Scottish Borders Housing Association came to the rescue after a group of youngsters found themselves short of a vital piece of equipment for their weekly film nights.

Rowlands Youth Club, in West Port, Selkirk, runs a popular movie night on a Saturday.

However, it looked as though the curtain might be about to fall when their projector stopped working.

The housing association’s employability officer, Lita McHale, arranged support from the association to keep the movie nights going.

As part of the housing company’s strategy to support young people, Lita works with its tenants to find training and employment, developing links with agencies which support young people throughout the Borders.

She said: “Although the Saturday movie club appears at face value to be a social occasion, being able to have somewhere safe and secure to go on a Saturday, where they can meet friends is a vital aspect of a young person’s development.”

Susan Law, project manager at Rowlands, said: “The support from the Scottish Borders Housing Association in enabling us to purchase the projector has made a massive difference to the young people at Rowlands, where we can have up to 30 young people coming along.”

Association chief executive Julia Mulloy said: “We value the work of the Rowlands Team, supporting young people living in Selkirk, many of whom will live in our homes.

“We welcomed the opportunity to offer provide practical support to Rowlands.”

Judge Jim Sinclair had the toughest job at Roberton Show – picking an overall champion from the biggest sheep entry for 15 years.

Mr Sinclair, from Crookston, had to make his choice on Saturday from more than 250 sheep, but in the end plumped for a hill Cheviot tup from W Fleming, Hislop, Teviothead.

The three-shear Crossdykes bred tup had previously won the Hill Cheviot section with I Dodds from Drycleuchle, who this year had to settle for being a runner-up with a ewe lamb.

To complete a successful day the same champion animal won the Millennium Trophy for best wooled sheep in show.

The Fleming family had a good day also winning the cross-bred section with a Cheviot mule ewe.

Despite a very gloomy weather forecast of heavy rain for the duration of the show, this year’s event at Scaurend Haugh had turned out to be a corker.

The Hawick Scout Band’s excellent marching and piping through the first downpour showed the weather gods that the show would go on regardless and the weather eventually gave in and the remainder of the day enjoyed a relatively rain-free afternoon.

Peter Lawton, an amateur home bread baker, was also on hand to share his knowledge to attendees about the art of making sour dough bread and the free bread he had baked went down a treat.

John Anderson from Penchrise enjoyed his first outing to Roberton by completing a clean sweep of the trophies in the Blackfaced section.
 Ryan Jamieson from Skelfhill also had a day to remember winning no fewer than four trophies; his Texel ewe won the Pure Bred section and was overall runner up in show.

Ryan also won the prime lamb section and most points in the sheep section for under 18s and most points in the sheep section overall, which was a great achievement.

The young handler competition was won for the second year in a row by Chelsea Lamb from Whitslade, who impressed Mr Sinclair with her sheep handling abilities and knowledge.

This event is designed to encourage youngsters to start showing sheep and the six competitors put up a fine show for the afternoon audience.

The Black sheep competition also proved popular and was won by Ross Anderson from Easter Alemoor.

The industrial tent also shone with various chutneys, jams and marmalade being particular popular choices with exhibitors.

This year was also the debut of the ‘men only’ chocolate cake class and had a respectable response, but was still outnumbered when it came to entry numbers by two to one by the ‘ladies only’ section.

Burnfoot SWI walked away with both The Pringle Cup and the Henderson Trophy this year. This is a section which always creates a lot of interest for show visitors and once again did not disappoint with the all round quality of craftsmanship and creativity.

Cabbages, courgettes and tomatoes were in abundance this year and the newly introduced category of a bunch of herbs had an excellent number of entries.

The purple cauliflower exhibited by the Chisholme Institute was a particular masterpiece.

Show secretary David Pollard told us the atmosphere around the show ground was warm, friendly and fun

He said: “It was a great day out despite the weather, thanks to everyone who attended the show.

“Thanks also go to all our patrons and sponsors who donate in so many ways to make the show a success. Special thanks also to the Hoscote Estate for their incredibly generous donation for the 2016 show.”

Driver almost five times limit

Driver almost five times limit

A motorist who admitted a dangerous driving charge was almost five times the legal alcohol limit, Jedburgh Sheriff Court was told.

James Cooper, 35, pleaded guilty to committing the offences in Jedburgh on May 8 and was banned from the road for three years and fined a total of £800.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the accused’s Audi first came to attention when it was parked outside the Jed-Forest rugby ground on the A68 at about 8.30pm, causing a slight obstruction.

He explained: “It was not in a very safe position, and one passing motorist saw the accused was wearing a Celtic football top and was slumped back in the driver’s seat.

“After the first vehicle passed, the accused started up the car and drove off very close to the centre lane, heading into Jedburgh.

“Around the same time, a motorcyclist and pillion passenger were heading northwards out of Jedburgh and were confronted with the Audi car on the wrong side of the road.

“The motorcyclist had to take evasive action and go on the kerb to avoid a collision.

“The car then swerved back onto the southbound carriageway, where it should have been.

“The motorcyclist was so concerned that he turned round to follow the car, which came to a halt at the temporary traffic lights in the Bongate.

“The motorcyclist parked in front of the Audi and got off his bike to speak to him and said ‘do you realise you just missed us?’

“At this point, the accused tried to drive off and struck the motorcycle in front of him.

“The pillion passenger was knocked from the seat, and the motorcycle fell to the ground onto the road. The motorcyclist managed to remove the keys from the Audi and stop him moving away.”

The police were called, and Cooper, of Whitton Farm Cottages, Morebattle, was found to have a breath-alcohol count of 103 microgrammes, the legal limit being 22.

The female pillion passenger was later treated in hospital for whiplash injuries.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said: “His remorse was genuine, and he has spoken of feeling ashamed.

“He was not thinking straight at the time.

“He is going to have to change address so he can be nearer his employment because of this.”

In addition to a three-year disqualification and two fines of £400, one for each of the two charges, Cooper must sit an extended driving test if he wants to regain his licence.

Trial date set

A Hawick couple have been accused of producing cannabis at their Burnfoot home.

Gerald Donaldson, 46, and his wife Nicola, 44, deny the offence, said to have happened at their home in Borthwick Road on March 18.

Gerald Donaldson also pleaded not guilty to a charge of being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

A trial date was set for November 15, with an intermediate hearing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on October 17.

Case deserted

The case against Mantescu Florin, 35, of Earl Street, Hawick, accused of drink driving and failing to give a preliminary breath test in Linden Terrace, Hawick, on January 16, has been deserted by the crown at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Drugs charges

Rebecka McEwan, 23, of Station Drive, Duns, denies being in possession of heroin, cannabis and cannabis resin.

