PLANS for a new ambulance station to serve the central Borders have been lodged with the local council.

The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) wants to replace its current ambulance depot in Galashiels with a modern station at the Borders General Hospital.

And NHS Borders plans to redevelop the current depot in Roxburgh Street into a £1.8million GP surgery for the town.

The application submitted to Scottish Borders Council (SBC) is for an ambulance station, wash bay, canopy, workshop and parking for 31 vehicles. It is expected to be considered by SBC planners later this autumn.

NHS Borders and SAS hope, if plans are approved, that work can get under way soon – this year and into next – as NHS Borders hopes to start work on the new medical practice in 2013/14.

Health officials say the new health centre will offer better clinical areas, patient facilities and administrative space for staff and the centre’s primary healthcare team as well as some visiting services.

NHS Borders’ chief executive Calum Campbell told us yesterday: “This is a major boost for local health services.

“These plans re-affirm our commitment to delivering first-class health care, as close to home as possible, in modern facilities and mark an important step forward in improving health care for the community.”

Both SAS and NHS Borders have repeatedly said ambulance response times will improve with the relocation.

Both organisations are funding the scheme and a paramedic will be on call at the new health centre when it opens.

A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service told us yesterday: “We considered and evaluated a number of different options to improve the current facilities in Galashiels and are delighted that staff could now benefit from a purpose-built station on the hospital campus. Combined with the deployment of a paramedic at the new health centre, the initiative will improve response times in the area.”

POLICE have issued an alert over a scam involing confidence trickster pretending he was phoning from the Post Office, stating there a parcel is waiting to be collected and requesting bank details.

A police spokesman warned: “There was no loss in this instance, but people should never pass bank or card details over the phone unless they are entirely certain who they are speaking with. Royal Mail, Parcelforce and other delivery companies leave cards and will not phone.”

A TEENAGER who was facing court action for having sex with a 13-year-old girl threatened to end his own life by jumping off a bridge, a court has heard.

Glen McGillivray, 19, was seen standing on the edge of a bridge in his home town of Hawick after he was arrested for having unlawful sexual intercourse with the girl in April last year.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard on Tuesday how McGillivray had to be talked down from the edge of the water crossing by concerned friends.

The story emerged after a hearing in which McGillivray, now of Peebles, pleaded guilty to having unlawful sex with the schoolgirl, who cannot be named for legal reasons. Depute procurator fiscal Isobel Clark told the court that McGillivray formed a relationship with the girl after befriending her on Facebook.

Ms Clark revealed that the pair had sex on two occasions on April 23 and April 25 last year.

Sheriff William Holligan heard that police arrested McGillivray shortly afterwards – and he then tried to end his own life.

Defence advocate Matt Jackson told the court that his client had learning disabilities and that he would explain the reasons behind his behaviour at a future court hearing.

Sheriff Holligan deferred sentence on McGillivray for reports. He is due to be sentenced on October 23.

The Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce kicked off its programme of network events last week at the Tontine Hotel, Peebles.

Jim Mather, former Scottish Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism in the previous SNP minority Government and now chairman of Gael Ltd, spoke on the topic of how small businesses can endure, grow and become successful in challenging times.

In an extremely well researched presentation, Mr Mather referred to the works of many notable business mentors such as W. Edward Deming, Dee Hock, Professor Ken Cloke, Steve Johnson and others, all of whom came to the conclusion that the West had become too obsessed with competition: an approach that was dangerously incomplete without some element of collaboration.

“Collaboration is a very misunderstood term, often being misinterpreted because of wartime references,” said Mr Mather. “However, collaboration is ever-present in those businesses that pass the test of time, – building up links, ideas and support from inside and outside, successful businesses, all feeding each other and benefiting as a result.”

Mr Mather went on to explain that competition, especially in the tendering process when more often than not the cheapest bidder wins, is never the answer. A successful and resilient business model needs to adopt the two-legged walk of increasing competitiveness and collaboration.

Mr Mather went on to review the model that he put into action in Argyll and Bute, where many small businesses began working together for the common good and became more customer focused.

He said: “The only factor that limited the potential of this initiative was the fact that I was wearing a political label at the time.”

Mr Mather felt that the chamber could provide political neutrality and hence be an effective facilitator for such a project in the Borders, where its political neutrality could enable Scottish Borders Council, the media and professional offices to play full and positive parts.

