Thirty skilled jobs are being created at a new call centre in the Borders, writes Sandy Neil.

Scott & Co, a firm of sheriff officers and messengers-at-arms which specialises in debt recovery and warrant enforcement across Scotland, announced the opening of the new customer response centre in Galashiels this week.

The company is employed by Scottish Borders Council to chase unpaid council tax arrears, and has maintained an operational centre in Galashiels for the last 20 years, servicing the whole Borders area.

The opening of Scott & Co’s third call centre is a response to increased customer demand, a spokesperson explained.

Sixteen staff have already been appointed, and are currently undergoing their initial six-week induction programme. Interviews are also continuing this week at Scott & Co’s office at 50/52 High Street, Galashiels.

“This is a genuine additional resource, and brings our current capacity over the three centres to 90 seats,” said Joy McLaughlin, the Scott & Co partner responsible for business operations. Although we operate in a virtual contact centre environment as part of our integrated service platform, the Galashiels centre will have a particular focus on our public sector contracts and the delivery of innovative communication strategies.

“We have been delighted with the response locally to our commitment and local investment in the area.”

“Refurbishment work, infrastructure deployment and the recruitment process are complete, and the first new employees were scheduled to commence their initial three-week induction programme in mid-August,” a spokesperson said. “Given the often complex legal issues involved in Scott & Co’s work, these will be highly-skilled posts, with an initial emphasis on training.”

Sarah Kemp, Scott & Co’s compliance and development manager, added: “The training of the contact centre staff is vitally important, and is of necessity technical and all-encompassing. It is not simply a matter of developing database and call centre technology skills.”

She explained: “The internal and external training programmes include empathetic skills development, an understanding of council tax and NDR legislation and the summary warrant process, an understanding of the statutory regulations that govern our business operations and the necessary compliance procedures, how to deal with vulnerable individuals, and our policies on treating customers fairly.”

The announcement was welcomed by local politicians. Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, said: “This area has built a strong reputation for call centre work over the last few years. I’m delighted that Scott & Co are bringing more jobs in this sector and that the jobs are highly skilled.

“As an ex-solicitor I know the work of sheriff officers well, and can vouch for the high level of skills required. It’s easy to say that our people are our best assets. But in this instance it is absolutely true. This is a clear example of a national company choosing our area because our people have the capacities and qualities that will add value to their activities.’

Councillor Stuart Bell, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for economic development, added: “Investment like this is vital for the Borders. Any new jobs are welcome, of course, but high-quality jobs that come with an extra investment in specialist training are particularly valuable for an area which has seen its historic industries with their traditional skills lost and dispersed. We need to build new skills that are in demand now and in the future.”

Comment: page 9

The River Tweed has seen a fall of nearly nine per cent in the number of fish caught by rod and line this spring, writes Kenny Paterson.

The River Tweed Commission reported a downturn from 3,061 in 2011 to 2,792, which the organisation blamed on the summer’s wet weather, which, it says, has made fishing impossible in some areas.

A spokesperson for the commission said: “The drop on last season’s catch was due largely to the weather conditions – especially during June and July with continuous high water making fishing difficult at best and impossible in many places.”

“The 2012 figure is not transparent as several areas of the river that traditionally benefit from the Tweed’s spring run did not do so to such an extent this year.”

The spokesperson reported that from the beat from Coldstream to the sea at Berwick witnessed substantially lower returns than usual.

He added: “The majority of the fish were caught in middle Tweed and the top half of the lower river.”

The five-year average for spring catch now stands at 2,269, up on the previous figure by 100 fish.

And with the last two seasons seeing the full use of the conservation technique catch and release, the rate of successful returns rose to 97 per cent.

Only 80 fish did not recover sufficiently to be able to be returned.

The catch and release statistic has risen significantly since 2003, when only 55 per cent of salmon caught on the Tweed were voluntarily released. The figure stood at 91 per cent two years ago.

