as they in particular have a huge amount to gain from the Borders Railway.

“However, the meeting is open to all businesses and I would encourage those interested to sign up early to ensure that they can attend what we hope will be another hugely popular event.”

Anyone wishing to attend the meeting should contact Linda Richardson on lrichardson@scotborders.gov.uk or call 01835 825040.

As an historic coaching inn, the County Hotel in Selkirk, together with local tour company Borders Journeys, are planning to make the most of the new Borders railway when it opens.

In the late 1800s, the hotel had its own coaching business organising horse-and-coach trips around the region, with the County running its own coach service for many years, taking passengers to and from Selkirk station. The coach was named The Flower of Yarrow, and the big wheels from the coach can still be seen in the Brasserie of the hotel today.

Hotel owners Will Haegeland and Trond Dalby have decided to seize the opportunity that the railway brings and resurrect this tour service.

This time round it won’t involve a horse and carriage at Selkirk station, but it does involve collecting passengers from the station at Tweedbank and taking them on a pre-arranged tour of the Borders.

The County has teamed up with Ian Walker of Borders Journeys whose expertise, first-class service and intimate knowledge of the Borders is well renowned. Will, Trond and Ian are now designing a range of themed, all-inclusive tours to be launched for the arrival of the first trains in September.

As a tribute to the Flower of Yarrow coaching service, there will be a tour of the beautiful Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys, taking in St Mary’s Loch and Bowhill.

There will be visits to Scott’s Country, along with themed tours featuring historic houses and gardens.

Following their guided sightseeing tour, visitors will be taken to the County for dinner and an overnight stay before being transported back to the station next morning after a hearty breakfast.

Michael Moore MP dropped in on the pop-up energy café in Galashiels last week, which is providing energy advice for local people.

The cafés, which are are also open today (March 5) and Wednesday, March 18, from 10am to 2pm, and being run by SGN and Energy Action Scotland on Bank Street, are offering tips about getting the best energy tariff, improving energy performance in the home, understanding fuel bills and gas safety in the home. Advice is on offer from experts from Citizens Advice, the council and local housing associations.

Michael Moore, MP, said:“I was pleased to visit the energy café and see first-hand the excellent advice being given to local people on how they can get the best deal on their energy bills.

“The energy café is a fantastic initiative, which I am sure will help many people save money and improve the energy efficiency of their homes.”

This year’s Jim Clark Rally will return to its roots.

For the past 17 years, the world-famous event has been contested over closed public roads in the late Formula One champion’s home county of Berwickshire.

But in a change to the format, this year’s event, on Sunday, May 31, will run on private Forestry Commission gravel roads.

Previously a three-day motor sporting extravaganza, this year’s rally will also revert to a one-day competition, ahead of a more ambitious programme for 2016.

The changes to the normal format are a result of a ruling that the rally could not be held on closed public roads this year, as official investigations into the accident which saw three people killed at the 2014 event were not yet concluded.

Clerk of the course Colin Smith confirmed the changes, saying: “The ‘Reivers’ part of the annual Jim Clark Rally is traditionally a separate national event run on the Sunday after the international part of the rally on the Friday/Saturday, so we are sticking with the Sunday run, ahead of a return to the usual format next year.

“We are planning to have five special stages in Kielder Forest.

“The rally will start from Kelso in the morning, before heading south over the border into Northumberland, and returning later in the afternoon for the rally finish, back in Kelso.”

The Scottish Government says it has put measures in place to safeguard the delivery of a new high school for Kelso.

There was concern recently, when it was announced that planned building work for the new £21.4million secondary in the town had been delayed due to a new European ruling.

The law change affected a number of new building projects being processed through the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT).

They were originally being treated as private sector projects, but now must be considered public sector.

However, in a written response to a question from local Conservative MSP John Lamont, education secretary Angela Constance said government resources were “in place to support Kelso High School”.

Local councillor Tom Weatherston welcomed the news: “Everyone in Kelso was very disappointed and a bit worried when we were told of the delay to the high school project.

“However, following a question at the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday from John Lamont in relation to the high school project, he was told the government had measures in place for the delivery of the school.

“This is very good news and hopefully we will be told shortly if there are to be any amendments to the timescales. As soon as we hear anything we will inform the public.”

A 26-year-old who breached a court order when found drunk in a public place has been sentenced to a 15-month Community Payback Order, with a condition he completes 100 hours of unpaid work and undergoes alcohol treatment.