Thanking Mr Mather for his presentation, Gordon Innes, proprietor of the Tontine and director of Borders Chamber, said that what Mr Mather was proposing was very much one of the aspirations of the Chamber. He felt that a business organisation forum to be arranged in the near future, chaired by Councillor Stuart Bell was probably the place to discuss this further.

This network meeting was sponsored by Scottish & Southern Electricity (SSE) and Brian McFarlane, project director of SSE gave a short presentation on the wind farm projects currently in operation and at the planning stage in South Scotland.

Those in attendance were particularly interested in the jobs to be created during the building stages of up to four years and about the ongoing job requirements.

The twinning link between the Borders General Hospital (BGH) and a Zambian hospital, established to help fight HIV/AIDS in Africa, has “blossomed into helping more health departments”, according to its co-founder Dr Dorothy Logie.

Earlier this month, BGH nurse lecturer Ruth Magowan, Coldstream GP Dr Francis Carnegy, public health specialist Chris Faldon, hospital engineer Chris Heap and Dr Logie spent a week in eastern Zambia, to explore how the BGH can best support its sister hospital, St Francis in Katete.

Last November five medics travelled the 5,225 miles to St Francis to teach a midwifery course aiming to save mothers’ lives from the five main causes of maternal mortality: excessive bleeding, high blood pressure, infection, obstructed labour, and unsafe abortion. In Zambia, 440 mothers die while giving birth per 100,000 deaths, compared with just 12 in the UK.

The project leader Dr Brian Magowan, a consultant obstetrician and gynacologist at the BGH who is Ruth’s husband, and midwifery Sister Margaret Davison are returning this November to continue teaching their life-saving course – which has since been rolled out across Zambia – accompanied by BGH midwives Susie McFadzen and Sarah Galloway, and labour ward doctor Kerrie Thomson.

The September group, who returned a few days ago, identified many ways to help in the future, from funding and fixing equipment to medical expertise and training. The hospital’s X-ray machine, an essential tool in diagnosing widespread tuberculosis, needs fixing, and money is needed to buy £50 bicycles for a TB treatment support team of Zambian volunteers.

Dr Carnegy got the hospital’s electrocardiograph machine, which measures heart rate, to work after it had been broken for a year

On his ward rounds, he observed: “A lot of Zambian life revolves around the fire, and the flickering of the flames can set off epileptic fits. The majority of the burns on the ward are caused by epileptics falling into the fire.”

“The burns are often third degree and down to the bone, because many Zambians believe if you touch someone having an epileptic fit you become cursed. Witchcraft still affects medical care in Zambia,” continued Dr Jess Cooper, who spent a year working at the hospital.

Both GPs noted an £8,000 electric dermatome, or skin grafter, would increase the burns victims’ chances of recovery.

An email contact system would also help Zambian doctors discuss diagnoses with specialists in the Borders.

The link between St Francis and the BGH honours the work of Sandy Logie, a physician who retired from the BGH in 1993 to help fight AIDS in Africa.

He died in 2001 after contracting HIV doing voluntary work in Zambia six years earlier, when a needle he was using on a patient struck his finger.

His wife, Dorothy, a retired GP living in Bowden, continued Sandy’s work by helping found the link in 2009, and raising £10,000 for a clinic at St Francis Hospital named after her husband – now one of the biggest outlets dispensing anti-AIDS drugs in Zambia.

Since Dorothy’s visits, a number of BGH staff have been to St Francis’, including genito-urinary consultant Dr Dan Clutterbuck, sexual health nurse Gillian Forbes, pharmacist Vince Summers, radiographer Ros Thomson, and obstetricians Dr Faye Rodger and Dr Burnett Lunan – along with Borders GPs Dr Jonny McDonagh and Dr Helen Lunan, Burnett’s husband.

“We need to fundraise to keep this going,” Dr Magowan concluded. To donate, go to www.justgiving.com/SMLZambia2012

THE BORDERS, known to many as horse country, has a new riding stables offering tuition and livery.

International rider and teacher Jennifer Rocks opened Eden Hall Stables near Kelso for business on Monday.

Ms Rocks said: “I’m offering grass roots training as well as training in riding in the classical dressage style and hope to teach riders to be able to go on and train their own horses along classical lines, allowing the horse to do work rather than forcing it to comply.