Back in March, the River Tweed Commission’s annual report indicated that the Borders’ main water system had seen its second best year to date for catches, with more than 20,000 salmon landed.

More than three-quarters of the species were caught using rod and line. Sea trout also posted excellent catch numbers.

But outgoing RTC chairman, Andrew Douglas Home, said in March it was possible that the reductions in offshore and in-river netting in recent years had allowed sea trout to predominate over the brown trout.

The 2011 trout season saw a number of large fish being caught in the spring, mainly on the upper Tweed and big tributaries.

But as the season progressed, increased reports started to filter through about the lack of catchable brown trout.

However, the Tweed Foundation’s trout and grayling biologist, Kenny Galt, said at the time that the widely-held view that trout angling is not as good as it used to be predates, by many years, the recent improvement in salmon rod catches.

A DRUG addict who used a taxi for a heroin deal was jailed for four years.

Social workers recommended Gordon Donald be placed on a drug and treatment testing order (DTTO) after he was caught dealing – but the 35-year-old looked stunned when he was handed the lengthy jail term.

Jedburgh Sheriff Court was told last week that police responded to a 999 call about a disturbance at Donald’s home in Renwick Terrace, Hawick, on March 3, but found nothing on their arrival. However, officers then spotted a taxi leaving the street with Donald and another man in the back seat.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said a search uncovered a bag of brown powder and set of scales in the back seat of the taxi. The heroin had a street value of £920 and officers also seized two mobile phones and £103.50 in cash.

Donald’s lawyer, Ed Hulme, described his client as a “chaotic long-term drug user”, but urged the sheriff to follow the recommendation of background reports and impose a DTTO.

But Sheriff Derrick McIntyre said: “I am not prepared to give a DTTO for this type of offence. Drugs are a blight on our society, causing crime and misery. Those who deal in drugs must expect substantial prison sentences.”

Donald was given three-and-a-half years for heroin dealing and a further six months for assaulting a Jobcentre employee in a separate incident in Galashiels – both sentences to run consecutively.

The myths and legends of the Borderlands are the theme behind this year’s Borders Heritage Week.

The 12 days of events in venues across the region, from September 12-23, will explore the tales of Merlin, St Mungo and Tibbie Tamsin, as well as local storytellers Sir Walter Scott, James Hogg and Will o’ Phaup – the last man to converse with the fairies.

“The myths and legends of the Borders are among the most enduring and influential in the world,” entices the organiser and council archeologist Dr Chris Bowles.

“Borders Heritage Week 2012 celebrates this rich and wonderful corpus with a series of events that allow you to scratch the surface.”

The festival begins with a guided walk up the Corbie Lynn near Selkirk on Wednesday, September 12, to the grave of the executed ‘witch’ Tibby Tamsin, followed on Saturday, September 15, with a day of creative writing called The Making of Myths, led by the countryside ranger and Southern columnist Erica Hume Niven.

In the Tweed Valley at Traquair on Sunday, September 16, there are tales told and stories shared about Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Bear Gates and St Mungo, patron saint and founder of the city of Glasgow.

If trees can be likened to people, then Heritage Trees are the characters, such as the larch trees planted at Dawyck and Kailzie gardens in 1725, and you can discover some of these amazing trees in the beautiful setting of Kailzie Garden with Borders Forest Trust and Treefest Scotland on Tuesday, September 18.

Nearby, on a 10-mile walk amidst the flora and fauna of the Drumelzier valley on Wednesday, September 19, there’s a chance to discover how King Arthur’s legendary wizard Merlin may be connected to the area.

The same day visitors can wander around the grounds of Coldingham Priory, one of the earliest Border monasteries, or learn about St Cuthbert at the opening of the new Old Melrose Interpretation Centre.

On a tour of the Yarrow Valley, St Mary’s Loch and Moffat the following Thursday, there are stories of the Covenanters and the Border Reivers to be told in the beauty of the Highlands in miniature.

