Families of residents of a Jedburgh care home about to be closed have voiced concerns for their loved ones now they face having to be relocated.

Bield, service provider at the Millfield Gardens care home, revealed last week that it is consolidating its services to ensure the long-term future of the company.

The company stated: “As a result of this new strategy, we have made the very difficult decision to withdraw from the residential care home market.

“This is a fundamental step and one which we do not take lightly, but it is in the best interests of the long-term future and sustainability of our organisation.”

Bield also runs retirement homes in Melrose, Selkirk and Greenlaw, but they will not be affected by this reshuffle.

However, 11 other care homes across Scotland will close over the next 12 to 18 months, affecting 160 elderly people.

While Scottish Borders Council has reassured residents that their continuity of care is “receiving our highest priority”, it is a very uncertain time for them, as well as the care home’s 28 staff.

When we published the story online last week, residents’ loved ones took to our Facebook page to voice their concerns.

Sheelagh Law said her mother, Helen Jackson, is a resident at Millfield.

She told us: “She has been a resident in Millfield for three and a half years, and it took nearly two years for her to settle. A move now would be devastating for her as she is registered blind and has severe dementia.

“She worked at the cottage hospital in Jedburgh for 40 years looking after frail, elderly patients and that was taken from us. Why Jedburgh again?

“Millfield and the fantastic staff are so essential to the folk of this town. The staff go the extra mile for the residents over and over again. We will never be able to replace them. Please, please help us keep this lovely care home.”

Brenda Smith has similar concerns over her mum, Mary Potter. She wrote: “We had mum brought up from Yorkshire back to her home town of Jedburgh.

“She has just settled in at Millfield. How can you tell a 91-year-old person with dementia that she will have to move again? All she wanted was to live out her days back in dear old Jethart.”

And Susan Stewart added: “My mum is a resident in Millfield, has been there now for 18 months and has received wonderful care at all times.

“We took this place for her despite the fact she had lived in Kelso because the waiting list for one of the Kelso homes had 18 people before her.

“Heaven knows what waiting lists are now and how many miles further we will have to travel to visit her.

“This is a wonderful caring home with exceptional staff and needs to be kept open whatever the cost.

“Closing the home will only make waiting lists longer throughout the Borders and cause heartache for relatives, residents and staff.”

A spokesperson for the council said: “We would like to reassure residents and their families that ensuring their continuity of care is receiving our highest priority and we have been working closely with Bield to make sure that the future needs of everyone living in the care home continue to be met.

“We are in close dialogue with them and are supportive of their efforts to find an alternative provider if at all possible for this high-quality and popular home.

“However, contingency plans will be put in place should this not be possible.

“This includes making preparations to reassess the needs of each resident and discuss with them and their families the options available to them in terms of potential relocation to alternative accommodation.

“We appreciate that this is an extremely unsettling time for everyone concerned and intend meeting with residents and their families as a matter of priority to provide them with as much information and reassurance as we can.”

Jedburgh councillor Scott Hamilton confirmed this week that a council officer had indeed met with a representative of Bield to discuss options.

He said: “Councillor Sandy Scott and myself had a meeting today with the council officer.

“There are talks ongoing about Millfield and contingency planning is taking place at Scottish Borders Council.”

“We all identified that keeping the staff there is essentia,l and it’s even more essential that the residents do not need to move. That would be so detrimental to the town.”

Concern has been expressed about Live Borders taking over the running of Hawick’s tourist information centre.

The charity is already responsible for the operation of the town hall, leisure centre and other public buildings in the town.

Now it’s to take over the day-to-day running of the iCentre at the Heart of Hawick from current operator VisitScotland with effect from March 2019.

The move is part of a raft of changes to tourist information centres nationwide, including the closure of 39, among them the current facility at Kelso Town Hall.

VisitScotland cites a 58% drop in footfall at its information centres over the past 12 years and the fact that two-thirds of visitors now access information online as its reason for the moves, said to be part of a two-year restructuring strategy.

Given the cull of centres nationwide, there is relief that the centre, at the Heart of Hawick, has been spared the axe, but there is also some nervousness at the appointment of Live Borders.

Last month, the charity came under fire over claims that youngsters were placed at risk when staff locked the doors of an exit at the end of an event at Hawick Town Hall.

Further concerns centre on the fact that the charity has invited staff to take voluntary redundancy.

A trust spokesman has assured the public that “Live Borders will continue to provide information and inspiration for visitors”.

Despite that reassurance, Hawick and Denholm councillor Stuart Marshall, independent for Hawick and Denholm, has reservations.

He said: “I think there will be a degree of nervousness amongst townsfolk when they hear that Live Borders will now be responsible for the delivery of our tourist information centre, given the fact that only recently this trust was asking for voluntary redundancies, and one certainly has to question as to how much more can be offloaded to this company.