The offences are alleged to have been committed at a house in Inchmyre, Kelso, on June 2.

A trial date has been set for November 15 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, with an intermediate hearing on November 17.

Personal appearance

A Hawick teenager has been ordered to appear personally to answer an assault charge at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Liam Sharkey, 19, of Howdenbank, is accused of striking a male on the head with his head to his injury in North Bridge Street, Hawick, on February 6.

He is also charged with threatening or abusive behaviour in Croft Road, Hawick.

The case will recall on September 28.

Cannabis charges

A Hawick man has been accused of six drugs offences at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Mark Turnbull, 29, is charged with producing cannabis at his Cheviot Road home on September 2 last year.

He also denies being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

Turnbull also pleaded not guilty to possession of diazepam, nitrazepam, tetrahydrocannibinol and cannabinol.

A trial date was set for November 15, with an intermediate hearing on October 17.

Home assault

David Adamson will stand trial on charges of brandishing a hammer and assaulting a male at his home in Gladstone Street, Hawick, on April 30.

The 28-year-old pleaded not guilty and will stand trial at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on October 6.

Benefit claim

A Greenlaw woman has been accused of receiving £5,828 in benefits to which she was not entitled.

Caroline Bell, 28, of Eccles Tofts, is charged with failing to notify a change in circumstances regarding her partner’s increased earnings and receiving housing and council tax benefit.

The offence is said to have been committed between February 2013 and July 2014.

She has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

A trial date was fixed for November 3 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court, with an intermediate hearing on October 3.

Over the limit

A Jedburgh motorist has been banned from the road for 12 months and fined £350 after admitting a drink-driving charge at the town’s sheriff court.

Factory worker David Chapman, 20, parked his car in the town’s High Street, on the evening of Saturday, August 6, but it caused an obstruction, and police were called.

When officers arrived at his Sharplaw Road home, they detected alcohol had been taken, and he was found to be more than double the legal limit.

Chapman pleaded guilty to driving with a breath-alcohol count of 53 microgrammes, the legal limit being 22.

Defence lawyer Fiona Hamilton said: “He has a clean licence and no previous convictions. He had been out drinking earlier that day but had stopped drinking in view of driving later.

“It was a mistake which he will suffer the consequences of, but it does seems a genuine error by him.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson said Chapman was a candidate for a drink-driving awareness course, which would result in a 25 per cent reduction in the length of the ban if he completes it at his own expense.

Pool cue attack

A cruise liner worker who admitted a pool cue attack in a Peebles bar will be sentenced later this month.

Callum MacMichael, 31, of Govans Way, Cardrona, pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to striking a man on the head with a pool cue to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

The victim was left with a deep cut above his upper lip.

The incident happened in the Central bar in Peebles on August 29 last year.

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence until September 29 for background reports.

Theft denied

A Duns woman will stand trial next month at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on a theft charge.

Amanda Flynn, 45, of Station Drive, denies stealing furniture, fittings, electrical items, garden equipment and a bicycle from a house in Duns between April 2014 and December 2015.

A trial date has been fixed for October 6.

Cannabis production

A 31-year-old woman has been accused of producing cannabis at her Lilliesleaf home.

Holly Speed of Main Street, also denies being in possession of the class B drug.

The intermediate diet hearing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court was continued until September 20.

Jailed for messages

A Galashiels man has been jailed for 170 days at Jedburgh Sheriff Court for sending abusive and threatening messages on social media to his former partner and her friends.

Jamie West pleaded guilty to nine charges of sending the messages in June and July from his Beech Avenue home on social media because he was upset at the breakdown of his three-and-a-half-year relationship.

West, 31, also admitted throwing paint over a car parked in Tweed Terrace, Galashiels, on July 14.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the messages contained threats against his ex-partner and her friends which were very concerning.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said West now accepted that his relationship with Rebecca Glass is over.

Sheriff Peter Paterson described the content of the messages as “appalling and “shocking” and said there was no alternative to a custodial sentence.

He said: “The court has to reflect society’s abhorrence at this sort of communication.”

The jail sentence was back-dated to August 4 when West was first remanded in custody.

A non-harassment order was also granted, preventing West from contacting Ms Glass for the next two years and to stay out of a street in Kelso.

Pensioner banned

A 73-year-old man has been banned from the road for 14 months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court after being involved in an accident while almost four times the legal alcohol limit.

Thomas O’Neill pleaded guilty to the offence, committed on the A698 Kelso-to-Coldstream road near his Birgham home on August 17.

He had a breath-alcohol reading of 83 microgrammes, the legal limit being 22.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the accused’s vehicle had been involved in an accident and collided with a dyke at 9am and he was found to be just under four times the alcohol limit.

He added: “He was clearly unsteady on his feet.”

O’Neill said he had been drinking the night before but thought he was OK to drive.

In addition to the 14-month disqualification, Sheriff Peter Paterson imposed a £300 fine.

Stole from shop

Graeme Stewart, 34, pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol and foodstuffs from the Spar shop in Marigold Bank in Galashiels on April 30.

Background reports have been ordered on Stewart, who gave an Edinburgh address, and the case was transferred to the city’s sheriff court on September 29, when he has other matters calling.

Crockery fine

Edward Berry, 63, was fined £200 after admitting a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour by throwing crockery on the floor, shouting at his wife and struggling with her at a house in Home Place, Coldstream, on August 14.

Not guilty

A 24-year-old woman accused of a knife attack which caused severe injury has walked free after a two-day trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Zoe Owen had denied attempting to strike Kendra Morris on the neck with a kitchen knife and then striking her on the hand with the knife, causing a two-inch cut on her palm.

It followed an incident on April 19 at Owen’s former home in Eastgate, Peebles, which the alleged victim visited, claiming she was owed money.

But during her evidence Owen – now living at Restalrig Road in Edinburgh – said she only picked up the knife in an attempt to try to get Morris to leave her flat. She said the injury only happened when Morris grabbed hold of the knife during a struggle.

Sheriff Peter Paterson returned a verdict of not guilty.

Unpaid work

A Galashiels man has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work after being convicted of assaulting a person with intent to rob.

John Grierson, 29, of Kenilworth Avenue, was also put on supervision for two years at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

It follows an offence in Galashiels in January last year.

Power thief admonished

Danielle Lazzari, 25, pleaded guilty to stealing £788 worth of electricity from her then home in Chay Blyth Place, Hawick, on June 30 last year.