The festival ends with tours of Sir Walter Scott’s life, Trimontium, the Berwickshire coast, the Ettrick Valley and the Samye Ling Tibetan Centre.

For more programme and ticket information, search for and download the Borders Heritage Week leaflet on the Scottish Borders Council website www.scotborders.gov.uk, or call 01835 826622.

A charity founded after the death of Borderer Hazel Scott Aiton in a car crash has raised over £550,000 over the last eight years.

Hazel’s Footprints Trust seeks to provide funding for people wishing to work voluntarily in schools, charities or community projects abroad, to enrich the lives of the communities they work in while expanding their own horizons through their experiences.

The sport-loving 21-year-old died in a car crash close to 
the family home at Legerwood near Earlston in August 
2004

Before going to Durham University, Hazel spent a year at the Otjikondo Village School in a remote location in Namibia, where she saw first-hand what an enormous difference could be made to the lives of 
others.

The aims of Hazel’s Footprints Trust are:

z To advance education by the provision of financial assistance to people doing voluntary work overseas;

z To promote the charitable purposes of the Otjikondo Village School Foundation, Namibia, with an annual donation.

z To relieve poverty and advance education elsewhere in the world by the provision of occasional grants to educational establishments in impoverished countries.

Schools in many remote parts of the world have benefited from the trust’s generosity, including Nubri School in Nepal which can only be reached by a five day trek, carrying anything needed to survive and to enhance the school.

Trust co-founder Joan Scott Aiton gave an talk at the Rotary Club of Galashiels, describing the trust’s activities, fundraising and how they ensure the funds are spent appropriately by having volunteers at each project.

More information about the Trust is on their website: www.hazelsfootprints.org/ .

YOUNGSTERS in Kelso and Coldstream were treated to slightly more exotic entertainment fare than they are used to in school, with special performances by the Moradokmai Theatre Troupe from rural Thailand.

Currently on tour, troupe members visited Coldstream Primary on Tuesday, as well as giving pupils in Kelso’s Broomlands Primary yesterday and Edenside Primary today the chance to enjoy traditional Thai music, dance and theatre.

“This is a company like no other I have worked with’ said tour organiser Hazel Roy.

“The whole company of 60-plus live, work and make theatre together in a Buddhist eco -community, where the students learn to grow and cook their own food, take a full part in their community and enjoy a rigorous training in traditional Thai dance music and theatre.”

And knowing how the recession has hit school budgets, Moradokmai is performing free of charge in the Borders schools - an act of real generosity given that troupe members lost everything in the floods that devastated parts of Thailand last year and are now trying to replace 20 years’ worth of theatre resources and musical instruments.

“This is a company that has few personal possessions but has endless resources creatively. I think they have discovered the secret of happiness,” added Hazel.

A man who alarmed a former girlfriend by following her around a supermarket has been remanded in custody until September 17.

Artur Maciaga, of Queens Way, Earlston, admitted breaching a bail condition not to approach the woman on August 30.

“He was on bail not to approach her and met her in Tesco’s in Galashiels where she was shopping,” explained depute procurator fiscal Tessa Bradley. “He continued to follow her around the store for about 10 minutes,” she added.

Maciaga’s lawyer, Matt Patrick, said his client was “keen to resolve some financial issues” which could lead to him losing his home, adding: “He bumped into her shopping.”

An intermediate hearing was also set for September 17, with trial on October 2, after the 37-year-old denied causing the same woman fear and alarm by going to her Tweedbank home on August 7 and 8, and refusing to leave.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond told Maciaga: “You were sentenced to custody for offences which involved following women in the street, and that sentence expires on October 4. You now face two charges of attending at a woman’s home and refusing to leave. You have pled guilty to breaching an undertaking which prohibited you from approaching your former partner.

“I do not accept that this was a chance meeting, and you continued to pursue her for some 10 minutes, leaving her frightened and uncomfortable.

