A Borders company has been named as an official embroiderer to Nike in the UK.

That prestigious accreditation for Jedburgh-based Middlemiss Embroidery was confirmed this month after a two-year audit of the firm by the global sportswear giant.

And it is a seal of approval which is set to see the business, which has a workforce of 22 at its Bankend South factory, increase its turnover by 20% over the next 18 months – and create new job opportunities.

The Nike endorsement follows a £100,000 investment programme and the launch of a new website by the family-run firm in a bid to cement its reputation and attract further work from international brands.

“We are delighted to be added to Nike’s official supplier list,” said managing director Ian Middlemiss.

“Not only was the audit process rigorous, it also took a significant investment, including expanding our warehouse and buying new machinery, to ensure we exceeded the standards set out by the brand.”

He acknowledged the assistance his company had received from the Selkirk-based advice service Business Gateway Scottish Borders.

“With the launch of our new website, which was part-funded by a Scottish Borders Business Fund grant, and with the advice on SEO [search engine optimization] and social media gained from attending DigitalBoost workshops offered by Business Gateway, we believe we are perfectly placed to capitalise on the kudos the Nike appointment brings,” he told The Southern.

The business began life in the 1980s as a knitwear company, producing high-end cashmere jumpers, and bought its first embroidery machine to fulfill an order from Burberry.

When knitwear orders began to slow, Ian joined his father – Ian snr – to help build the embroidery division, purchasing a second machine before moving to Bankend South in 2005.

Its client base now includes the likes of Proquip, Mizuno and Cobra Puma. 

Middlemiss Embroidery also regularly works for the All Blacks, the French national rugby team, Premiership and Championship clubs including Manchester City, Arsenal, QPR and Brighton & Hove Albion, and the Lawn Tennis Association.

It has recently been approved as embroiderers for the Ryder Cup in 2018.

“Although it took us a number of years to get a foothold in the market, our reputation for turning round high-quality work quickly has attracted big names to our books,” said Ian.

“With the Nike appointment, we feel it is a good time to push our services and hopefully create further employment in the Borders as a result.”

Around 20 hardy souls gathered in the College Valley to observe an Act of Remembrance for those air crews lost in the Cheviot Hills during the Second World War.

The event was organised by the Parade of Colours Team from Coldstream with assistance from Brian Humphreys of the RBLS Riders Branch (Jedburgh), Cadets of 1016 Berwick Squadron of the Air Training Corps and the Factors of the College Valley Estate.

Since the production of the documentary film ‘To The Border Bred - The Border Collie Story’, the Parade of Colours have kept a promise to the son and family of a United States Airman killed in the Cheviots on December 16, 1944 when the B17 (serial number 44-6504) crashed into West Hill killing Flying Officer Fred Holcombe and Sgt Frank Turner.

This incident also saw the award of the first (civilian) Dickin Medal - the animal VC - to a sheepdog called Sheila for saving the lives of four of the survivors.

Over the past three years, due to Risk Assessment and logistics, this Act of Remembrance has been observed at Wooler War Memorial but all were delighted to once again be able to return to the College Valley where the story began.

Everyone gathered at Cuddystane Hall on a lovely if bracing December morning to observe Remembrance and the promise made to Mr Rod Merrit (son of Sgt Turner) was once again fulfilled.

Thanks go to Andrew Spratt, Standard Bearer of Jedburgh Branch RBLS, who has not missed one of the previous Remembrance gatherings for this event - including participating in the documentary film.

Cadet Sgt Andrew Young gave an excellent recital of the USAAF Hymn, and Cadet Cpl Sam McWilliams deputised for the usual Parade wreath bearer Mrs Ali Martin.

Chirnside Primary 1 pupil, five-year-old Leyton Blake, laid a Remembrance Cross, on behalf of Mr Rod Merrit, in his own impressive style. At five he hasn’t quite mastered a salute yet but has a knack of doing his ‘own thing’ with a respectful bow of his wee head!

Speaking on behalf of the organising team, Keith Cockburn said: “Thanks must go Fl Lt Susan Gillies, PO Lucas Emmins, Sgt Richard McCrae and the Cadet Detachment of 1016 Sqn. Our association with the Cadets of the Squadron now extends over four years and they never fail to impress us with their impeccable manners, attitude, discipline and obvious pride in what they are undertaking.

“These youngsters are a credit to the Royal Air Force Cadets, to their officers, instructors and their families but more so - these Cadets are a credit to themselves. It is an absolute pleasure and privilege to associate with the Squadron and the Parade Team offer them our sincerest salute.”

In 2016 the Parade of Colours Team have travelled over 2,500 miles from west coast to east observing the Act of Remembrance at War Memorials in Stranraer to Blyth, and finally into the Cheviot Hills.

Their War Memorial Challenge 2017 will start on April 14 in Coldstream. The challenge next year - for Passchendaele 1917 - is 100.

Keith added: “We intend visiting approximately 45 memorials with the main Act of Remembrance in Newbiggin By The Sea at 6pm on April 14. On Saturday, April 15 we will join the Northumbrian Easter Egg Run at Woodhorn to cheer them off before the Parade Team continue their War Memorial Challenge to Whitley Bay, Blyth, Ashington, etc.

“Anyone wishing to join with us at a specific Act of Remembrance can contact me by email at kesbgm@hotmail.co.uk stating WMC17.

“Remembrance truly isn’t just for one day. Remembrance is in very good hands with the youth of our regions, they are after all our future.”

Councillors have discussed proposed changes to the size of allotments under new legislation.

The plans will see a standard size of allotments set at 250 square metres under a new ruling which is due to come into place next summer.

Members of Scottish Borders Council’s Teviot and Liddesdale area forum were presented with the proposals at a meeting on Tuesday, December 13.

Scottish Borders Council communities and partnership officer said: “The changes now sets out a standard size of allotments to 250 square metres. This is quite a big allotment and at the moment we’ve got 82 allotments that are owned by SBC so we will first have to look at the demand for it.”

SBC currently has allotment sites at Guthrie Drive and Wilton Park Road. It has another three in Peebles and one in Innerleithen.

Hawick and Denholm councillor Stuart Marshall expressed concerns over the bigger size commenting that it would be too big for some people.