Cannabis and a class C drug were also found in a search of the property.

Sentence had previously been deferred at Jedburgh Sheriff Court for nine months for good behaviour and to allow Lazzari to continue repaying the money back to the electricity supplier.

Vouching was to be produced showing that she was paying the money back to the electricity supplier, but defence lawyer Ross Dow said he had received no response when trying to get that confirmation.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said the company had only itself to blame and admonished Lazzari after being told she had turned round her life, adding that the firm did not deserve to be compensated.

Sentence deferred

Sentence has been deferred on a 23-year-old man for two months to allow him to recover from breaking both legs in a car accident and appear personally at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Ryan Brodie, of Corton House, Ayr, admitted acting in a racially aggravated manner at Reivers Sports Bar, in High Street, Galashiels, on September 8.

He also admitted assaulting a woman there.

A few hours later, Brodie admitted spitting at a female in Market Square, Galashiels, and acting in a racially-aggravated manner intending to cause alarm to another woman.

Brodie also pleaded guilty to a further complaint of assaulting an employee to his injury at Reivers Bar on September 13.

The case was deferred until October 24 for a personal appearance.

Tackled teens

A 33-year-old Stow man took the law into his own hands when he confronted a group of teenage vandals damaging cars at his business premises in the Buckholm area of Galashiels.

Alexander Pringle, of Lugate, pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner on November 11 by shouting and swearing, struggling with others and uttering threats of violence.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the group had vandalised a number of vehicles and were then confronted by Pringle, who swore at them and made threats before going through the backpack of one of the teenagers.

He said: “Not surprisingly, the young men were concerned as it was a wholly inapprpriate way to respond.”

But Mr Fraser added: “It is accepted that their behaviour leading up to it was not acceptable either.”

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said the youngsters were helping themselves to items from vehicles in the yard and his client had caught them red-handed.

He accepted his client had overreacted and taken the law into his own hands and should have called the police.

But Mr Dow said that considering all the circumstances an admonition might be appropriate in this case.

Sheriff Peter Paterson accepted there had been a high level of provocation and deferred sentence for six months for good behaviour.

The case will recall on February 13.

Case deserted

A Galashiels woman accused of falsely claiming more than £6,000 in benefits she was not entitled to has had the case against her deserted.

Kataryzna Zyg, 38, of Woodstock Avenue, had pleaded not guilty to obtaining £6,167.66 housing benefit and £255.02 in council tax benefit between February 2012 and November 2014.

It was alleged she failed to declare an increase in earnings.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said he was deserting the case against Zyg, but reserved the right to re-raise proceedings if the £250 monthly repayments did not continue.

Remanded in custody

A 28-year-old Galashiels man has been remanded in custody at Jedburgh Sheriff Court after being accused of motoring offences.

Stuart McCutcheon is charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified and with no insurance.

He was fully committed for trial following a brief private court hearing.

Sentence deferred

A 23-year-old man who ran amok in Innerleithen with a knife has been will be sentenced next month.

Dean O’Donnell pleaded guilty on indictment to chasing members of the public with a knife and uttering threats of violence in Waverley Road, Innerleithen, on October 1 last year.

He also admitted repeatedly lunging at two men with the knife and attempting to strike them as well as assaulting a woman by pushing her to the ground to her injury.

O’Donnell of McNeil Terrace, Loanhead, also pleaded guilty to possession of a knife.

Not guilty pleas to four other charges were accepted by the Crown.

O’Donnell is currently remanded in custody in relation to another matter which is due to call at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on September 7.

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence on the Innerleithen case until the outcome of the matter is resolved.

The case will next call at Selkirk Sheriff Court on September 8.

£100 text

Sending a text message to a woman he was banned from contacting resulted in a £100 fine for a Galashiels barman.

Frederick Jenkins, 46, of Laidlaw Court, pleaded guilty to breaching his bail conditions by sending a text message to the woman on August 27.

Trial date set

A 27-year-old man is due to stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court next month, accused of a number of offences.

Michael Wheatson is accused of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in Morrisons store in Mart Street, Hawick, on May 14.

He is also charged with assaulting two store employees.

Wheatson denies threatening a woman with violence on May 24 in a telephone call to Catford Investments in North Bridge Street, Hawick.

Two days later he is alleged to have threatened violence to staff members at the Scottish Borders Council offices in Paton Street, Galashiels, and threatening a police constable.

Wheatson, previously of Jedburgh and Galashiels but gave an address in Kirkintilloch near Glasgow, has pleaded not guilty to all seven charges.

A trial date has been fixed for September 27.

Appeared from custody

A Galashiels teenager appeared from custody at Jedburgh Sheriff Court accused of committing two offences at the weekend.

Lace Farrell, 18, of Torwoodlee Road, is charged with threatening or abusive behaviour, shouting and swearing and repeatedly demanding money from her partner on Friday.

She is also accused of wilfully and recklessly damaging property by striking a car.

Farrell pleaded not guilty to both charges and a trial date was set for Selkirk Sheriff Court on November 24 with an intermediate hearing on October 24.

Sheriff Peter Paterson released her on bail with the special conditions not to contact her partner or enter Glendinning Terrace in Galashiels.

A banned driver has been jailed for over six months for leading police on a chase through several streets in Galashiels.

At one stage, officers were told by their control room to stop pursuing the Citroen van being driven by Samuel Wightman due to concerns for public safety.

Selkirk Sheriff Court heard that police had been tipped off that the 24-year-old, of Galabank Street, would be driving a van from Jedburgh to Galashiels on the afternoon of Monday, July 11, despite being disqualified from driving for two years in January.

Depute fiscal Tessa Bradley described how Wightman pulled up his hood when he saw the police patrol car in Abbotsford Road in an apparent attempt to cover his face and then drove away at excessive speed.

He hurtled along Huddersfield Street and turned into Hill Street and onto the opposite carriageway, forcing an oncoming vehicle to perform an emergency stop to avoid a collision.

Wightman also ignored give-way signs as he proceeded along Greenbank Street, Huddersfield Street, Larchank Street and up Nether Brae, doing sharp turns en route.

Ms Bradley continued: “The police were following 200m behind, but at this stage the control room told them to cease following the accused due to concerns for public safety.”

A dog walker later advised officers that a van answering the description issued had turned up in Boleside Road – a dead end – and the vehicle was eventually found within the curtilage of Netherbarns Farm.

The van was registered to Wightman’s father, who said that the last time he had seen it was when it was left parked in Galashiels.

The following day, Wightman was seen in the company of his father in a vehicle in Melrose Road, Galashiels, but he drove off again.