“You do not seem to be able to take on board the importance of observing court conditions, particularly when they relate to the safety of your female victims,” he concluded.

MORE than £147,000 still owed in unpaid poll tax debts to Scottish Borders Council (SBC) is unlikely to be written off before it has to be, writes Mark Entwistle.

Last week, TheSouthern reported that the local authority was still owed £147,016, but the situation was unclear as to whether SBC would join some other Scottish councils in cancelling old outstanding poll tax arrears.

Local authorities north of the border are still owed a total of more than £320million from people who refused to pay the controversial community charge (poll tax), introduced in 1989 by the Conservative Government led by Margaret Thatcher and abolished four years later by her successor, John Major.

Four councils have already given up chasing outstanding poll tax monies, including Inverclyde, which cancelled £6million of debt last year. Argyll and Bute last year collected only £174 of the £3.4million still owed, while South Lanarkshire clawed back just £31,409 of the £30.9 million it is due.

In Edinburgh, council chiefs are owed over £72million, but collected just £65,838 in 2011.

Next year will see the 20th anniversary of the poll tax being replaced by the council tax and, under Scots Law, that interval means any outstanding payments will automatically be written off.

However, a spokesman for SBC has now informed TheSouthern that it did not look like the local authority was intending cancelling outstanding poll tax debts just yet.

“We will consider writing off debt that we feel is uncollectable in the normal course of reviewing debts of all types,” he told us, but added: “There are no plans, at the moment, to write off the £147,000 in totality.”

A man of 80 was treated in hospital overnight for smoke inhalation after a chip-pan fire at a Hawick sheltered housing complex on Monday afternoon.

An 87-year-old man was also taken to hospital for treatment but was later released, A third man, aged 70, was treated at the scene by paramedics.

Firefighters from Hawick, Selkirk and Galashiels responded to an automatic fire alarm call to Douglas Haig Court, in the town’s Linden Crescent, shortly before 1pm, and on arrival found a fire in the kitchen of a ground floor flat in the two-storey complex, which contains 33 flats.

Three appliances, an incident support unit, and 15 firefighters were involved at the scene.

A small number of residents had to be evacuated from their homes and had to wait about three hours before being allowed to return, because of the large amount of smoke.

Jason MacGilp, chief executive of Cairn Housing Association, which runs the sheltered housing complex, said on Tuesday: “Two residents received hospital treatment and the fire and rescue service attended very promptly, which we thank them for.”

Mr MacGilp praised the fire service’s “excellent response” and said that Cairn Housing Association’s own fire procedures worked well.

He singled out housing support manager Christine Hope and colleague Ruth Hutton for their efforts.

“The alarms went off and Christine responded and went to the door of the flat and ushered the resident out of the flat and out of the building.

“She was very courageous and did a great job,” said Mr MacGilp.

He added that the fire had “gutted” the flat’s kitchen and caused “significant damage” to the sitting room.

Mr MacGilp said that Cairn Housing Association was working alongside hospital staff and the Scottish Borders Council social work department to attend to the needs of the flat’s resident.

Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service had been scheduled to give a regular fire advice talk to residents of Douglas Haig Court on Wednesday, but after the fire, this was brought forward to Tuesday.

Mr MacGilp, who visited the Hawick housing complex on Tuesday morning, said that the session was very well attended.

He added that while residents were concerned about the condition of the man in hospital, the mood was good and residents were happy with the response from staff and the fire service.

However a resident told TheSouthern that there was some continuing concern about the lack of help for residents in general, after council cuts to housing support in April 2011, which meant that one warden was to be made redundant.

The man, who did not wish to be named, said that the two staff had agreed to job-share to avoid the redundancy, but added that they were no longer able to care for residents as they had before, when the wardens would call single residents each morning to check on them and also help any who were feeling unwell.

He said: “There is no longer someone to do the caring duties so there are more and more carers having to come in and do the work the wardens provided. I can’t see how that is saving money.”