He also said: “Some of the issues I have with the allotments is that some of the people that have got them just sit on them and do nothing.

“It’s a big thing in my ward where they are well looked after and maintained and those people that are doing so are a credit to the area.

“However, I take issue with allotments where some people rent them just because it doesn’t cost a lot to do so”.

The officer responded: “We’ll get a sense over the first year on what the demand is where people really want one and also the accessibility issue. The Scottish Borders is not flat so it might be an issue that people can’t access them be it due to the path or the track. We have to make it accessible.

“We will also be looking at how to set a fair and appropriate rent. With it being a bigger size of land a suggestion would be to increase the cost however there are a number of challenges in this.”

The changes will repeal the Allotments (Scotland) Act 1892 as amended by the Land Settlement (Scotland) Act 1919 and the Allotment (Scotland) Acts of 1922 and 1950. Under these Acts there is no definition of the term “allotment” other than by size, a person can only be tenant of an allotment or allotments to a maximum total area of one acre.

The changes also aim to improve how waiting lists are managed. The current waiting list for allotments in the Scottish Borders between two and three years.

The plans fall under part nine of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 which is still in the process of being implemented.

The Act is set out primarily to help community bodies by strengthening their voices in decision making. It will also require local authorities to establish and maintain a register of all property held by them for the common good and will implement Assest Transfer Requests which will provide community bodies with a right to request to purchase, lease, manage or use land and buildings belonging to local authorities. Asset Transfer Requests will go live from January, 23, 2017.

Hawick and Denholm councillor Watson McAteer commented on the Act: “It’s a real game changer in terms of what communities are able to do. At a practical and local level it’s giving community councils real power to be able to take control.”

A Duns clergyman has been appointed to the position of senior Army Chaplain for Scotland.

Reverend Stephen Blakey will be the first Army Reserve Chaplain to take on the role and will do so while the previous incumbent is mobilised to South Sudan for six months.

Reverend Cole Maynard has been deployed to the area as part of the UK team supporting United Nations operations in the region.

Mr Blakey took up the post on Monday, December 12, and will be working across offices in Stirling and Duns, where he was inducted into Duns Parish Church in June 2012.

The 63-year-old has served more than 36 years as an army chaplain. He started out as a Regular Army Chaplain after being ordained and commissioned into the Royal Army Chaplains Department in August 1977. He held this position for 16 years and has served in the UK, Germany and China.

Serving as an Infantry Battalion Padre with five Scottish Regiments including the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, he toured Northern Ireland, Belize and Nepal during the 1980s and 90s, and served in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1991.

In 1993 he left the position of Regular Army Chaplain but was recruited back into the army as a Reserve Army Chaplain in 1996.

For the last 20 years, Mr Blakey has been the chaplain of Army Reserve Unit, 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, which has a platoon detachment in Galashiels as well as in Dumfries, Bathgate and Motherwell.

The battalion has recently carried out training exercises in Italy.

Mr Blakey carried out his last tour in 2005 when he was a senior chaplain in the Balkans for eight months.

Mr Blakey said: “It is a huge honour to be asked to fulfil this role, heading up the team of regular, reserve, cadet and officiating chaplains who provide pastoral and spiritual support to the Army community across Scotland.

“It is the first time a reservist has been given this task, and it is an indication of the continued integration of the regular and reserve army into one unified force.

“It is likely to be a challenging and demanding time for me, but I relish the opportunity to serve in this way.”

The appointment comes as plans to expand the role of reserve members in order to work more closely with the rest of the army are being implemented.

Under army rules a chaplain can serve until the age of 60 after which they can serve for one year at a time until the age of 65.

A proposed rethink on disabled parking bays in Hawick has been approved by councillors.

An amendment to a 2015 disabled parking places order was put to members of Scottish Borders Council’s Teviot and Liddesdale area forum at a meeting on Tuesday, December 13. It will see new bays put in place and the removal of nine in Hawick and one in Denholm at Westgate, which are no longer required.

An SBC spokeswoman told the meeting: “Last year we put out a Traffic Regulation Order to formalise disabled persons’ parking spaces throughout the Borders, this year we have added an amendment.

“While we’ve added a new bay we have also removed some bays that, for a number of reasons, may not still be used. That person might have moved house, they might have unfortunately passed away that year or they might no longer have a blue badge.

“We carried out consultations over the summer this year and received no objections.”

Bays will be removed on Hillend Drive, Galalaw Road, Silverbuthall Road, Eildon Road, Kenilworth Avenue, Wellfield Road and Crumhaugh Road.

The overall cost of region-wide advertising of the changes is £3,000.

Officers were unable to find a suitable space for a bay in Hermitage Street, Newcastleton, but said it would be included in next year’s amendment.

Councillors unanimously approved the proposals.

A nurse who knocked down and injured an OAP cyclist at a roundabout near Borders General Hospital has admitted a careless driving charge.

Ros Henderson, 50, said she never saw 65-year-old David Arnott and struck the bike, causing him to fall onto the roadway, breaking his wrist.

Selkirk Sheriff Court heard on Monday that as soon as the accident happened at the Tweedbank/Borders General Hospital roundabout on the outskirts of Galashiels, she put the injured cyclist and his bike into the back of her Ford Focus and drove to the nearby accident and emergency department.

Henderson, of Lauder Road, Stow, pleaded guilty to failing to maintain a proper lookout and colliding with the cyclist, causing him to fall from his bicycle and sustain an injury on July 19.

The court heard that an independent witness standing by the side of the road said he felt that the cyclist should have been seen.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said: “It is not overstating the fact to say how much of an effect this has had on her. She is a family nurse, travelling to clients’ homes, mainly young mothers. Since the offence she has undertaken an advanced drivers’ course.

“Her position is she simply did not see Mr Arnott. She immediately stopped and put him and the bike into the back of her vehicle and waited till he received treatment.”

But Mr Patrick said the behaviour of the injured cyclist at the hospital made her feel uncomfortable and described the response as “entirely inappropriate”. The lawyer added that the response was noted at the time by the police.

He continued: “The NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) needs to be informed by her about this. But she provides a valuable service to the community.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson told Henderson she had dealt with the matter responsibly, adding: “It was a momentary oversight.”