A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he eventually appeared in court on August 1 and was remanded in custody.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his father was in the habit of buying and selling cars, so vehicles were available to him.

He added that he had been having difficulties with his partner and “decided to go for a drive to clear his head”.

Mr Hulme said Wightman intended to move to Galston in East Ayrshire with his new partner.

He pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and with no insurance.

Wightman was initially charged with dangerous driving, but he admitted a reduced charge of careless driving.

Sheriff Peter Paterson jailed him for a total of 190 days backdated to August 1 and banned him from driving for 33 months.

Wightman shouted, swore and punched a wall as he was being led downstairs from the dock to the cells by security staff.

Thieves stole fuel from a car in Broughton, north of Drumelzier, after drilling a hole in its petrol tank.

The theft was carried out between Friday, August 26, and last Thursday.

The car targeted was a silver Mercedes C Class parked on the forecourt at Scott Vehicle Repairs in Galavale.

Police and community support officer Niki Craig, of Peebles police station, said: “As well as being a criminal act, the action taken to steal the fuel was extremely dangerous to the culprit and other members of the public.

“The fuel could have ignited at any time, causing serious injury or worse.”

Three similar incidents were reported in June at Hartree, Carlopps and Broughton Village Hall.

Inquiries are ongoing, and extra police patrols will be taking place in and around Broughton.

Any witnesses are asked to call Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Bookworms are being given the chance to find out more about the links between two of the early 19th century’s leading literary figures.

Abbotsford, Walter Scott’s home near Tweedbank from 1824 until his death in 1832, is hosting an evening of talks about the historical novelist and poet’s friendship with fellow writer George Byron, the sixth Lord Byron, on Monday.

Admission to the event, beginning with drinks at 6.30pm, followed by talks and readings starting at 7pm, is free.

Readings from the two writers’ works will be given by David McClay, curator of the John Murray Archive at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, playing Scott, and Robert Byron, the 13th Baron Byron, portraying his ancestor.

Robert McColl, author of the 2015 book Stirring Age: Scott, Byron and the Historical Romance, will be discussing the relationship between the two men and their lives and works.

Giles Ingram, chief executive officer of the Abbotsford Trust, said: “Sir Walter Scott and Lord Byron were the greatest literary heroes of their day, but it’s often assumed that they inhabited completely separate social circles.

“We are very excited to be able to show our visitors that not only did they meet and correspond with one another, but they also shared a deep affection kindled by their mutual passion for literature and history.”

Audience members will also be given the opportunity to look around Scott’s home and view Rave Reviewer, an exhibition highlighting Scott’s work as a literary critic, after the talks.

Scott, born in Edinburgh in 1771, dies in 1832 at the age of 61. Byron, born either in Dover in Kent or London in 1788, died in 1824 aged 36.

The event is being organised by the trust, the National Library of Scotland and the Byron Society.

To book tickets for the night, call 01896 752043 or visit www.scottsabbotsford.com

Planners at Scottish Borders Council are showing ever more awareness of the need for speed while making decisions on applications, latest gigures reveal.

In its annual report to the Scottish Government, the council’s Newtown-based planning service boasts of further reductions in the time it takes to deal with cases.

It is now performing better than the national average for all types of applications.

In addition to reduced decision-making timescales, the council’s latest planning performance framework report also highlights the work being done on preparing its next local development plan and other planning guidance, running the Scottish Borders Design Awards, overseeing the ongoing flood protection schemes in Selkirk and Hawick and developing a conservation area regeneration scheme bid for Jedburgh.

Hawick and Hermitage councillor Ron Smith, the authority’s executive member for planning and environment, said: “Every year, we continue to see improvements in the planning service, and I commend the staff for their ongoing efforts to reduce the time it takes for applicants to get a decision.

“This is largely down to the groundwork that officers put in with developers and applicants prior to the submission of plans.

“It has taken a great deal of work to get to this position, and further improvements are planned, as well as a review of the service as a whole to see where delivery can continue to be enhanced.”

Last year’s fall in the average time taken to decide planning applications follows another the year before.

It includes a reduction of more than half in the average time spent on deciding on major applications, such as wind farms and large housing developments, from 73.3 weeks in 2013-14 to 30.9 weeks in 2014-15 and now to 27.6 weeks.

The time taken to turn round non-householder developments has fallen by over five weeks to 17.4 weeks, and for householders’ applications it was reduced from 7.7 weeks to 6.7 weeks.

Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP Calum Kerr has been given a progress report on restoration work under way at Thirlestane Castle, near Lauder, during a visit to the 16th century tourist attraction.

He is pictured being given a tour by Edward and Sarah Maitland-Carew, the latest generation of their family to live at the castle.

Mr Kerr said: “I found this tour absolutely fascinating. I’m always keen to highlight the exceptional heritage sites that we have in the Borders, and Thirlestane Castle is a great example of how that heritage can be preserved and also an example of how these great houses can adapt to the ongoing challenges of preservation while seeking out new opportunities at the same time.”

The current restoration work follows the outbreak of dry rot in 2013 that led to the castle having to be closed for 18 months.

Mr Kerr added: “I think the great houses of the Borders are a major draw with a great deal of potential to bring more people into the region.

“It’s great to see one of these houses taking exciting steps forward and expanding and diversifying its operations.

“I hope these moves will, in turn, become part of wider efforts to transform the Borders into the pre-eminent tourist destination that it has the potential to become.”

Mr Maitland-Carew said: “We were delighted to welcome Calum Kerr and hear of his support for Thirlestane Castle and the work that the trust is doing to maintain this magnificent part of Scotland’s history for future generations to enjoy.

“It is challenging in difficult economic times to secure funding to realise our vision, but with this kind of backing and by working together, we know we can achieve a sustainable future for Thirlestane and bring additional economic benefit to the Borders.”

Peebles may not be in the Highlands, but the town can sure pull off a superb Games, as was proved on Saturday in the town’s Hay Lodge Park.

Somehow, organisers managed to fit in a hotly-contested competitions for pipe bands, heavy events and Highland dancing, along with malt whisky and Scottish gin tasting, haggis hurling, stalls with traditional Scottish foods, children’s fairground rides, bouncy castles and a pipe band street parade.

Bob Abbot, secretary of the event, said it was a good day.

He said: “I think it’s safe to say that it was quite a successful Games in spite of the gloomy weather forecast. In fact, the rain held off until the last 10 minutes or so, when we were presenting the prizes for the pipe bands.

“All events were excellent and a good yardstick for a successful show is that the beer tent does well.