“These skills are needed for all types of riding but are not taught in normal riding schools.”

Ms Rocks has more than 30 years experience with horses and has worked, ridden and trained with equestrian experts around the world.

Training under British Horse Society (BHS) instructor chief examiner Lynne Baldwin, Ms Rocks gained her BHS intermediate instructor’s certificate in her late twenties before becoming chief instructor of the Buket Timah Saddle Club at the Old Race Track in Singapore where she was responsible for more than 40 thoroughbred ex-race horses, retraining them to become riding club horses and teaching riders.

Returning to the UK, she rode out for racing trainers before taking over the Central London Mews Stables near Hyde Park.

Here the trainer adopted the same ethics of the clubs in Asia offering membership and tuition on well schooled horses as well as livery and sourcing horses for international clients.

And it was here she confirmed to herself that she excelled in helping horses and riders be the best they could be, starting at grass roots level and training to performance standard.

She coached Francesca Ludlum who was on the World Class Programme for the 2012 Olympics and looked after Ms Ludlum’s four star horses at her yard. But in 2007 that part of her career came to an end when the yard was closed for property development.

Ms Rocks headed overseas, working as a private rider and coach in New Zealand and in the south of France. During that time she says she had the opportunity to train and watch some of the great masters of the world both on the flat and over fences.

She is now renting part of the yard at Eden Hall, home of the classical riding exponent, dressage judge and equestrian author Sylvia Loch. Ms Rocks hopes to work alongside Mrs Loch in other equestrian projects.

Aside from her coaching work and interest in classical dressage, Ms Rocks also pre-trains race horses and does rehabilitation work, backing and breaking, eventing, hunting, showing and driving.

Riders at the new school will have the opportunity to learn on highly schooled horses and training is offered to both children and adults.

Ms Rocks said: “There is a lot of interest in dressage at the moment following Britain’s success at the Olympics. I want to try to open up people’s minds in terms of the skills that classical training can provide and its uses for riders whether they are show jumping, hunting, racing or whatever.”

Classical riding is about balancing the horse as you ride, with the animal’s power flowing through from its rear.

Ms Rocks said: “Classical riding is very light, very beautiful to watch, but the skills also apply to jumping and hunting: you have to have harmony between horse and rider.

“My coaching is for people who really want to get educated and learn to ride properly, and for people who have goals and aims in terms of training and competing their own horses. There is a lot of talent slipping through the net because people are not getting the training they need. I’m trying to give the area something a little bit different.”

For more information visit www.classicalriding.co.uk and www.edenhallstables.co.uk

A few months ago we took a look at some resources that would be useful if you’re running an e-commerce website. I thought it would be useful to go right back to basics of e-commerce, so over the next couple of articles we’ll answer some of those questions most commonly asked about how to go about selling online.

First of all, though, let’s deal with a couple of common misconceptions: number one is just how much time it takes if you’re going to do e-commerce properly. There are online shop builders that can have you up and running on the internet in around half an hour and will cost just a few pounds per month. If e-commerce is simply something that you think you need to be doing, and you want to get the tedious process of getting your business selling online over and done with in time for Bargain Hunt, then go for it, but be prepared to consider that monthly fee as money down the drain.

Be prepared to invest a lot of blood, sweat and tears in your project. It’s not simply a case of picking an e-commerce system, slapping on a few products then sitting back and waiting for the orders to start rolling in. I’m afraid that you’re in for a very rude awakening if you think that’s the case – sorry.

The whole project has to be carefully planned before you go near any e-commerce system. Then there’s the building and testing…and testing…and more testing. But once you’re finally up and running, that’s when you can relax and let it run by itself, right?

Sorry to burst that bubble, but you’ve only just started. For your e-commerce project to stand any chance of success you really have to think of it as being a full-time job in itself: updating the site with the products and content, processing orders, dealing with enquiries, and that’s before we’ve even looked at how you’re going market the site.

The second misconception is that you can have a site like Amazon for £1,000. Sure, you’ll find some that will promise you that, but to do it properly, you realistically need a larger budget.

It’ll come as no surprise that the big players invest millions of pounds into their online presence. Saying that, though, there are plenty of systems available that will give you the features you need at an affordable price, including some of the online shop builders that I mentioned earlier.

So, if you reckon you have the determination to make it work, the time to devote to it, plus a realistic idea of how much it will cost to do it properly, make sure you read part two of this article next month’s edition.