A Scottish Borders Council spokesman responded: “Following changes in funding arrangements last year, Scottish Borders Council’s social work department offered an assessment of need to all tenants to determine any additional support or assistance that might be required. All tenants were also offered contact through the Bordercare service.

“If any tenant believes their needs have changed and they would benefit from a further assessment. they should contact their social worker or the social work duty hub on 0300 100 1800, option 4.”

He added: “We are confident that Cairn Housing Association runs a well-managed facility in Douglas Haig Court and this includes a regular onsite staff presence.

“It continues to be a thriving and successful older people’s housing complex and high praise is due to the way this week’s situation was dealt with.”

After the fire, Lothian and Borders Fire Service has once again warned about the dangers of chip pans.

A spokeswoman said: “Chip pan fires are one of the most common call-outs we have.

“It’s all too easy for a chip pan to catch light and this can quickly fill a room with smoke, putting people at real risk of smoke inhalation and more serious injury.

“Fortunately, in this case fire crews were quickly on the scene and able to extinguish the fire and ensure those affected got prompt medical attention.

“We would advise people to ditch their chip pans and reduce their risk of this type of fire. An electric deep-fat fryer with an automatic cut-out is a much safer option,” she added.

Job search getting you down? Maybe you’re thinking of taking up a weekend job or are leaving education and would like full-time employment.

If so, here are some tips which may help you get that one step closer to the job of your dreams.

1. Take time, write down your goals and the kind of jobs you would like to do (remember to think small and work your way up the employment ladder to the job you really want).

2. Make an appointment with your local careers advisor and discuss with them your goals and they could help you work out your next steps to getting ready for the career you want.

3. Gather together your most recent qualifications and make a start on your CV. Consult the careers advisor if you are in need of any help with this.

4. Look in shop windows for any vacancy notices whilst also checking local newspapers and various job search engines online. You could also go into the job centre, you don’t need to sign on if you are still in education but they can help.

5. Practice iob applications and cover letters until you are ready for the real thing – keep your writing neat and easy to read, use a blue or a black pen, then, when feeling confident enough, send it off and if you feel it will back up your application, send in your CV.

6. The next step is waiting to hear from the employer, give them a month and if you hear nothing, call them up and enquire – remember to stay polite on the phone and if you are succesful they will send you an invite to an interview day.

7. If you get an interview remember these three key things when preparing:

z Research the company, find out facts which may help you when telling them why you are suitable to work with them.

z Prepare questions you want to ask them and prepare yourself for the sort of questions you think they are likely to ask.

z Dress smartly, no jeans – and girls; be careful of how much make up you wear, don’t wear too much, have pride in your appearance but not too much pride.

Just remember to be yourself and stay calm, don’t show your nerves, act confident even when you’re not. Good luck in your job hunting and if you are succesful, let one of the reporters or myself know and we will highlight your achievement in a future edition of the Youth Pages.

People think of the Borders as a rugby stronghold, but those who enjoy playing football seem sadly less catered for, write Craig Hall and Jack Skeet.

Jedburgh is the only Borders town that has no youth football team. Jed Legion manager/coach Kenneth Cassie said that there used to be an under-14 team but few people went. He would like to start a youth team but isn’t sure whether he could do it and it would probably need a minimum of three adults to supervise.

A youth team would probably have to train twice a week 6.30pm – 8pm, with games on Saturdays at 11am.

Any young people interested should contact 07565 280180. Adults volunteering to supervise training can contact the same number.

I am one of the many disabled people in the UK. I am sure many will agree when I say that the general attitude towards those who have a disability is absolutely appalling. Society definitely needs a change of heart.

The perception of people in wheelchairs must be changed. A lot of people have been led to believe that if a person is in a wheelchair they are stupid. This is most certainly not the case. From personal experience I have been called stupid many a time and been talked about in a derogatory way, to the point that people act like I’m not there and think I can’t understand them.