“Well, we ran out of stock twice, so a committee member had to head into town to get more.”

One of the most anticipated categories in the Peebles Highland Show is the Heavies.

And while competition was fierce, there was one man who was not about to let anyone grab his title.

Daniel Carlin returned to Peebles on Saturday as the defending champion, having won the Accommodate Rural Shield for the first time in 2015.

Carlin was also the reigning holder of the Mark Hunter Trophy for the Weight for Height discipline.

Having had an excellent season on the heavy events circuit, Daniel was clearly quietly confident of having a successful day, and that’s exactly how it turned out.

Not only did he retain his championship trophy, but he did it in style, by winning every event in the process.

Having won the weight for height trophy by being the only competitor to clear the bar at a height of 13 feet, Carlin entered the final event guaranteed to win the championship, but going for maximum points.

The Peebles cabers always prove a stern challenge at the end of the day and so it was to prove with only Neil Elliott and Daniel achieving a full toss.

Both were excellent efforts, but Carlin’s was adjudged to be “two minutes past 12 o’clock” while Elliot was given “three minutes past”, thereby giving Daniel the victory by the closest of margins.

However, the six points awarded to Elliott for second place in the caber edged him half a point clear of Bruce Robb to claim second place overall.

Bruce was a respectable third, despite having forfeited much of his training this year to focus on building a house.

To top off a great day for Carlin, he also triumphed in the Haggis Hurl and Peebles Stane, winning him two bottles of whisky on top of his prize money.

As far as the Highland Dancing was concerned, it was a fantastic day all round, the second year that the competition has been organised with Scottish Official Highland Dance Association.

Organiser Kevin Marshall said: “The weather was kind to us, as were the organisers, and it all resulted in a fantastic day.

“It was great to see so many people enjoying watching the dancers and especially the two social events where dancers compete in pairs, the only competition to have these dances (a world exclusive!)

“This competition is also a fundraiser and we will be sending £400 to Meningitis Research in memory of Samantha Bernard, who sadly passed away last year at only 25 years old.

Pipe Band results

Pipe band competition results – Juvenile Drum Majors: 1, (Watson Dalgleish Shield) Gibb Fraser, Coalburn IOR; 2, (Alex Shield’s Cup) Beth Turner, College of Piping; 3, Rowan Murdoch, Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles; 4, Becky Cox, Troon Blackrock.

Adult Drum Majors: 1, (Veitches of Peebles Shield) Graham Wilson, City of Edinburgh; 2, (George Baxter Trophy) Richard Henderson, Lochmaben; 3, Andy Lyon, Royal Burgh of Stirling; 4, Campbell Waddell, Kirkcudbright & District.

Grade N/J: M&D (Venlaw Trophy) Preston Lodge High School; 1, (The Peebles Hydro Hotel Cup) George Watson’s College; 2, (Peebles Tourist Association Shield) Preston Lodge High School; 3, (Tweed Trophy) Torpichen and Bathgate. BDC (D/M Memorial Len Hancock Quaich) Preston Lodge High School.

Grade Four: M&D, (Crichton Trophy) Davidson’s Mains and District; 1, (Bishop Veitch Memorial Trophy) Bowhill & District; 2, (Henry Ballantyne Trophy) Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles; 3, (George Hall Memorial Shield) Davidson’s Mains and District; 4, (Whitestone Trophy) Stockbridge; BDC (George Blair Trophy) Bowhill & District; Borders Region (Jimmy Milne Trophy) Peebles Ex-Servicemen’s.

Grade Three: M&D, (George Purves Trophy) Prestonpans; 1, (James Inglis Salver) Prestonpans; 2, (Jimmy Gordon Memorial Trophy) Stockbridge; 3, (Peebles Ex-Servicemen’s Club Shield) Preston Lodge High School Juv; 4, (Crossburn Caravan Park Shield) Davidson’s Mains and District; Best Juv NIPL (Magdalene Sinclair Cup) George Watson’s College N/J; BDC, (Pensbrite Ltd Trophy) Stockbridge.

Grade Two: M&D, (Alex Finlayson Trophy) Preston Lodge High School Juv; 1, (5 Troop SAS Commando Quaich) Stockbridge; 2, (Holland & Sherry Cup) Prestonpans; 3, (Jim Hopkirk Trophy) Preston Lodge High School Juv; BDC, (Arthur B. Simmons Memorial Trophy) Prestonpans; B. Bass, (Jock Wilson Memorial Cup) Prestonpans.

Highland Dancing results

Babies – Josie Anderson; beginners – Ellie Kilfedder, novice – Bonnie Lawrie, intermediate – Lauren Marr, open – Stephanie Millar, adults – Fiona Matheson, pre open national – Lauren Marr, open national – Abbie Russell, 11 under cake walk – Ellie Kilfedder and Kelsey Reid, 12+ cakewalk – Lauren Marr/ Claire Higgins, adult cakewalk – Jennifer Whitehead and Michelle Nichols, 11 under Schottische – Millie Beath and Amy Russell, 12+ – Baylee Harrison and Abbie Russell, adults – Gemma Marshall and Katie Moore. Laura Smith School Trophy – Lauren Marr. Samantha Bernard Memorial trophy awarded to Dunedin Dance Academy most points, joint winners – Ellie Kilfedder and Abbie Russell. Best boy – Logan Robertson.

Heavies table

Competitor Peebles Stane Shot Putt 28lb Dist Hammer 56lb Height Caber Points Place

Daniel Carlin 7 7 7 7 7 7 35 1st

Neil Elliott 6 4 6 4 3 6 29 2nd

Bruce Robb 4 5 5 5 5.5 4 28.5 3rd

Wullie Falconer 2 6 4 2 3 5 22 4th

Chris Bennett 3 3 2 6 5.5 2 21.5 5th

Pete Hart 5 2 3 3 3 3 19 6th

Stuart Sutherland 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 7th

Borderers have been urged to sign up to be organ donors this week, by a woman who is still alive because someone else did just that.

Ena Mitchell, of Henderland Farm in the Yarrow Valley, is trustee of the charity Liver Transplant Support UK, which seeks to raise awareness of the importance of becoming an organ donor, as well as providing emotional support and relevant information to pre and post liver transplant recipients, families, friends and carers.

Ena, 51, found out she needed a transplant three years ago, as she contracted primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

“I was jaundiced, I slept a lot, as the PBC made me so tired I wasn’t really able to do anything.”

She was on the list for 50 difficult days.

She said: “Every time the phone went during that period, I thought, this might be it, and only when I least expected it, they called.