Andrew McEwan of The Web Workshop in Morebattle (www.thewebworkshop.net) helps businesses in the Borders and beyond with their online presence and digital marketing.

What’s your greatest fear?

Have you ever had that nervous, sinking feeling when asked to speak at an event or to the media?

Whether presenting to a business meeting or conference, speaking in court, to the media, or just a club or family wedding – addressing groups, large or small, tops people’s most dreaded and nerve-racking list.

Why? Because you feel out of your comfort zone? You’re unsure what to say or how to say it? You don’t like the sound of your own voice? You worry about expectations? You think it’s not your gift and don’t do it well?

So how important is your message? How far is your business judged by what you say and how you say it?

Are you losing work or credibility for want of effective coaching?

We know “people buy people”, so great dividends are gained by improving presentation, communication and media-savvy skills.

This summer’s Olympic and Paralympic Games have been an inspiration. We’ve seen how achievement brings confidence and is a spur to even greater success.

Personal one-to-one coaching by an experienced professional who understands the issues and how you can achieve success, means that your strengths can be enhanced and weaknesses overcome, whether in sport or speaking at an event. What you can achieve will amaze you if you put yourself in the right hands. Speaking successfully – engagingly, fluently, inspiringly and memorably – to groups of whatever size, means using very different skills from those of everyday conversation. This can be confusing and why, untutored, so many find it daunting and difficult.

People thus frequently under-achieve, their message making little impact. But it’s not rocket science. It’s a learned skill, as straightforward and empowering as learning to drive a car.

A respected former BBC documentary producer, SPEAK’s founder, Carol Jefferson-Davies, understands how presenters feel and exactly what’s needed to engage audiences in a compelling and memorable way.

Carol’s inspiring, personal approach, coaching one-to-one within small groups or privately, enables you to realise your skills in new ways. Drawing on years of experience, Carol brings the best out of you. She shows you how to develop your own innate style and teaches you reliable, bespoke techniques to engage audiences and improve your delivery. The result – natural self-confidence and distinctive flair so that you and your message stand out from the crowd.

Carol says: “People arrive for a master class with apprehensions. It’s really exciting to watch these disappear as they develop abilities, some didn’t even know they had, and go away on a high – empowered, enthused and enabled.

“Their greatest encouragement in achieving their aims, is witnessing for themselves, through video-playback and the group’s response, the substantial difference it’s made for them. The things they learn filter through the rest of their lives, giving them lasting personal and professional benefits.”

So what do clients say?

“Inspiring and really practical – what more could I ask?” – A.McC, project manager

“A fantastic day. You were a great help and can work magic.” – N.S.L., solicitor

“You’ve brought out abilities I didn’t know existed! Thank you.” – F. D.-A., conservationist

“Carol’s experience and knowledge shine.” – S.C., photographer and M.D.

“Brilliant. One of the best courses I’ve been on. It pays to have a real professional to teach you.” P.A., lawyer

For master classes near you contact: Carol Jefferson-Davies BA(Hons)JH PGCE(QTS), telephone: 01890 817006; email: carol@speak.uk.com; web: www.speak.uk.com

Sign for a free consultation at Borders Creative’s Website Development Turbo Day on Wednesday, November 7, at Ettrick Riverside, Selkirk, via www.borderscreative.com

RUTH HINKS has been crowned winner of the premier UK Chocolate Masters Competition – an initiative by Callebaut, Cacao Barry and Carma.

She will now become the first woman to represent the UK at the World Chocolate Masters Finals in 2013.

The owner of CocoaBlack was crowned UK Chocolate Master after three days of intense competition, held at London Olympia’s Speciality and Fine Food Fair. Ruth wowed the judges with her innovative culinary talent, fusion of flavours and mastering of the underpinning architectural theme.

Speaking at the finals, Ruth said: “It really hasn’t sunk in yet, I’ve been planning this since October last year, so it’s been constantly on my mind – I’m so relieved.

“I can’t thank my husband and the staff at CocoaBlack enough – at one point I was going to pull out of the competition, but they convinced me to stay in and I’m so glad they did.

“A huge congratulations to all the finalists, especially Alistair [Birt, head chocolatier at William Curley] who is such a talented individual.”