In some cases an individual’s disability affects so much of their brain that they can’t talk; however, this does not mean they cannot understand what is happening around them and also what you say to them. How dare you call someone stupid, just because they can’t communicate!

I’ve been called a waste of space. When I heard this I felt like I had been stabbed repeatedly: it still sends a shiver down my spine when I think about it. I’m sure thousands of people have suffered this abuse. I am utterly astounded that anyone would refer to us a waste of space. We are human too! We deserve to have a life! We deserve to be treated as normal people!

The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA) gives disabled people the right to access everyday facilities like shops, sports centres and public toilets.

This act stops people like us being discriminated against, so we are able to get a job. This part of the DDA stops employers from discriminating against a disabled person, for a reason related to their disability. The government is now trying to apply this law to drains. Drains situated where the pavements have been lowered for wheelchairs, cause a big problem for people using wheelchairs. The wheels of the chairs get stuck and on occasions topple over. Having had first-hand experience, I know the dangers as well as the embarrassment of having this happen to you.

If a disabled person is discriminated against they have the right to take their case to court. I think the DDA gives disabled people the power to stand up for themselves. If the need arises, I hope to use DDA to my advantage in later life.

The government is obliged to pay every disabled person disability living allowance (DLA) and the amount depends on how seriously your disability affects you.

There are 2.6million people in the UK claiming DLA, though more than 60 percent are refused it. I think this happens because there are so many fraudulent claims from pathetic, lazy imbeciles who don’t want to work so they steal money from disabled people.

Claiming DLA is quite time-consuming, as the forms you have to fill in are very extensive. I am enraged at the fact that all new and existing claimants of DLA will be subject to a medical assessment from 2013-14, the Chancellor has recently announced.

George Osborne claimed that plans to reform DLA would “ensure support is targeted on those with the highest medical need,” and that payments would only be made “for as long as a claimant needs them.”

If this is carried out it would save the government £1.4billion by 2015. Many charities and disabled people’s organizations’ have reacted with trepidation to the news, claiming that the new plans are likely to be expensive, counter-productive and could increase the burden on an already struggling local authority social care system.

I think if the government carried on with this proposal it would destroy the lives of many disabled people everywhere. DLA is a lifeline to disabled people. We need the support! We need the government to see sense!

I am sure you will agree that society must do something to change its attitude towards us. Quickly! The next time you see a disabled person in the street, don’t stare, say “Hi”, even a smile or nod. Remind yourself we all have feelings. The world would be a better place if we all helped each other.

At this time of year with the sunshine and local common-ridings and festivals, everyone feels like a party, but at what cost? write Becca Barber and Shanna Johnston .

Research suggests eight out of ten under-18s have tried alcohol, and some young people admit to drinking regularly while others just drink on special occasions.

One 14-year-old girl told us she feels the need to drink because it’s fun and drinks to excess because she enjoys it, but how many young people truthfully enjoy the taste of alcohol? And it surely can’t be fun to feel sick, scared or unsteady on your feet.

PC Lauder, of Lothian and Borders Police feels: “Some young people drink because they could be peer pressured into it, to be like their friends.” The worst underage drinking case she was involved in “… was when a 13-year-old girl couldn’t stop being sick behind the police car.”

We all want to enjoy the summer, but we need to keep safe. If someone in your company is under the influence of alcohol and seems at risk or unsteady/sick, stay with them. Don’t leave them alone, and try your best to keep them calm and safe (and awake if they’re not home in bed!).

If you’re worried, call an adult you 
trust for help, or in extreme cases, the emergency services. You might not 
want to get your friend into trouble but 
it’s far more important that they’re safe and well.

many young people who are bullied feel they can’t tell anyone, and instead “hide in the dark”, writes Scott Wright.

A lot of people don’t realise how hard it can be to communicate what’s wrong when you feel under pressure, stressed out or anxious – all common symptoms of bullying.