“The operation changed my life. My health is so much better, I have energy to do things.

“It has changed my outlook on life, it has helped me to concentrate on the things that matter, and that’s my health.”

But being an organ recipient has that flipside, in that you know someone had to die to make you better.

Ena said: “I know three things about my organ donor. I know she was female, she was Scottish and she was younger than me.

“And that is so sad. There’s not a day goes by that I do not think of the poor family who lost a loved one.

“If this person had not registered as a donor I never would have had the operation.”

And Ena, who kept in touch with her fellow organ recipients as she has to have her bloods checked in Edinburgh regularly, decided she wanted to give something back, so started up the charity.

She said: “Who better to highlight organ donation than an organ recipient?”

This week is Organ Donation Week.

To register as a donor, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-to-donate

Innerleithen-based author and teacher Claire McFall has made the shortlist for the inaugural Scottish Teenage Book Prize.

Set up to celebrate the most popular teenage books by Scottish authors, the competition is run by Scottish Book Trust with support from Creative Scotland.

Shortlisted authors receive £500 per book, and the winning author will receive £3,000.

Claire is shortlisted for her third novel Black Cairn Point (Hot Key Books), which was released in August 2015, and it’s up against The Last Soldier by Keith Gray (Barrington Stoke) and Silver Skin by Joan Lennon (Birlinn).

Black Cairn Point is a chilling and atmospheric thriller which explores what happens when an ancient malevolent spirit is reawakened.

Claire’s first book Ferryman is a love story which retells the ancient Greek myth of Charon, the ferryman of Hades who transported souls to the underworld. The novel won the Older Readers Category of the Scottish Children’s Book Awards 2013 and was long-listed for the UKLA (UK Literary Association) Book Awards and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her second novel, Bombmaker, was released in 2014 and considers ideas of identity in a dystopian devolved United Kingdom.

Claire said: “I’m incredibly pleased that Black Cairn Point has been selected. This is the first year of the new Scottish Teenage Book Prize and I’m delighted to be a part of it.

“What I love best about the prize is that it is determined purely by votes from Scottish teenage readers. I’m really looking forward to connecting with young readers and sharing my story with them.”

Children aged 12-16 across the country can now vote for the winner by submitting a class vote online via the Scottish Book Trust website.

The winning book will be announced on March 1, 2017.

A national campaign highlighting the plight of bullying victims is coming to the Borders this weekend.

Bikes Against Bullies, a new organisation, is holding an inaugural rally at St Mary’s Loch, north of Ettrick, on Sunday September 11.

Five parties of motorcyclists will gather at the loch, at the Glen Café, at about 3pm after setting off from three locations in England and two in Scotland.

One set of English bikers will be coming up from Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, the home of group founder Chris Cooper, and the others will depart from Penrith, also in Cumbria, and Morecambe in Lancashire.

The Scottish bikers will be coming from Prestwick and Edinburgh.

For further details, go to www.bikesagainstbullies.co.uk

Paul Miller, a member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, will lead a prayer service for people driven by bullying to commit suicide.

A collection will be taken in aid of Stand Up to Bullying.

A spokesman for Bikes Against Bullies said: “We are a group set up for anyone who wishes to be involved to create awareness surrounding bullying and to offer support to victims and families.

“It just so happens that most of us ride motorcycles as a form of transport. We are not limited to motorcyclists and families are more than welcome to join.

“Anyone joining will be actively encouraged to help in what ever way they can as we feel our children deserve to be safe, to be supported, empowered and to live their lives with out fear.

“We intend to adjust the help offered to each individual person who approaches us based on their needs.

“Many of our members or their families have personal stories which support the statistics that more than 43% of children have been reported to have been affected by bullying at some point in their lives, with 44% of those children suffering ongoing bullying more than once a week.

The Selkirk Ex-Standard Bearers Association held its annual Charities and Good Causes Rideout on Sunday, with more than 100 riders taking part.

The conditions for the ride was just about perfect, the clouds providing good protection for the horses.

The parade left the Station Yard at 8am and travelled cross-country to Bowhill where they enjoyed a spectacular gallop through the field in front the historic house.

They then took to the hills, up the Duchesses Drive and on to the Bottom Swire and through the Yarrow Valley, now decked in sunshine, to the Gordon Arms Hotel.

Here, collections were taken for Marie Curie for the car parking and from spectators.

Also, Deacon of the Selkirk Incorporation of Hammermen Kevin Fairbairn presented a £500 cheque to the members of the Young Souters Association, the cash raised at their Annual Foy on Common Riding Day this year.

Riders returned down the side of the Yarrow Water, stopping for a well earned break at Fastheugh Farm before passing through the Bowhill estate and fording the Ettrick at Oakwood Mill.

The ride then made its way back to Selkirk via Middlestead, entering the town at Peelgate, and returning to cheering crowds as they entered the Market Place.

Riders and spectators then retired to the Selkirk Conservative Club for the riders’ social and disco.

The Ex-Standard Bearers thanked all the landowners and farmers for allowing the ride to cross their land, Selkirk Flapping Association for providing the water for the riders at the stops, butcher Darren Hoggan for providing the buffet at the social and to Martin Scott and his staff at Selkirk Conservative Club for all their help.

More than £2,000 was raised on the day.

Not only are the pipes calling at Innerleithen this weekend, but they’re calling loudly enough to lure a band all the way from Switzerland.

The Pipes and Drums of Basel are making a rare excursion overseas to put in a guest appearance at this year’s Innerleithen Pipe Band Championships, being held tomorrow, Saturday, September 10.

The Swiss band were founded in 1978 by members of a carnival group called Schotte Clique 1947, and having gone on to win numerous competitions in their homeland and Germany, they now want to put their talents to the test in the Borders.

Allan Johnston, secretary of St Ronan’s Piping Society, the charity that organises the annual competition, now in its 15th year, said: “We are delighted to have such a prestigious band as the Pipes and Drums of Basel join us at our competition this weekend.

“To date, we have a total of 29 performances from bands in grades two, three and four, as well as a juvenile competition and a drum majors’ competition.

“There will be something for everyone, and at the end of the day, we will be handing out a fine array of trophies and prize money amounting to more than £,2000 to the successful bands.

“In addition to the fine pipe band music, there will be an array of stalls, a face-painter, pony rides, snack bar and even a bar.”

This year’s chieftain will be incoming Innerleithen, Walkerburn and Traquair Rotary Club president Sandra Stokoe, of Peebles, and she said: “I am truly honoured to be asked to perform the duties of chieftain for the 15th Innerleithen Pipe Band Championships on behalf of the club.