Expressing her delight at becoming the first ever woman to represent the UK, Ruth added: “I’ve done it for the ladies!” Ruth fought off stiff competition from the UK’s finest chocolatiers, patissiers and chefs to secure her place at the World Chocolate Masters Finals in Paris in 2013, and represent the UK at the international competition dedicated solely to the art of chocolate.

Commenting on the competition, head judge Gary Hunter, head of culinary arts, food and beverage service and hospitality at Westminster Kingsway College, said: “I can’t stress just how close the result was, Ruth’s moulded pralines were excellent, as was her contemporary twist on a classic.

“This win is just the beginning of a fantastic journey for her. Congratulations.”

Architecture of Taste is the theme at the World Chocolate Masters Finals next October, where Ruth and the best chocolatiers from across the globe will be challenged to find inspiration and creativity from iconic buildings such as the Shard in London, the National Stadium in Beijing and the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York.

Ruth would like to thank David Harrison’s garage of Peebles for providing transport to and from the event.

PEEBLES cyclists gathered round the town’s golden Olympic postbox on Sunday as part of a national campaign, Pedal on Parliament, to promote safer cycling.

The 20 bicycle enthusiasts also called on local politicians to push cycling projects in the region, including the Upper Tweed Railway Paths and AIMUp Innerleithen uplift campaigns.

And they sent postcards to Christine Grahame MSP and Scottish Borders councillors urging them to support the Tweeddale campaigns.

Organiser Laurence Carvalho, who commutes by bicycle to Edinburgh, said: “It was positive and raised awareness even between ourselves about the local campaigns.

“The Peebles event had the biggest turnout relative to the size of the local population.”

The government research scientist said: “There are a few of us who cycle up to Edinburgh and having a safe cycling route to Edinburgh would be great, particularly between Peebles and Leadburn.”

He explained why the cyclists had gather around Peebles’ golden postbox, painted to celebrate Peeblesshire show jumper Scott Brash’s Olympic success.

He said: “The event was organised around the golden postboxes in Scotland to keep up the pressure for a real golden legacy for cycling after the Olympics and Paralympics.

“The fact that so many local young riders from the Scottish Borders are in the British Cycling development squad highlights the value of having great local biking facilities.”

Some of the group also hoped to gain more support for the building of a local BMX park.

A 63-year-old man from Galashiels has been charged with taking and driving away a vehicle, and driving without a licence or insurance, after being stopped by police south of Peebles on Friday morning. He was found to have only a provisional licence and was unaccompanied in the vehicle.

The car was seized and a report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

COUNCILLORS were this week informed that there was no chance of pursuing the firm involved in the bungled disposal of sensitive personnel documents, which led to the local authority being fined £250,000 last week.

Nearly 850 confidential files ended up dumped in a supermarket bin, believed to be in West Lothian, by a firm hired by Scottish Borders Council.

Last week’s fine issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for the data breach, which occurred in September last year, was only the second given to a Scottish organisation.

The council was adjudged to have failed to seek appropriate guarantees on how the personal data would be kept secure and did not make sufficient attempts to monitor how the data was being handled.

The files, some containing bank and salary details, were found by a member of the public.

On discovering the breach, SBC reported the matter to the ICO and terminated the contract. But Ken Macdonald, assistant information commissioner for Scotland, described it as a classic case of an organisation taking its “eye off the ball” when it came to outsourcing.

And he added that, in other circumstances, the information could have exposed people to identity fraud and possible financial loss through no fault of their own.

The fine was described by SBC chief executive Tracey Logan as “very disappointing”, but Taxpayer Scotland director Eben Wilson said local taxpayers would more likely be outraged by what he called the “frittering away” of public money.

At this week’s meeting of the council executive, the issue of the fine was raised by Councillor Stuart Bell (Tweeddale East, SNP), during a debate on revenue budget monitoring.

Mr Bell said he was concerned about some of the media reporting of the fine.

“I just think it’s an unreasonable sum of money considering the council put its hand up as soon as this breach was discovered,” he added.

And he asked whether there was any intention to pursue the firm involved with a view to recouping some of the money or to challenge the fine in any way.

Council leader David Parker (Leaderdale & Melrose, Ind), said he was also extremely frustrated by the level of the fine.

“We did the right thing reporting it and fully co-operating with the data commissioner,” he said.

“There is an issue over whether the size of the fine is reasonable and I am of the opinion it is not. We are examining, with colleagues in the legal service, to see if there are any grounds to challenge it.