As a result, he treated the matter as at the lower end of the careless driving scale and restricted the fine to £100, along with three penalty points on her licence.

MUST BEHAVE HERSELF

A Galashiels woman involved in a bust-up with her husband has been ordered to be of good behaviour for the next three months.

Fifty-two-year-old Barbara Greenhill pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or aggressive manner at her Wood Street home on November 8.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser told Selkirk Sheriff Court that the husband lived in Chirnside, but had arranged to visit her that morning to go on a short break to Kilmarnock.

He said: “She phoned and said she was not ready, but he travelled anyway and arrived at 9.30am. She was intoxicated on wine, had not taken anti-depressants and was increasingly agitated.”

Mr Fraser added that Greenhill continued to drink red wine and started swearing at her husband. The argument continued till about mid-day and police were called.

The fiscal said when officers arrived the husband agreed to leave and go back to Chirnside, realising the trip to Kilmarnock was not going to happen. But he added Greenhill then ran over to a neighbour’s house and swore at her, accusing her of calling the police.

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence for three months for good behaviour.

In a separate case involving two disturbances at Addaction in High Street, Galashiels, on May 6, she was ordered to carry out a total of 200 hours of unpaid work.

WOMAN FLED INTO STREET

A Kelso man was involved in a bust-up with his partner after accusing her of cheating on him, and then ended up struggling with police, Jedburgh Sheriff Court heard.

Jay McAulay, 30, of Sydenham Court, pleaded guilty to charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner and struggling with police during the early hours of October 23.

The court was told the pair had been arguing upstairs in a house in Roxburgh Street, Kelso, about her alleged infidelity and the partner was heard to say: “Please don’t hurt me.”

Eventually the woman fled into the street with McAulay chasing her, and a taxi driver alerted police.

McAulay told officers he wanted to go back to the woman’s home to get a television and a fridge, and when they refused the request he started struggling with them, falling against a plate glass window.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond fined McAulay £315 for obstructing the police and deferred sentence for 12 months for good behaviour on the domestic charge after being told the couple are no longer in contact.

ON TRIAL FOR EMBEZZLEMENT

The trial of a Kelso woman accused of embezzling £19,000 while working as the administrator of a Selkirk playgroup will take place on January 31.

Fiona Hughes, 49, of Kaimflat Cottages, denies the offence which is said to have happened at the Argus Playgroup in Goslawdales between August 1, 2011, and November 1, 2014.

HEROIN POSSESSION

Sentence has been deferred until January 4 on an Earlston man who admitted being in possession of heroin.

Darren Crawford, 32, of Summerfield, pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to the offence which happened at Haughhead, Earlston, on August 23.

MOTORIST BAILED

An Earlston motorist appeared in private at Selkirk Sheriff Court accused of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Derek Jenkins, 56, made no plea or declaration and the case was continued for further examination. He was granted bail by Sheriff Peter Paterson.

The charge relates to an incident on the A72 near Innerleithen in August.

JAIL WARNING FOR TEENAGER

A teenager who struggled violently with police inside a sheriff courthouse has been warned he faces spending a significant period of his young life in prison if he continues to offend.

David Scougall, 18, of Gala Park Court, Galashiels, reacted violently to being arrested at Jedburgh Sheriff Court last month. He struggled with two officers, kicking and injuring them in the process, and also wiped his blood on one constable. Scougall also admitted a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour in the court building by shouting and swearing.

On a separate matter, Scougall pleaded guilty to shouting and swearing and struggling with ambulance personnel and police officers in Hawick’s Trinity Street on March 5, and also failing to appear in court.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond told Scougall that at the age of 18 he had already accumulated a number of previous convictions and just had his first taste of custody after being on remand.

He added: “If you carry on in the way you have been going in the last 12 months you are going to spend a significant part of your young life in jail.”

Scougall was ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work as an alternative to custody and fined £150 for the non-appearance in court.

In addition, he was given an antisocial behaviour order, making it an aggravated offence if he shouts and swears, causes a disturbance to others, behaves in an aggressive manner and challenges others to fight.

CAREERS ADVISER TO LOSE JOB

A row with his partner led to a 37-year-old careers adviser driving in Galashiels while more than double the legal alcohol limit, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

John Grant pleaded guilty to driving with a breath/alcohol count of 48 microgrammes – the legal limit being 22 – in Gala Park on November 19.

Graham Fraser, prosecuting, said events started about 10pm after the pair had been to the bingo and they appeared to have an argument.

He explained: “He collected his belongings and she phoned the police to say he had driven off.”

Police got another call after a car was spotted driving over a traffic island in Scott Street and Grant was traced.

Stephanie Clinkscale, defending, said the loss of her client’s licence was proving costly as he would lose his job. Grant also drove his father, who suffers from blood pressure, to hospital appointments.

Grant, of Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, was banned from the road for 12 months and fined £200.

APPEARED IN PRIVATE

A Peebles man made a private court appearance charged with assaulting a man to his severe injury in the town.

Ross Glass, who is 26, made no plea or declaration during a brief hearing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court and the case was continued for further examination. He was bailed.

It follows an incident outside the County Hotel in September when a 49-year-old man suffered facial injuries.

A few days’ earlier, 24-year-old Thomas Colclough, from Derby, appeared in court on a similar charge in connection with the same incident.

Stalking allegation

A Hawick man appeared in private at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on a stalking charge.

Christopher Hartdegen, 35, is also accused of threatening or abusive behaviour.

He made no plea or declaration and the case was continued for further examination, with the accused granted bail.

INTERMEDIATE HEARING

A 46-year-old man will stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on March 2 on three charges.

Dale Forrest, previously of Galashiels, but who gave a bail address in Macmerry, near Tranent, denies threatening or abusive behaviour, and head-butting the inside of a police van on the A7 on Saturday.

He also pleaded not guilty to damaging the van and assault at Borders General Hospital.

An intermediate hearing will take place on January 31.

FACING FOUR CHARGES

Gordon Finlay will stand trial on four motoring charges.

The 37-year-old, of Abbotseat, Kelso, is accused of driving at speed in excess of 30mph through roadworks on the A68 at Soutra Hill on November 6. He is also charged with failing to stop when required to do so by police, driving while unfit through drink or drugs, and failing to give a specimen of breath.