“The society has, over the past years, brought the area to prominence with the championships here in Innerleithen, and this can be nothing but a bonus to the town.

“I look forward to carrying out my duties as chieftain of the championships and hope that the weather is kind to the competition.”

Mrs Stokoe will be piped down to St Ronan’s Primary School from St Ronan’s Road at about 10.45am tomorrow to take over the reins from last year’s chieftain, Norman Scott. She will take a salute from the massed bands at 5pm and, weather permitting, will be saluted by the participating bands as they parade about 5.30pm from St Ronan’s Road, Queen Street, Horsbrugh Street and High Street to fall out in Hall Street.

As an added attraction at this year’s event, the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association’s Lothian and Borders branch will be crowning a champion of champions, chosen from the bands that have won titles during the competitive season.

“The competition will be fierce, and the piping will be first class definitely and an event not to miss,” added Mr Johnston.

“There will be music to suit all tastes, so we are looking forward to a big turnout from local people and visitors alike to enjoy the music.”

Entry is £3, £2 for concessions, and parking will be £2 per car.

For more informatio, email piperhammy@yahoo.co.uk

The closures of three Borders schools were confirmed this week, and more are set to follow now a radical overhaul of education provision in the region has got under way.

Further decisions on primary school closures and amalgamations are expected over the next two years as Scottish Borders Council’s entire school estate, serving nearly 16,000 pupils, comes under scrutiny.

“There is a consensus that we can reduce the number of schools based on school roll figures and projections,” said Donna Manson, the council’s service director for children and young people, in a report to the authority’s executive on Tuesday.

“There is a clear message that the council must take action to ensure the resources we have in these challenging fiscal times are used wisely and efficiently.

“Stakeholders have identified that we need to rationalise the school estate of nine secondaries and 60 primaries and reduce the number of schools in order to achieve best value for the resources we have.”

The three schools being closed are Eccles/Leitholm in Berwickshire, Ettrick Primary and Hobkirk Primary, near Bonchester Bridge.

All three had already been mothballed, but the executive has now agreed to invoke statutory consultation measures prior to their permanent closure.

Pre-consultation meetings were held in March at the region’s secondary schools, each with its own cluster of feeder primaries, and stakeholders were given facts and figures about schools rolls, the condition and capacity of buildings and the cost per pupil in each catchment area.

Based on feedback from those meetings, the clusters around Jedburgh Grammar, Hawick High, Galashiels Academy and Eyemouth High have been prioritised for consideration during the first part of the review, starting this month and lasting up to a year.

“This will allow a more focused engagement with key stakeholders and act as a preparation for any relevant formal proposals that may be brought forward,” said Ms Manson.

All school closures must undergo a process of statutory consultation and require the ultimate sanction of the Scottish Government.

Ms Manson said the highest level of engagement had been seen in Jedburgh.

Some 240 parents, carers and pupils there had responded to a council questionnaire, the meeting heard.

“The school communities are asking this council to further engage on the future of education provision, expressing concern about the condition of, and lack of investment in, their school buildings, the quality of their facilities and the challenge of sustaining a broad curriculum,” she said.

She said the quality of buildings and their impact on learning were also key concerns for Galashiels Academy and its cluster of 10 primary schools.

“There was a recognition that the future of education could look very different and that catchments need to be reviewed,” she added.

Councillors endorsed a simultaneous review of the region’s four Roman Catholic schools in Hawick, Selkirk, Peebles and Galashiels, all of which are running under capacity and have difficulties recruiting teaching staff.

This week marks the first birthday of the rebirth of the Borders Railway, the 35-mile line reconnecting the region to Edinburgh.

While the service has seen more passengers through its automatic doors than anyone could have dared to expect before the launch, it is not without its detractors.

Leading the line’s praises, admittedly unsurprisingly, is Leaderdale and Melrose councillor David Parker, leader of Scottish Borders Council, one of the champions of the £294m project.

He said: “The Borders Railway is opening up opportunities to work, invest, live, learn and visit our region.

“One year after it opened, the railway is starting to help transform the Scottish Borders’ economy, from increasing tourism to assisting in the growth of key areas such as the food and drink and creative sectors, and the passenger numbers to date highlight the potential for the area.

“Working with our partners, we are aiming to capitalise on the opportunities presented through the Borders Railway Blueprint programme.

“The programme aims to deliver a range of economic benefits and encourage businesses to take advantage of the many development opportunities available in the region, which have been opened up to a greater audience by the Borders Railway.

“It is important that the economic benefits of the Borders Railway spread across the wider Scottish Borders so that as many people as possible benefit from it, and this is something that Scottish Borders Council will continue to work hard on.”

However, Neil Fox, administrator of the Borders Railway passenger group on Facebook, said all is not rosy.

He said: “Overall, I am delighted to see the trains running again. However, the service levels over the first year have fallen well below most people’s expectations.

“The Borders Railway should have been double track for the entire length. I get the impression that corners have been cut to save money rather than building for the future.”

Mr Fox added: “I would like to use the train for work. However, as I live in Stow, I do not have access to a full timetable.”

“This causes further problems when Scotrail decides to cancel a train or run a train with reduced stops.”

He added that other problems, such as not enough carriages, poor service, especially on late trains from the capital at weekends, poor attitude and customer service levels from some of the guards and an unreliable service are all major talking points on his page.

He said: “Cancellations should be the exception, not the norm.”

A spokeswoman for Scotrail said: “We’re pleased to celebrate the Borders Railway’s first anniversary.

“So many customers are using the service which links the Borders and Midlothian communities with Edinburgh and further afield on the rail network.”

The Campaign for Borders Rail says the first anniversary of the line is an occasion to look to the future and that there is a strong case for extending the line to benefit more communities.

“Official studies into the potential for future extension of rail services to bring direct benefits to even more places should be seen as just the beginning of the next stage of railway development in the Scottish Borders,” said Allan McLean, the retired railway manager chairing the group.

“I appreciate that it will take time to extend the railway.

“In the meantime, there is an opportunity to enhance the existing service to make it more reliable.

“Cancellations and delays to the current trains must not hinder future development. In
fact, recent experience can inform the future so that lessons are learned to maximise the very real benefits that a reliable train service can bring.”

Scottish Borders Council leader David Parker has welcomed the news that ScotRail is to have toilets and a kiosk built at the line’s Tweedbank terminus early next year.

He said: “I am delighted that users of Tweedbank station will be able to access these new facilities.

“One common issue raised with me since the opening of the railway has been the lack of toilet facilities at Tweedbank.