“I think the size is disproportionate – there was no identity theft involved. It was a very harsh judgment.”

Councillor David Paterson (Hawick & Hermitage, Ind) agreed the size of the penalty was disproportionate.

“We employed this firm and the job was not done correctly – I really think something should be done to try to get money back from them.”

But he was told by Mr Parker this would not be possible.

“We looked into that, but the company involved is no longer trading.”

And he added: “There will be a reduction of the level to £200,000 if we pay the fine promptly, so we will be paying it promptly, but we will be pursuing other remedies as well.”

Asked by Councillor Jim Brown (Jedburgh, SNP) about where the fine cash would end up, chief financial officer David Robertson replied that it would ultimately end up in the coffers of HM Treasury.

ONE super head to lead all four of the region’s Roman Catholic (RC) primary schools or a return to shared headships, are the two options which parents and staff are set to consider as part of a two month-long consultation.

Scottish Borders Council’s education executive, which met on Tuesday, had been due to discuss the strategic review into RC education in the region for just 15 minutes, but the debate ran on for the best part of an hour.

The review working group, set up last year, comprises councillors and education officials, as well as church and parent council representatives.

Four options were excluded – including the provision of one, large centrally-located RC primary – with a full consultation exercise approved on either a single head teacher or reverting to shared headships, with St Margaret’s in Galashiels and Halyrude in Peebles linked together with a similar arrangement at St Margaret’s in Hawick and St Joseph’s in Selkirk.

Temporary arrangements for the management of RC schools will continue until March, to allow for the consultation on the management models to be completed.

Other recommendations approved included developing a mentoring and coaching service to help RC teachers build a career path; head teachers to explore building strong links with local nursery providers and agreement given to the further development of links between Borders’ secondary schools and their local RC parishes.

The review was sparked by recurring problems over recruiting head teachers and concerns over performance.

Robert Fairburn, co-chairman of St Margaret’s Parent Council in Galashiels, welcomed the start of the consultation process and urged parents of all four schools to participate.

“I have a degree of sympathy for the review group because of the constraints they have been working under during the past year,” he told us.

“St Margaret’s in Galashiels is performing brilliantly at the moment under the current management structure, but we recognise there has to be a long-term solution for the leadership of the schools, as we want consistency and to avoid constant staff upheaval.

“A single head for four schools is unprecedented in the Borders and we would have to be assured that the proper levels of support would be in place to allow the schools to be managed on a day-to-day basis.

“But the council will be saving three head teacher salaries alone with this set-up, so the resources should be there to provide proper support for the person managing the schools over four different learning communities.

“It may well be that alternative options emerge during meetings with parents, which may find favour with the education executive and that is why we welcome the start of the consultation process.”

Executive member for education and chair of the Roman Catholic Education Strategic Review Group, Councillor Sandy Aitchison (Galashiels, BP), admits it is not an ideal situation.

“I am positive we can get a strong management team in place and get a common thread through these four schools so they can all help to sustain each other,” he told us.

“We have to get away from that temporary nature of these schools.

“What parents want is consistency – that is the only way we can develop these schools.”

The four schools have a combined total of only 162 pupils, with just 47 per cent being Catholic.

Quizzed over whether he thought there was still a place for such small faith schools, particular when they were experiencing a drop in pupil numbers, Mr Aitchison told us: “There is a fear out there because the rolls have been falling, so we need to find a way of improving the rolls.

“I have no personal agenda to close any school. That is not what I came into this job to do. I want to give them the opportunity to thrive.”

Paying tribute to the current head teachers of RC schools, he added: “What we need to do now is have a permanent solution to establish stability in our faith schools.”

ONE of the Borders’ leading anti-wind farm campaigners has slammed calls to give renewable energy companies tax breaks to help build more turbines.

Professor Jack Ponton, a university emeritus professor of engineering who is leading the Save Lauderdale anti-wind farm campaign, was reacting to a call from one of Scotland’s leading property law specialists.

Alan Cook, from international law firm Pinsent Masons, says reducing stamp duty on land leases would help energy firms save hundreds of thousands of pounds and make Scotland a more desireable location in which to do business.

Government ministers have already flagged up their intention to reform Scotland’s tax regime, which Mr Cook believes could provide a rare chance to introduce green tax breaks.