A trial date has been fixed for Selkirk Sheriff Court on January 31.

SENTENCE DEFERRED

A Peebles man who admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in the town’s Kingsland Square in August will be sentenced next month.

Raymond Thomson, 21, of Violet Bank, also pleaded guilty to being in possession of an offensive weapon.

Sentence was deferred until January 30 at Selkirk Sheriff Court for a criminal justice social work report. Thomson was bailed.

DRUGS TRIAL SET FOR JANUARY 31

Roche Thomson, 29, will stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on January 31 facing charges of producing cannabis and possession of the class B drug at his home in Halliburton Place, Galashiels, on July 21.

CURFEW FOR GALA PUB THUG

A Galashiels accused who carried out an unprovoked assault on a man with learning difficulties in a pub has been placed on a night-time curfew.

Simon Hadden, 38, of Hawthorn Road, admitted punching the man on the head and causing him to fall to the ground to his injury in the Bridge Inn, Galashiels, on April 22 last year.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the victim – who had significant learning difficulties with a mental age of eight or nine – had been playing pool.

Mr Fraser went on: “On this particular evening at about 7pm the accused was going past the pool table and the man started talking to him. For no apparent reason he punched the man, who is 24, to the face and knocked him to the ground.”

The fiscal said the victim did not sustain any injuries.

Hadden’s lawyer, Ross Dow, said: “He had been out drinking heavily and was at a low ebb”

Sheriff Peter Paterson said: “This was an unprovoked assault on a gentleman with learning disabilities.” He warned Hadden he was on the “cusp of custody”.

A restriction-of-liberty order was made, keeping Hadden in his home between 7pm and 7am for the next 10 months.

DRUNK MAN TOOK BABY TO PUB

A Selkirk man involved in a domestic bust-up took a baby to a pub, carrying it under his arm “like a rugby ball”.

Jordan Inglis, 23, pleaded guilty to conduct likely to cause a child unnecessary suffering on April 22.

He had earlier been involved in an incident when he seized a woman by the hair and neck.

Prosecutor Graham Fraser said the accused was drunk and “had the baby under his arm like a rugby ball”.

Witnesses felt this was “inappropriate” and Inglis became abusive towards them before leaving. The matter was reported to police.

Sentence was deferred until February 13 for a supplementary criminal justice social work report.

In a separate matter, Inglis, of Bannerfield, was fined £200 and had his licence endorsed with six penalty points for driving with no L plates while being a provisional licence holder and with no insurance at The Green in Selkirk on March 20.

HOSPITAL DISTURBANCE

A Galashiels woman who caused a disturbance in the casualty department at Borders General Hospital has been ordered to pay a total of £270.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told on Monday that 49-year-old Sylvia Connelly, of Balmoral Road, was shouting and swearing, as well as being aggressive to staff and preventing them from going about their normal duties.

She had been taken to the hospital at 10.40am on Saturday, March 26, after being found unwell, but refused to stay in her cubicle. Connelly was finally arrested at 11.45am by police officers who she also swore at.

Her solicitor, Ed Hulme, said his client could not remember anything due to her alcohol consumption, but she accepted she had behaved entirely inappropriately.

Connelly admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner. But a not-guilty plea to being drunk and incapable in Balmoral Road on March 26 was accepted by the Crown.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said: “The only reason why you are not going to jail is that you have been of good behaviour over the past six months during a period of deferred sentence.”

Connelly was told to pay £200 in compensation and fined £70.

DANGEROUS DRIVER

A motorist who drove dangerously in Jedburgh will be sentenced next month at the town’s sheriff court.

Kurt Muir, 31, of Inch Park, Kelso, pleaded guilty to the offence which happened on December 5.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the police discovered Muir was driving without insurance and went to pull him over at around 2.50pm. But he ignored them and reached speeds of 50mph in various streets in Jedburgh, ignoring a Give Way sign and entering the opposite carriageway.

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence for background reports, including a restriction-of-liberty order, until January 23.

ACCUSED OF FLASHING

A 37-year-old man has been accused of being involved in flashing incidents in Selkirk.

William Brown is charged with exposing his genitals in a sexual manner by opening his dressing gown to a woman and a seven-year-old girl in Station Road on October 15. He is also said to have exposed his genitals in a sexual manner to two 16-year-old girls by lying on the ground and lifting his legs in the grounds of Philiphaugh Primary School on March 25.

Brown, of Laidlaw Court, Galashiels, pleaded not guilty to three charges at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

A trial date was fixed for February 28, with an intermediate hearing on January 30.

He was released on bail with the conditions that he does not enter any part of Philiphaugh Primary School and that he has no contact with a child under 16 years of age unless supervised by an adult.

SUPERVISION ORDER

An Ancrum teenager who filmed a female friend while she was naked in her bathroom shower has been placed on supervision for a year.

Robert Horne, 18, of Causewayend, recorded the girl on his mobile phone through cracks in the bathroom door. The video showed her naked from the neck down, but did not reveal her face.

But Horne left his phone lying in his vehicle and a friend scrolled through it and the victim was made aware about the naked images. There were also pictures of her sleeping in her bra and of her bottom and underwear as she got out of Horne’s car.

Horne admitted the offence which happened at a house near Lauder between September 1 last year and June 16.

He was given a 12-month community payback order with supervision. His name was also placed on the sex offenders’ register for a year.

CHRISTMAS BEHIND BARS

A Hawick man accused of contacting his ex-partner despite a court order preventing him from doing so has been locked up for the festive period.

Robert Searle, 23, denied sending text messages to the woman over the course of the weekend.

Selkirk Sheriff Court was told Searle had only been released on bail the previous week on special conditions not to contact her.

Trial was set for January 19, with an intermediate hearing on January 4.

Sheriff Peter Paterson refused a motion for bail and Searle was remanded in custody.

Road closures and diversions which have been put in place while the long-awaited repair works at the Glen Hotel wall are carried out, have been revealed this week.

Work on the retaining wall at the wall on Yarrow Terrace is expected to begin in January after Scottish Borders Council and the owners of the hotel reached an agreement earlier this month.