These powerful emotions can reduce self-esteem which is a horrible thing and can have long-term implications on how someone sees themself. Many victims of bullying have never told anyone because it isn’t easy. If people are lucky a parent/carer or teacher may notice that the victim is acting differently or has a different attitude towards themselves and others.

Physical bullying is often easiest to spot, but verbal bullying can be just as destructive. We also shouldn’t forget cyber-bullying where people might hide behind a mobile phone or computer and somehow think bullying is then more acceptable – it’s not, and is a police matter.

There are people out there who can help. Hard as it may seem, the best way to deal with bullies is to tell someone what’s happening. If this seems too difficult, websites offer advice and techniques on coping with the way you’re feeling and restoring the person you are.

Always remember that if you are being bullied or you are dwelling on past experiences: You are not the one with the problem, the bullies have the problem!

A SCHOOL bus driver could find herself facing some of the worst winter weather in the Borders, after the decision to mothball Ettrick Primary School earlier this year.

The area’s smallest primary closed its doors at the start of the summer holidays as no children were enrolled for the new school year, which started last month.

Scottish Borders Council had to give the permanent driver of the school bus on the Ettrick Primary run the first refusal of the work in Yarrow after the closure of the school, as the driver of the Yarrow bus was only on a fixed period contract which ended when the schools broke up for the summer.

“The driver in Ettrick decided to take up that option,” the local authority told TheSouthern this week.

However, what has sparked concern is the fact that the single driver will have to service both valleys, which means crossing the notorious Top Swire Road - it has lovely views in summer, but can be treacherous in winter as it is not salted or ploughed by the council.

SBC’s passenger transport manager, Colin Douglas, assured us: “The bus will be fitted with winter tyres and the driver is well used to driving on rural roads in winter conditions, so we do not expect any problems in her driving over the Top Swire.

“The route is being assessed for priority gritting/snow clearing in the current review of the winter maintenance plan.

“We have a number of spare buses and drivers based in Selkirk and they would be able to cover the work in Yarrow if we got exceptional weather conditions as we encountered in 2010-11.”

However, Councillor Gordon Edgar (Selkirkshire, Ind), the council’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, says the school bus having to cross the Top Swire Road in winter will cause concern.

“It’s definitely not an ideal situation,” Mr Edgar told us this week. “The Top Swire is not salted or gritted or ploughed during the winter and it can suffer from really bad weather conditions.

“So there will be some concerns there, but SBC will have to take every measure to ensure youngsters can get to school and get to school safely – it’s as simple as that.”

Mr Edgar’s fellow Selkirkshire councillor, Vicky Davidson (Lib Dem), who lives in the Ettrick Valley, agreed the Top Swire road can get “quite difficult” in the winter because of its location high up in the Selkirkshire valleys, but agreed it would probably be looked at with a view to re-classifying as a priority route for gritting in winter because of the school bus changes.

“And with winter tyres it shouldn’t be too much of a problem,” she added. “There haven’t been many times that I’ve failed to get across that route using winter tyres and, of course, it will be up to the discretion of the driver anyway if she thinks the weather is too bad.”

The court in Selkirk used by novelist Sir Walter Scott when he was sheriff was vandalised last week.

Two windows in the Market Place building were smashed between 8pm on Wednesday and 7.15pm on Friday. Police are asking witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Silver Youth Achievement Award certificate went to students from Eyemouth and Berwickshire High School who took part in IT training earlier in the summer.

They were, from left, Julie Wieme, Sarah Gray, Alex Clough, Kate Leigh, Rachel Mark, Rory Fairbairn, Lynsey Hammond, Catie Teather, Annemaria Afragola, Iain Richard, Hannah Tennant and, foreground, Oliver Smith.

ABBOTSFORD HOUSE’S new visitor centre has been praised by Scottish Secretary and local MP Michael Moore, writes Bob Burgess.