Dean Smith, 26, of Earlston Road, Stow, admitted purchasing alcohol at the Post Office, Earlston Road, Stow, on February 5, and being intoxicated in a public place.

Sheriff Peter Paterson warned the accused the sentence was a direct alternative to custody.

An Innerleithen woman who falsely obtained more than £5,000 benefits has had sentence deferred for six months, until September 14, to be of good behaviour and continue making repayment.

Tammy Emery, 44, of Plora Terrace, admitted obtaining £5,175 employment support allowance to which she was not entitled, between May 2011 and October 2012

A couple have appeared in private, charged on petition with being concerned in the supply of heroin in Galashiels.

Twenty-three-year-old Jasmine Lauder of Beech Avenue, Galashiels, and 28-year-old Andrew Headspeath of Honeylees Drive, Tweedbank, are also charged with possession of cannabis.

They made no plea or declaration, and both were released on bail.

Tourism expert Giles Ingram has been announced as the new chief executive of The Abbotsford Trust, which looks after Sir Walter Scott’s historic former home near Melrose.

Mr Ingram, 46, has extensive experience in the field of tourism and culture, having worked in Europe and 
England.

In 2006 he moved to Northumberland where he set up the county’s first tourist board, still operating as Northumberland Tourism.

Mr Ingram joins Abbotsford from Experience Oxfordshire, where he was chief executive of the county’s tourism and cultural development agency.

He also has considerable expertise in the private sector, including the planning and launch of a destination marketing company and strategies to support rural estates.

Mr Ingram, who replaces Jason Dyer, who left in September and moved to Lichfield Cathedral as its commercial development director to be closer to his family, said he was delighted to be joining the team at Abbotsford.

“It will be an incredible privilege to have a role in looking after and welcoming so many people to as fascinating, beautiful and iconic a home as Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford.

“Famous throughout the world for nearly 200 years, and only recently reborn and brought to life through the dedication and investment of so many supporters, Abbotsford is a jewel in the Borders’ crown.”

Commenting this week on Mr Ingram’s appointment, trust chairman Lord Sanderson said: “The trustees, staff and volunteers here at Abbotsford are really looking forward to Giles joining us and leading the team forward in the next step in the 
Abbotsford journey; his arrival perfectly coincides with the house reopening on March 1.”

A Melrose man fraudulently obtained £427, pretending he would supply tickets to football matches.

Ross Butler, 36, of Dingleton Road, admitted pretending to a man he would supply him with tickets to football, and obtaining £427 by fraud, between August 13 and August 16 last year.

Sentence was deferred until March 16 for the accused to appear personally.

The search is on for a chairperson to lead the board of management of the new company which will deliver adult care services in the region from April 1.

A deadline of this Sunday has been set for applications, with interviews due to take place on March 25.

The successful candidate will lead the board of SB Cares, a limited liability company (LLP) wholly owned by the council, which will have an annual budget of £17million and employ nearly 1,000 full and part-time staff, who will transfer, with terms and conditions intact, from the council, which currently provides the services.

The job description does not specify how many hours the chair will have to work, but states the post carries no salary, although he or she will be entitled to “an annual payment as well as expenses”.

When pressed on this, a council spokesperson said: “The chair of SBC Cares will receive a nominal payment of around £5,000 which is in line with similar positions of this nature.”

The governance arrangements for the new company, which will compete for clients with private and independent providers, were clarified at last week’s full council meeting.

The board of management, which will be “responsible for all aspects of the LLP and its business”, will comprise a chair, a managing director, 
a finance and commercial 
director and a head of operations, along with “up to 
five additional persons with the skills, knowledge or 
experience deemed necessary or useful to the board in fulfilling its obligations and functions”.

Philip Barr, the council’s £105,000 a year depute chief executive, has been seconded to take the role of interim managing director for up to 18 months, while another SBC employee, Debbie Collins, will act as interim finance and commercial director for a shorter period.

“Remaining appointments to the SB Cares board will be sought once a chair has been recruited,” said the SBC spokesperson.

Although there will be no elected members of SBC on the board, the company will be monitored by a Strategic Governance Group (SGG), a sub-committee of the council, which will meet the board every three months.

That group’s approval will be required for all contracts and transactions worth more than £50,000 and any cuts or additions to the services offered by the company.

The approval of the full council will be required on all staffing matters affecting terms and conditions, including potential compulsory redundancies and any changes to pension arrangements.