And Souters will be relieved to hear that the completion of the works will mean the reopening of the northbound lane of Yarrow Terrace which has been cordoned off to motorists while negotiations about the wall rolled on.

The repairs, expected to last 10 weeks, come at a cost of around £100,000 and will signal a happy ending to the seemingly never-ending row which has dragged on for more than four years.

During the initial stages of the repair works, Yarrow Terrace will be closed to all traffic from Ettrick Road to Buccleuch Road, for two weeks from January, 23.

Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, councillor Gordon Edgar, said: “This has been a long standing issue but it was important that an agreeable resolution was found for all parties.

“We understand the considerable disruption caused to local people while negotiations have been ongoing and thank them for their patience.

“Once the work on the wall is completed, the temporary one-way system will be removed and Yarrow Terrace will return to a two-way road.”

Alternative traffic management arrangements will be put in place during the closure of Yarrow Terrace, with the alternative route diverting traffic via Buccleuch Road, Mill Street and Heatherlie Terrace to point of closure.

The temporary one way order on Buccleuch Road and Mill Street will be suspended for the duration of the above closure. Parking will be prohibited on Buccleuch Road and Mill Street during the closure while access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained.

After the wall was found to be crumbling, a protracted argument over who was liable to fix it ensued between the hotel owner and Scottish Borders Council.

The wall was sectioned off in 2013, and a section of the road made into one-way system which only served to further infuriate drivers.

A former Galashiels Braw Lad who sexually assaulted a woman had his sentence deferred this week until February 7, pending supplementary social work reports.

John Keith Hardie, 61, of Beech Avenue, Galashiels, had pleaded guilty at an earlier Edinburgh Sheriff Court hearing to the offence which happened on July 30, 2016, at the city’s Waverley Station.

The charge said he grabbed his victim from behind, pressed himself against her and touched her breast.

Hardie was Braw Lad in 1977.

Scottish Borders councillors voted today to give their stamp of approval for Galashiels to host the Great Tapestry of Scotland.

Officers had urged elected members to choose the former Post Office in Galashiels as the option for the tapestry’s visitor centre, even though it was the most expensive one on the table.

They voted 26-7 in favour of using the historic building, along with the neighbouring former Poundstretcher store, to house the tapestry in a bid to raise footfall in the town centre and attract more people to the wider Borders.

The council has already spent more than £520,000 on efforts to create a visitor centre for the Great Tapestry of Scotland, and the Galashiels base will cost £6.7m.

It is two years since the council voted to allocate £3.5m in capital – repayable at £208,000 a year for 30 years – on a £6m permanent home at Tweedbank.

It was a decision informed by the “in-principle” commitment of the Scottish Government, through its Borders Railway Blueprint Programme, to contribute the required balance of £2.5m.

But the business plan for Tweedbank failed to stack up with the Government and, in June this year, the Poundstretcher site in Galashiels, linked to the listed former Post Office building next door, emerged as an alternative location.

Earlier this month it was announced that the Scottish Government, having assessed the business plans for both sites, had agreed to back the Galashiels option.

At today’s full council meeting, a report by SBC’s corporate transformation director Rob Dickson urged councillors to locate the new centre in Galashiels.

The project cost will be £6.7m, including £600,000 for site acquisition, compared to the £6m estimate for Tweedbank. Councillors were asked to confirm their £3.5m capital commitment, note the £2.5m from the Scottish Government and approve the submission of a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funding sources not available to Tweedbank to bridge the funding shortfall of £700,000.

However, if these bids are unsuccessful, Mr Dickson warned: “The council will be required to underwrite any resultant funding shortfall.”

This, he suggests, would require the transfer of £345,000 already allocated to the Galashiels Inner Relief Road project and, as a last resort, the further borrowing of £355,000, repayable at £11,000 a year.

In terms of the revenue costs of the new centre and based on projected visitor numbers, the report estimates that, if the facility is managed by Live Borders, which runs the region’s sport, leisure and cultural services, it will record a deficit of £2,005 in its first year of operation.

But this will turn into surpluses of £23,755, £65,633, £59,027 and £56,160 over the next four years.

“This demonstrates the project has the potential to avoid any further financial burden to the council if the Live Borders operational model is implemented,” stated Mr Dickson.

However, he also notes that revenue costs are “best estimates” and he cautions: “Failure to meet visitor related income targets or to manage costs within the parameters set out in the business case [for Galashiels] will result in an ongoing subsidy being required.”

Selkirkshire Councillor Gordon Edgar broke from the administration ranks to move for no action, supported by all five Hawick councillors present – Stuart Marshall, Watson McAteer, George Turnbull, Ron Smith and David Patterson.

Leader of the opposition, Tory Michelle Ballantyne supported the move to Galashiels, as did all her fellow Conservative councillors apart from Jim Fullerton, the only other voter for no action.

Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame has expressed her delight at the news.

Speaking after the decision was announced, Ms Grahame said: “It has taken a year since I referred the Tweedbank business case to the cabinet secretary when my concerns about that location were vindicated.

“All along I have said that Galashiels should be its home, which would regenerate Galashiels and the Central Borders.

“I now look forward to the proposal being realised and moving onwards to promoting Galashiels as a “Textile Town” and as the gateway to the existing Borders Textile Trail, creating much-needed jobs.”

Would you go to the supermarket, fill up your trolley and expect to walk out with the contents for free?

Sounds implausible, yes? Well that’s how people want the NHS to operate – and it can’t continue.

So said the newly-appointed chairman of the British Medical Association’s Scottish Consultants Committee.

And Simon Barker believes the public must play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of the NHS in Scotland – to ensure the service continues.

Simon spoke out as the latest consultants recruitment figures showed a “worrying” level of vacancies.

ISD Scotland statistics issued this month reveal that the consultancy vacancy rate is running at 6.9 per cent, up from 6.4 per cent last year.

Almost half (47 per cent) of the posts have been vacant for six months or more.

While Scottish health secretary Shona Robison said the NHS workforce was at an all-time high, Simon said it wasn’t enough to create extra posts – they needed to be filled too.

“The fact that almost half of all medical consultant vacancies have been vacant more than six months highlights the difficulties some specialties are experiencing in recruiting and retaining doctors,” 
he said.