He met representatives of the Abbotsford Trust which is overseeing a £15million upgrade of the former home of novelist, poet and local sheriff Sir Walter Scott.

The the £4million centre, which opened last month, is seen as a key element in restoring Abbotsford to the key-visitor status that it once enjoyed.

And Mr Moore believes that Scott’s home by the side of the River Tweed near Galashiels has an important role play in boosting the region’s economy.

He commented: “It is absolutely vital that we make the most of gems like Abbotsford to attract tourists to the Borders – and I am sure that this development will do exactly this.”

Abbotsford was awarded £5million in 2010 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to preserve Sir Walter’s collection of artwork, artefacts and books, and build the new centre.

Mr Moore said: “I have been tracking the progress of the redevelopment of Abbotsford since the trust was awarded the funding.”

He added: “So I am pleased to see the new visitor centre up and running.”

More than £12million has been raised as part of the trust’s campaign to save and develop Abbotsford. Major funders include the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Government, Historic Scotland, Scottish Borders Council and Scottish Enterprise, as well as private individuals and charitable trusts.

Fundraising continues, with £2.5million still needed to meet the £15million target.

MORE than 800 tiny jumpers have been created by knitters in Peebles for children in Africa, writes Adam Drummond.

The town’s Sainsbury’s store sent off the jumpers on Monday after staff and customers rallied to the cause of Africa’s so-called “fish ‘n’ chip” babies, who are born into such poverty that they are wrapped in newspaper rather then clothed when first born.

In just three months the store has been inundated with the garments after news of the campaign spread rapidly.

Sainsbury’s Jackie Cowe told TheSouthern: “We sent off 827 jumpers plus other items, including hats and booties, all knitted locally by colleagues and customers.

“It has been fantastic. Everybody has been so keen, with customers coming in to get the pattern for friends and family. At the start we thought ‘wouldn’t it be amazing if we got 50 jumpers’.”

Residents at Dunwhinny Lodge care home supported the effort, while the Yeha Noha shop in Bridgegate offered a discount on wool to those knitting the jumpers. Non-knitting supermarket customers also lent their support with donations of wool.

Charity Blythswood Care agreed to collect the jumpers from the store and will distribute them to children in Malawi.

THE kitchen installed over the summer in Yarrow Primary School at a cost of £28,000 to avoid hot meals having to be cooked nine miles away in Selkirk’s Knowepark Primary, cannot be fully used because the premises have the wrong kind of electricity meter.

Earlier in the summer, Scottish Borders Council (SBC) approved the cash for new kitchen facilities at the school, and £16,000 for similarly improved kitchen facilities at Kirkhope Primary School, £26,000 for Eccles Primary and £40,000 for a primary school dishwasher programme.

The cash meant the schools would be able to prepare food on site rather than having it produced elsewhere and ferried by taxi for over an hour before it is eaten.

Councillors were told that on-site production would not only improve the quality, temperature and taste of the food, but also save about £30,000 a year in taxi fares.

However, TheSouthern learned this week that the new kitchen at Yarrow Primary cannot be used fully because it lacks a suitable meter.

An SBC spokesperson said: “The recently upgraded kitchen is unable to be fully used at present due to the new kitchen equipment requiring a three-phase electricity meter to be installed, not due to insufficient power at the school.

“These works require both our utility provider and the district network operator working together, which is causing some programming issues due to engineer availability. We hope to have this issue resolved in the very near future.”

Scottish Borders councillor Gordon Edgar (Selkirkshire, Ind), an electrician, says the subject of which type of supply would be needed should have been ascertained right at the start.

“Obviously, whoever was responsible did not do their homework. This could take several months to rectify because the electricity board does not just jump when you snap your fingers,” he said. “It could cost several thousand pounds as well if it is a big three-phase supply.”

Mr Edgar warned: “I don’t know who will have to pay for that, whether it would be the contractor or the council, but if it’s the council, there’s no money in the budget for it. We’ll have to see what happens.”