“These concerns have been considered, and having this new facility as well as a kiosk to serve refreshments from early next year will be welcomed by passengers boarding or leaving the train.

“Funding for this project has come from ScotRail and the Borders Railway Blueprint Group.”

Cathy Craig, commercial director at ScotRail, added: “We will continue to work closely with the local community to ensure that services and facilities in the Borders meet the needs of people, businesses and visitors to the area.”

Scottish Borders Council is bringing in a trade waste permit scheme at six of its community recycling centres.

A trade waste permit will allow businesses to dispose of their waste legally across the region.

Traders will see the new scheme being introduced on a phased basis over seven weeks, starting on Monday, September 26.

Eshiels, Galashiels, Hawick, Duns, Eyemouth and Kelso recycling centres will all accept trade waste, with only Selkirk’s new facility being unable to do so in the region.

Traders will be able to access one recycling centre site per day between the hours of 9am and 4.30pm on weekdays.

They can also use recycling centres from 9am to 1.30pm on Saturdays on a trial basis over the initial months of the new service.

Businesses can apply for two types of permit – for recycling only or green, construction and recycling.

The council’s executive member for environmental services, Hawick and Hermitage councillor David Paterson, said: “I am pleased that the council has thought about the needs of local businesses and developed this new cost-effective and legally compliant option which aims to benefit smaller, mobile companies across the Borders.

“Businesses have a legal duty to produce, store, transport, and dispose of their business waste without harming the environment.

“Opening recycling centres to companies will also improve the range of trade waste services currently provided by the council.

“It should be noted that while our staff engage with businesses as this new policy is being introduced, site users may find that sites are busier than usual and encounter queues to gain access.”

Visit www.scotborders.gov.uk/tradepermits or call 0300 100 1800 for details.

Council chiefs and police officers have done a U-turn and agreed to rethink their previous refusal to bring in a 40mph speed limit at an accident blackspot on the A72 on the outskirts of Innerleithen.

Scottish Borders Council’s Tweeddale area forum has agreed that a speed limit would be the best way to reduce the number of drivers losing control of vehicles while negotiating Caerlee Corner, just beyond the existing 30mph limit to the west of the Peeblesshire town.

Described as “three bends within a bend” by the council’s road network manager, Brian Young, at last week’s forum meeting in West Linton, the site was the scene of three incidents resulting in injury in 2013.

One consisted of a motorcyclist skidding off the road, and two involved car drivers crossing the centre line and colliding with oncoming vehicles.

Despite improved signage and the repainting of a safety barrier at the corner, a further four accidents resulting in injury were reported in 2014, three of them involving eastbound drivers heading into the town.

After a further two accidents in 2015, an extension of the 30mph limit to include the corner and its western approach was considered but rejected by both council officers and Police Scotland.

The police objected on the basis that there was no suitable location for their traffic team to enforce the speed sanction from.

In response to repeated calls for action from Innerleithen, Traquair and Glen Community Council and all three Tweeddale East councillors on Scottish Borders Council – Stuart Bell, Graham Garvie and Gavin Logan – it was agreed to review that decision.

“A reassessment has now taken place,” said Mr Young.

“Following considerable discussion, it was agreed that a case could be made, supported by Police Scotland and council officers, for a 40mph buffer zone starting before the initial bend.

“Further work has been undertaken on the surface quality and skid resistance of the road, and this is currently being analysed.

“There is an additional local concern that errant vehicles tend to end up on the outside of the bend, potentially coming into conflict with an informal but well-used local path immediately adjacent to the road.

“Council officers have drawn up alternative schemes to divert this path away from the road.”

The forum unanimously agreed that the process, involving statutory public consultation, of introducing a traffic regulation order to permit the 40mph extension should go ahead, although Mr Young cautioned: “Amending an existing speed limit is a lengthy and legally protracted one that can typically take up to a year to be implemented.”

Mr Bell, a long-time campaigner for a lower speed limit at Caerlee Corner, said: “It’s fabulous that at last we are making progress on what the public have long demanded – an extension of the speed limit on the west of Innerleithen to slow vehicles coming into the town.

“Officers were reluctant to make a change as they saw this as exceptional, but the succession of single-vehicle accidents has equally been exceptional, so I am glad that, at last, steps to improve safety have been initiated.”

A bid to give struggling traders in Hawick’s High Street a six-month ‘holiday’ from paying business rates has been summarily rejected.

The proposal was submitted to Scottish Borders Council last week by charitable regeneration group Future Hawick.

In its submission – sent to all six Hawick councillors, SBC leader David Parker and executive member for economic development Stuart Bell – the group claimed that 25% of town centre shops were currently vacant, compared to 17% in Galashiels, and that the vacancy rate for larger High Street shops was 43%.

“Footfall in Hawick has dropped significantly compared to Galashiels,” states the group. “Hawick has traditionally been insulated from spending leakage to the north, but this may have changed with the growth of Galashiels and the arrival there of the Borders Railway from which Hawick is not getting the benefit.

“We would support a limited rates relief period for the owners of empty shops in return for an improved shopfront appearance and regular evidence of a concerted marketing effort in respect of the premises.

“Failure to comply would result in rates being applied and this initiative can only help improve occupancy prospects.

“Help is also urgently needed for the many existing small local traders who strive daily to keep our High Street alive.

“We appreciate that many of these presently qualify for varying degrees of rates relief … but we believe that a full ‘rates holiday’ for a six-month pilot period would greatly help these businesses and have minimum impact on council finances.

“It would help bring our High Street traders together and, at the same time do much to help the regeneration of our town centre.”

But in a response to the group, Councillor Bell said: “No [rates relief] scheme can be open-ended as the financial implications for the council cannot be contained and, therefore, the proposal cannot be supported by the council.

“As a result it will not be presented formally to elected members.

“It is becoming clear that a fair, flexible non-domestic rates relief scheme will be very difficult to establish and sustain financially.

“Developing a new rates relief scheme which reflects Future Hawick’s aspirations is challenging for [council] officers … a scheme as proposed is not a vehicle by which this can be done.

“I realise Future Hawick will be disappointed by this conclusion, but I think it is better to learn and move on.”

Mr Bell’s edict produced an angry reaction from Councillor Watson McAteer (Hawick and Denholm) an Independent member of the opposition at Newtown.

“I find it astonishing this sincere and well thought-out request has been summarily rejected by Mr Bell, after consultation, presumably, with Mr Parker, without the slightest courtesy of engagement or discussion with the Hawick councillors, let alone the wider elected membership,” said Mr McAteer.