“Despite advertising, these gaps are not being filled and this is causing unrelenting pressure on those doctors working in the health service.

“The Scottish Government must now take action to value the consultants we do have, find a way to attract more doctors to work in Scotland and fill vacant posts.”

But Simon believes far more needs to be done than just number crunching.

He wants the Scottish Government and employers to start valuing NHS staff.

Explaining why, he said: “We are being asked to do more with less, staff feel completely undervalued and are leaving before they should due to worsening pension deals and a management-driven culture.

“It’s a perfect storm with vacancies impacting on the doctors who do stay – as they also have to provide more weekend cover.

“There’s a lot of complex factors and while politicians are sympathetic, they feel there is little that can be done in these cash-strained times.

“But some of the things that make people feel valued are not solved with golden soverigns from the heavens. It would help if the government and employers focused on how to value their staff, rather than view them as a burden.”

Simon is the first to admit there is no quick fix to solve all the ills of the NHS.

However, he believes the government needs to start talking to the public to find solutions.

He explained: “Politicians go into their bunkers and say we are spending more money than ever before on the NHS.

“But they’re not spending enough to deliver everything and are spending less than our European neighbours.

“Politicians are scared to say we can’t provide the whole package as it would be political suicide for them.

“But we need to start being honest with people and admitting that, while they have a right to health care, we need to make some tough choices.

“The NHS needs a lot more money than we are currently prepared to put in so we need to decide if we want everything or if some things are less essential.

“At the moment, it’s a bit like pushing your trolley round the supermarket, filling it up and then not being prepared to pay for it.”

Simon appreciates this is not what people want to hear but feels the public deserves to have a say.

He said: “The public in Scotland needs to decide what they want from the health service.

“The money has to come from somewhere and unless the government engages with them on this subject, we will end up with a worse service than we now have.

“I think we need to take it out to town halls and ask people what kind of health service they want and how they are prepared to pay for it so that future generations have a health service they will be proud of.”

Simon advocates speaking to people at town hall meetings rather than in formal questionnaires – as he believes it is the only way to truly gauge public opinion.

“We need to be more engaging,” he said. “It’s not everyone who will sit and fill out a form on the internet.

“You’ll reach a certain amount of people who enjoy filling out forms but you won’t engage with everyone so consultation becomes a whisper rather than a roar.”

As for the reason why there are currently around 300 consultant vacancies in Scotland – half of which have not been filled for more than six months – Simon said the issues were complex.

“There’s not just one reason so there is no quick fix – I appreciate that,” he added.

“But part of the problem is that consultants roles have not been a very attractive proposition in recent years.

“They don’t seem to place a great deal of value in what we do – it’s the same with staff throughout the NHS.

“We all feel the pressure of work and there’s less job satisfaction now.

“We work 10 sessions a week, two and a half sessions of which we used to use to do research and train the next generation of doctors. But 12 years ago that changed to a nine to one ratio.

“That seems to be, on the face of it, a great deal for patients and health boards.

“And, in the short term, it is a quick fix to see more patients. However, taking away the behind the scenes work means the NHS will suffer in the long term.

“It’s a huge demotivator and a lot of junior doctors in England are put off coming to Scotland due to that ratio.”

Health Minister Shona Robison: NHS staffing levels are at a record high

Health Minister Shona Robison was keen to stress how well-staffed the NHS currently is.

Responding to the criticism, she said: “Under this Government, NHS staff numbers have risen to record highs – with more consultants, nurses and midwives now delivering care for the people of Scotland.

“There are now 11,500 more staff working in our NHS, with nearly 1000 of these recruited in the last year. In the last ten years we’ve also seen a 45.8 per cent increase in medical and dental consultants with vacancy rates at the same level, despite this huge increase in numbers.

“These extra staff will ensure people all across Scotland get the high-quality NHS services that they rightly expect.

“We are also committed to preparing our NHS workforce for the future by increasing student nursing and midwifery intakes for the last four years.

“That’s helped to see almost 10,000 nurses and midwives in training in 2015.

“With demand on our NHS rising we’re committed to both record investment in our health service and ensuring the necessary reforms to deliver the right staff, with the right skills, in the right place, long into the future.

“We’ll soon be setting out our National Health and Social Care Workforce Plan for discussion, working with individuals and organisations within our NHS and social care services to ensure we have the right skills mix for the future.”

In 1991 Selkirk’s Cross Keys was reportedly the best eating place in the Borders.

To complete the award’s strong souter feel, the impressive trophy, specially produced by Selkirk Glass, was presented by councillor Mrs Ella Phaup, the tourist board chairman.

Proprietors Denis and Hilda Murray were on hand to accept the accolade, and to complete a memorable day they also lifted the winning certificate for the Best Bar Food section.

The awards were sponsored by Broughton Brewery and the Scotch Lamb Association.

Send in your nostalgia pictures to southern-newsdesk@jpress.co.uk.

One of the town’s worst eyesores is set to be transformed into a memorial garden by next spring.

Selkirk Ex-Servicemen’s Association are set to lead a project which will see part of the overgrown land on Ettrick Terrace transformed into a space in remembrance of those Souters who served in World War One.

The area has lain as wasteland since the demolition of St Mary’s Church there in 2004.

Walkerburn-based development company Candleberry gained permission to develop the land in 2006, however, it is believed they no longer plan to develop the site and will look to sell it at some point in the future.

However, until then, they have agreed to the Ex-Servicemen’s Association taking over the frontage of the area.

Their chairman David Deacon said: “The idea has been talked about for a number of years and until recently gained momentum again. This is wholly due to the tireless commitment of councillor Michelle Ballantyne, who has secured assistance and funding from various agencies, consulting with the land owners and local authority to gain permission to even consider the project.

“The Selkirk Ex-Servicemen’s Association will be providing the labour, ideas and will be the custodians of the area once completed. This makes perfect sense as we already keep the War Memorial in good order.”

Plans for the site include new screening, repair works to tidy up the front walls and adding decorative planting and a memorial bench.

Mr Deacon added: “Should the site owners decide to develop the area in the future, all the items such as planting and the bench could be redistributed in different areas of the town.

“Reaction to the idea from the Selkirk community has been positive so far, with hopefully plenty of volunteers when the work starts.”