He believes plans for a Scottish replacement for stamp duty on property transactions is a key opportunity for the Scottish Government to promote and support its own policy objectives on renewable energy.

But the suggestion has already angered some anti-wind farm campaigners. Although subsidies for wind farm developers are being reduced by the Westminster government, they can still earn millions of pounds from a project.

But Professor Ponton, says turbine firms need little further encouragement to invest in Scotland.

“Giving tax breaks to wind farm companies is a horrifying idea. These firms are already raking in massive subsidies, which end up on everyone’s electricity bills.

“Wind farm developers are already piling into places like the Borders,” said Professor Ponton, who has worked in the renewable energy field since the 1970s.

He warned: “For Scotland to meet Alex Salmond’s target of 100 per cent renewable energy by 2012, you 
would have to cover an area of 1,000 square kilometres in turbines – that’s an area equivalent to twice the combined size of greater Glasgow and Edinburgh.”

Councillor Nicholas Watson (Leaderdale and Melrose, BP), vice-chairman of the local authority’s planning committee, was also concerned to hear of the moves.

“Our national politicians need to be really careful here; green tax breaks sound great, but a big slice of our electricity bills already goes to subsidise the renewables industry,” he told TheSouthern this week.

“It’s high time politicians acknowledged that their posturing on renewables comes at colossal cost to the consumer, effectively a direct levy, not on taxpayers alone, but on every electricity bill payer in the country.

“This is not just about the windfarm debate; renewables policy should be driven by science not sentimentality, and public funds directed at research, and things that definitely help, like insulation.

“Legislation could also be revised to allow us to stop over-heating schools and other council buildings.”

GALE force winds and heavy rain have been lashing much of the Borders with warnings that more is on the way, writes Bob Burgess.

At noon the Met Office issued an amber weather warning, forecasting gusts reaching severe and up to 60mm of rain.

Rain – expected to be the equivalent of month’s fall in a single day – has led to fears of flooded rivers as well surface water causing problems on roads.

The flooding fear is exacerbated because it is falling on ground that is already saturated.

Met Office officials say the amber warning will remain in place until 6am on Tuesday.

Scottish Borders Council says the situation is being monitored and that the emergency control centre at Newtown St Boswells will be staffed overnight.

Council chief executive Tracy Logan commented: “Due to the predicted amount of rainfall, localised flooding is likely to affect roads.

“Gales of up 60 miles per hour are also expected which could result in trees and branches being blown. I urge everyone to take extreme care when travelling.”

Schools remained open today but the situation for tomorrow is being monitored.

BORDERS farmers are being urged to consult with their vets over the threat of Schmallenberg virus (SBV).

SBV was found on farms in Yorkshire and Northumberland last week, putting the region at risk.

NFU Scotland is putting up cash for farmers importing stock from SBV risk areas to test for the virus.

And president Nigel Miller, a qualified vet, said: “Farms planning on putting rams or bulls out in the coming weeks should consider the risk of SBV and seek advice from their vet on the possible benefits of delaying until later in the year. Lower temperatures reduce midge and virus activity and present a low transmission window. In the meantime, keepers should remain vigilant to any ill health within their herd or flock and test where SBV might be considered as a possible diagnosis.”

SBV causes fever, reduced milk yield and loss of condition, but if the infection happens during early pregnancy, it can result in congenital disorders in lambs and calves, stillbirths and abortions.

THE BORDER Shepherd’s Show in Yetholm attracted one of its largest crowds ever at the weekend, writes Sally Gillespie.

Ashkirk’s Jock and Scott Davies of North Synton took the overall championship with a North Country Cheviot gimmer at the traditional show at the Haugh on Saturday.

Scott said: “The judge liked her. It’s nice to get something to show, it’s been a wee while since we’ve had one like that – they don’t come along very often.”

Earlier outings this summer saw her win the overall championship at Yarrow and Ettrick Show and the Cheviot section at Langholm Show.

The Scottish Champion of Champions stickmaker is also judged at Yetholm and the top ticket went to Stephen Bell of Barrow-on-Humber.

Show secretary Sarah Little said: “We are very pleased with how the day went, the weather was fantastic and the attendance was one of the biggest we’ve had. The classes were very well supported and the standard was excellent.

“There was a tremendous show of sheep and in the industrial tent, 21 gingerbreads for the judge and there was a huge show of photographs.”