The news comes after months of work by Selkirkshire councillor Michelle Ballantyne to gain permission for the works from Candleberry. She said: “We will not be interfering with the main site, but tidying up the front. They have agreed to that and I’ll hopefully be going to them in the next couple of weeks with a plan.”

Coming from an ex-service family herself, Mrs Ballantyne says she “absolutely supports” the idea. “I have been working with the Ex-Servicemen’s Association to look at what they would like,” she said. “We are going to massively improve an eyesore within the town. It has bothered me for a long time and I have wanted to do something about it, so I am delighted this is happening. It has been a bug bear for a lot of people in the town for a long time.”

Support has also come from Selkirk CARS Project; Scottish Borders Council’s Quality of Life Fund and Alan Beattie, who has donated topsoil for the project.

Weather dependant, the volunteers are hopeful the new garden will be completed by spring in time for an opening before the Common Riding.

Anyone wishing to make a financial donation or to gift plants towards the project can contact Mrs Ballantyne or the Ex-Servicemens Association.

While Borderers opened their presents yesterday, three new babies opened their eyes for the first time at the Borders General Hospital.

Last to come along was young David Kamikamica, son to Gala Rugby Club player Kitione, 34, and proud mum Sophia, 32.

David arrived at 6.06pm weighing 8lb 4oz, and has a big brother, Inoke, who is five.

Full back Kitione, who is ex-Forces, moved to the area from Plymouth in April, and scored a try for Gala A against Hamilton in September.

He said: “It has always been my dream to have a child born on Christmas Day, It is something very special to me,

“Besides,” he joked, “there’s only one present to buy every year.”

First to come along, at a bouncing 7lb 4.5oz, was Flora Eilidh Morton, who was born at 9.19am.

With her shock of thick hair, Eilidh is the first child for mum Lucy and dad Jonathan.

Lucy, 27, who is GP registrar at the hospital, said: “It was a lovely atmosphere in the hospital yesterday, with it being Christmas, and Flora is beautiful.”

Lucy is originally from St Boswells, and Jonathan, 28, who works as a research associate at Heriot-Watt University, is from Melrose.

Flora came along just on time, as she had always been due on Christmas Day, but the next baby to be born at the hospital, Thea Margaret Brown, came four days late,

“I’m pretty sure Thea was just waiting to be born on Christmas Day,” said dad Kevin, 35, a joiner from Hawick.

Thea came along at 11.57am and tipped the scales at 8lb 4oz, and she is the first child and a source of joy to Kevin and her mum Nicola, 34.

A 40-year-old man accused of breaching the Sexual Offences Act has been banned from entering any airport at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Robert Easton of Old Town, Ayton, appeared from custody and pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to notify police that he intended to travel to Venice on November 28 and returning two days later.

A trial date has been fixed for February 22 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court with an intermediate hearing on January 23.

He was released on bail by Sheriff Peter Paterson with the special condition that he does not enter any airport.

Plans to build a new additional support needs school in Earlston have been rubber-stamped by councillors.

That move, agreed at last Thursday’s full council meeting, will also mean that spectrum classes currently run at Wilton Primary School in Hawick and St Ronan’s Primary School in Innerleithen will end.

The new provision at Earlston will initially be for younger pupils attending spectrum classes at Wilton and St Ronan’s primaries.

It will also cater for children not only on the autistic spectrum, but also with complex sensory impairments.

Galashiels councillor Sandy Aitchison, the council’s executive member for education, said: “I am delighted that we now have full agreement to these proposals and can progress with our plans to provide children and young people in the Borders who have complex needs with a high-quality learning environment that has been specifically designed to meet their needs.”

A consultation exercise was also held to come up with suggestions for a name for the new school.

Leader Valley School is the current favourite out of the 14 names put forward.

This will be formally reported to the executive in January 2017.

Wilton Lodge Park’s new café – due to open in Hawick next year – will have a lasting local legacy, thanks to the town’s primary schools.

Pupils signed a section of the structure of the building before it was covered in cladding as an alternative to burying a time capsule.

Contractor Esh Border Construction is working on the café and bridge alongside a new playpark being built by specialist firm Wicksteed.

One new job has been created by Esh for the café and bridge works, while the project has also seen a new apprentice employed in its supply chain.

The work on the bridge, café and playpark is taking place as part of the £3.64million Wilton Lodge Park Regeneration project funded by Scottish Borders Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Galashiels councillor John Mitchell, depute leader of the council, said: “While Hawick will benefit from a brand new café and bridge in 2017, the local community has already seen work experience opportunities, an apprenticeship and a job created, as well as engagement with schools.

“This is due to the community benefits clauses the council now builds into its contracts with suppliers, which is a key to providing local people and communities with support during construction of a project.”

Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, the authority’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, added: “The regeneration project has already delivered a number of improvements to Wilton Lodge Park, and I am pleased the construction of the café and bridge have seen some spin-off benefits for the community.

“The café and bridge and playpark will all be major assets for the park in 2017.”

Construction director John Moore said: “This has been a hugely gratifying project for us to be involved in.

“It’s been the definition of community engagement, from fresh employment to apprentice opportunities and widespread school involvement.

“We believe that our work on the café and bridge will further enhance what is already a great site, encouraging greater use and interest across the park itself and surrounding area.

“The already-beautiful Wilton Lodge Park is about to become even better and a really family-orientated community hub for Hawick.”

Moves are afoot to help preserve a landmark once home to one of the Borders’ best known historical figures.

A trust set up to look after the historic Rhymer’s Tower at Earlston is being revived after falling by the wayside in the late 1990s.

The tower, now in ruins, was once home to Thomas the Rhymer, a laird and supposed clairvoyant believed to have lived from around 1220 to about 1297.

Scottish Borders Council has agreed to re-establish the trust charged with overseeing the grade-B listed building, and it has appointed its three ward councillors for Leaderdale and Melrose – Iain Gillespie, Jim Torrance and David Parker – as trustees.

In a joint statement, council leader Mr Parker and his fellow ward members say: “We are pleased to take up the role of trustees of Rhymer’s Tower, which is of historical importance locally.

“It is highly likely that we will ask other community representatives to join the trust – for example, from the Friends of Thomas the Rhymer group and the community council, and anyone else who may be appropriate.

“There are a number of issues which the trust needs to investigate, including land and access issues, but the revival of the trust will enable us to retain ownership of the tower and manage and preserve this piece of local history for future generations.”

Responsibility for Rhymer’s Tower, also known as Learmont Tower, was transferred to trustees in 1966, but that trust ceased to function over the course of the next three decades.

That led to it having to be resurrected in November 1994 by the then Ettrick and Lauderdale District Council, only for it to fall into abeyance again within a decade.

The previous trust agreed in 1998 to have building works carried out on the tower, but it failed to stop an access road to the landmark being built on and part of the site apparently being encroached on by a neighbouring business.

In a report to the last full council meeting, the authority’s chief legal officer, Nuala McKinlay, says: “The deed transferring the tower to the trustees states that access to the tower is via the turnpike road. This access route appears have been built over, with no action taken at the time by the trustees.

“It also appears that part of the land has been incorporated into the garden ground, with fish pond, of the neighbouring café.”

Essential maintenance to repair a storm-damaged cutwater and parapets on Skippers Bridge, on the A7 at Langholm, is taking place from Saturday, January 14 until Sunday, February 26, 2017.

The work, valued at around £150,000, will be undertaken in three phases, detailed below, utilising a number of diversion and traffic restrictions as required.

Phase 1 (full closure of the A7): Day works from 7am to 5pm on Saturday 14th January, and then night works from 9pm until 6am on Sunday 15th January 2017.

Phase 2 (occasional restrictions only on B6318): Day works from 8am until 6pm, starting on Monday 16th January 2017 until Thursday 16th February 2017 (inclusive).

Phase 3 (full closure of the A7): Day works from 7am to 5pm on Saturday 25th February 2017, and then night works from 9pm until 6am on Sunday 26th February 2017.

Phase 1 works require a full closure of the A7 for the extent of the works and a restriction on the B6318 to allow tree-cutting to take place.

A signed diversion route will be in operation while these works are taking place.

Traffic heading south from Hawick will be diverted via the A698 to the A6088, and will then join the B6357 through Newcastleton to return to the A7 at Canonbie.

Traffic heading north from Canonbie will be diverted via the B7201 to the B6357, and will then join the A6088 to the A698 and return to the A7 at Hawick.

For Phase 2 works a diversion route is not required, but a restriction of the B6318 will be in place, with local access being maintained.

For Phase 3 works, the diversion route that was utilised for Phase 1 will once again be in operation, with traffic heading south returning to the A7 at Canonbie and traffic heading north returning to the A7 at Hawick.

Local bus companies are being consulted in relation to these works and contractors will work with them to maintain regular services, wherever possible.

This work has been planned in consultation with Transport Scotland, Police Scotland; Traffic Scotland; Dumfries and Galloway Planning Authority; Historic Environment Scotland; SEPA; Scottish Natural Heritage; local land owners; road hauliers and local bus operating companies.

The writing is on the wall for the new cafe at Hawick’s Wilton Lodge Park before it has even opened – but not in a bad way.

Pupils from the town’s primary schools have been signing their names on its frame to leave their mark ahead of its completion next year.

The youngsters signed a section of the structure of the building before it was covered in cladding as an alternative to burying a time capsule.

Contractor Esh Border Construction is working on the cafe and bridge alongside a new playpark being built by specialist firm Wicksteed.

One new job has been created by Esh for the cafe and bridge works, and the project has also seen a new apprentice employed in its supply chain.

The work on the bridge, cafe and playpark is taking place as part of the £3.64million Wilton Lodge Park Regeneration project funded by Scottish Borders Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Galashiels councillor John Mitchell, depute leader of the council, said: “While Hawick will benefit from a brand new café and bridge in 2017, the local community has already seen work experience opportunities, an apprenticeship and a job created, as well as engagement with schools.

“This is due to the community benefits clauses the council now builds into its contracts with suppliers, which is a key to providing local people and communities with support during construction of a project.”

Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, the authority’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, added: “The regeneration project has already delivered a number of improvements to Wilton Lodge Park, and I am pleased the construction of the café and bridge have seen some spin-off benefits for the community.

“The cafe and bridge and playpark will all be major assets for the park in 2017.”

Construction director John Moore said: “This has been a hugely gratifying project for us to be involved in.

“It’s been the definition of community engagement, from fresh employment to apprentice opportunities and widespread school involvement.

“We believe that our work on the cafe and bridge will further enhance what is already a great site, encouraging greater use and interest across the park itself and surrounding area.

“The already-beautiful Wilton Lodge Park is about to become even better and a really family-orientated community hub for Hawick.”

Two options have been drawn up for works to prevent the repeat of a landslide on a trunk road south of Hawick three years ago.

It was back on Christmas Eve 2013 that the landslide brought muddy debris from a tree-lined embankment beside the A7, known locally as the Dunk corner, onto the road, leading to its closure.

Concerns have also been raised for years over surface water coming off the hill, creating potential for accidents there.

Now investigations have been carried, leading to proposals to replace drainage and build structures to withstand the flow of materials onto the A7.

Hawick and Hermitage councillor Davie Paterson is eager for a resolution to the problem and has been working with representatives of Amey, the body responsible for maintenance of trunk roads, to try to prevent it becoming an accident black-spot.

Garry Head, a highways area manager with Amey, said: “The geotechnical investigation to determine the depth of the rockhead and existing ground capacity required for a structure design has been completed and the results analysed.

“The result indicates that the two main options are available designed to withstand the flow of any material from the embankment onto the A7 at this location.

“These options are either the replacement of the existing toe of the embankment wall with a retaining structure, including replacement drainage, or a similar option with specialised fencing, again including replacement drainage.

“These options are designed to prevent the flow of any material onto the trunk road rather than engineer a solution to stop the embankment failure as such would be the responsibility of the landowner.

“Given that the options are yet to be finalised, including outline costs, it is not possible to provide a timescale for the construction element of this scheme.”

Mr Paterson said: “What is causing a lot of concern, and I have taken this up with Amey, is the water which comes off the hill and onto the road, making it extremely dangerous, especially in freezing conditions.

“The area is not an accident blackspot, but it has the potential to become one, and we are working hard to try and resolve this situation.”