Children’s classes provided fun for youngsters, along with the afternoon’s games.

Other entertainment included music from a steel band, dog agility, hounds and a vintage vehicle display and parade.

Mrs Little said: “The dog agility was a great crowd pleaser, the College Valley and North Northumberland Hunt were a success with a lot of people going into the main ring to meet the hounds and the vintage tractor parade was also watched by a lot of people.”

She added: “We’re grateful to the exhibitors, the visitors and the stewards who helped on showday because without them, the show wouldn’t go ahead.”

A RECORD-BREAKING drawing initiative is coming to Galashiels this Saturday.

The UK’s largest free visual art programme – annually involving more than 300,000 participants – The Big Draw encourages people to pick up their pencil or pen again.

In its 12-year history, the event has encouraged more than two million people get back to the drawing board.

And in the process, it has notched two Guinness world records – for the longest drawing made at one kilometre and for the largest number of people drawing simultaneously at over 7,000.

“This month-long season celebrates creativity, and encourages experiment and enjoyment,” said a spokesperson.

Scottish Borders Council’s assistant curator of museums and galleries, Phoebe Stewart, said: “The Big Draw is a fantastic way of allowing people from all walks of life at any age to gather together to draw and express themselves through the influence of drawing.

“I hope the Big Draw campaign will see many faces, both new and old, coming into Old Gala House to join in the fun.”

The Big Draw spokesperson added: “Drawing is a universal language that unites people of all ages, abilities and cultures.

“The Big Draw extends the vocabulary of drawing and challenges conventions and preconceptions.

“It shows how pencil, pen, chalk or the computer mouse can inspire observation, imagination and invention. Drawing connects us with our environment and helps us to see, think and communicate.”

Free-of-charge drop-in sessions for all the family take place from 10am to 4pm on Saturday at Old Gala House.

The campaign is also visiting Bowden Village Hall on Saturday, October 27, from 2pm to 6pm.

PLANS for a new high school and housing in Kelso go on show for public consultation in the town this afternoon, writes Sally Gillespie.

Planning consultants Clarendon Planning and Development declined to reveal more details than reported in last week’s Southern ahead of the open afternoon.

But the company’s Antony Duthie moved to quash local speculation that the golf course or ground near the allotments would be affected.

Lord Kerr of Ferniehirst, Jedburgh, and the Duke of Roxburghe at Floors Castle, Kelso, jointly own 23 hectares – 57 acres – on the north-western outskirts of Kelso, between the town’s racecourse and the A6089 Edinburgh road.

They hope to sell 10 acres of it to Scottish Borders Council for a new £14.8million high school and build houses and a care home on the rest.

Currently the town’s racecourse uses the field to the eastern end of the proposed development site for car parking and there were fears racegoers’ vehicles could be relocated up a slope to beside the town’s allotments or to part of the town’s neighbouring golf course.

But Mr Duthie told TheSouthern: “I can categorically confirm that, if the new school is to be located on our clients’ land, there is no intention whatsoever to relocate the racecourse car parking either to the golf course or anywhere near to the allotments.

“If, as matters evolve, there is any impact on the positioning of the parking, I stress that this will be contained wholly within the redline boundary (of the proposed site) submitted with the Proposal of Application Notice (PAN). The community can be assured that no works can take place outwith this defined boundary.

“Thursday’s exhibition will clarify this and allay any such concerns offering up various development options all contained within the PAN boundary. This will also be an opportunity to formally record community aspirations, before proposals are progressed, and is the principal purpose of the event.”

The land is currently zoned for housing under the Local Plan and the lairds plan an initial 120 private and affordable homes, plus a residential care home, and to set aside recreational ground and open space.

Representatives from Clarendon and architects Aitken Turnbull will be at the open afternoon from 3pm until 8pm at the Ednam House Hotel to gather public comment.

A CYCLIST who was injured in an accident on the Innerleithen to Traquair Road in the Borders last month has died, writes Bob Burgess.

He has been named by police as retired vet John Barr from the East Lothian hamlet of West Saltoun, near Pencaitland.

The 64-year-old sustained head and pelvic injuries when his pedal bike was involved in an accident with a Honda Civic car on the afternoon of Thursday, September 27.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to the crash which happened around 1.30pm.

Mr Barr passed away around 3pm on Wednesday at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.