“At the moment, Live Borders are responsible for our town halls, museums and galleries, leisure centres and swimming pools, as well as our 3G pitch.

“It appears that everyone now thinks that this organisation has a magic wand and is a direct route to offload important services such as tourist information.”

Fellow Hawick and Denholm councillor Clair Ramage said: “The Heart of Hawick is very much seen as the main meeting place in Hawick.

“It is a great facility for both the local people and for tourists who can find places of interest at the information centre.

“Live Borders are now taking over responsibility for the iCentre, and I hope that it is run as efficiently as in previous years.

“As well as an information centre, it also sells tickets for the cinema, so any drop in standards could have severe implications for such a great asset to the town.”

A Live Borders spokesperson said: “This is an exciting opportunity for further developing our relationship with VisitScotland, and we are working together on innovative solutions to provide information and inspiration for visitors in the most effective way possible.”

Hawick will host the Campaign for Borders Rail’s 2017 annual general meeting tomorrow, October 21.

Speakers lined up to take part include new ScotRail Alliance managing director Alex Hynes and Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP Rachael Hamilton.

They will be joined by Colin Glover, leader of Carlisle City Council, and Hawick and Hermitage councillor Watson McAteer, also honorary provost for the town.

The meeting, at the Heart of Hawick, in Kirkstile, will start at 1pm with formal business open to members only.

A public session will follow at 2.30pm featuring a question-and-answer session with the panel of speakers.

For details, go to www.campaignforbordersrail.org

Campaign spokesman Simon Walton said: “We will be seeking a further mandate from the membership to continue our campaign work. I’m confident of a very healthy endorsement for that motion.”

The go-ahead has been given for 40 new homes for the elderly on council-owned waste land close to Stirches Primary School in Hawick.

Scottish Borders Council’s executive committee pushed ahead with the project this week, and the authority will now sell the land to Eildon Housing Association for a nominal fee of just £1.

The dormant land has long been thought of as having the potential for development but without any plans ever coming to fruition.

Hawick and Denholm councillor Stuart Marshall said he was delighted the executive had now thrown its weight behind the scheme.

He said: “I see this development as a real positive for our town, and we have an opportunity to enhance the provision of both extra care housing and affordable housing for our townsfolk on land that has lain dormant for a very long time.

“Of course, there is much more work to be done to bring such a project to life, and we must make sure that when plans are being drawn up that we keep the residents living nearby fully up to speed with progress.

“With Hawick currently benefiting from some major private investment projects, this latest announcement can only be viewed as another major step forward for our town and one which will hopefully help address a real need within our area for this type of housing model.”

Speaking at Tuesday’s committee meeting, Hawick and Hermitage councillor Watson McAteer said the land had become a “dog-fouling nightmare” in recent times, adding: “I’m all for Eildon taking this on. A new build within the Stirches complex is going to be a real boost to the area. It has my complete support”.

Fellow ward councillor George Turnbull added: “I was involved in the days of the old district council when Stirches was built, and phase two just never came. It’s been a long time coming.”

A report to the committee said: “It is envisaged that the Stirches development will provide extra care housing for social rent, and potentially mid-market rent and shared equity options, all of which are considered as being consistent with the council’s affordable housing policy.

“A feasibility study will be carried out in due course by the association’s design team to confirm the numbers of units that can be developed on the site.”

Police are appealing for witnesses after a 14-year-old girl was injured, struck by an object thrown from a Hawick bridge.

The incident happened around 4.30am on Sunday, October 15, at the bridge which accesses Mart Street from Wilton Hill.

The 14-year-old victim was sitting under the bridge when an object, believed to be a stone, was thrown from above, striking her to the head.

As a result, the girl attended at Borders General Hospital for treatment before being released.

Inquiries are ongoing to trace whoever was responsible and anyone with information is asked to come forward.

Sergeant Rachel Campbell from Hawick Police Station said: “The culprit for this act of utter stupidity could have inflicted serious harm on the victim and it is extremely lucky that her injury was not too serious.

“As part of this inquiry we would ask anyone who remembers seeing any suspicious activity around the bridge during the early hours of Sunday morning to contact police immediately.

“We would also remind the public that throwing items from a bridge can have very serious consequences and if you are found to be involved in such reckless behaviour you will be arrested.”

Those with information can contact Hawick Police Station via 101 and quote incident number 1074 of the 15th October. Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The A7 will be closed for improvements north of Galashiels for two days next month.

The Edinburgh-Carlisle road road will be shut from just north of the Torwoodlee Golf Club junction to the Bowland crossroads on Wednesday and Thursday, November 1 and 2, from 9am to 3.30pm on both days.

That closure is to allow patching and resurfacing works to be carried out.

Motorists are being advised to use the A68 Edinburgh-Darlington road instead.

Buses will be allowed to travel through the road works, although passengers are warned to expect delays.

Advanced warning signs are already in place to advise motorists about the closure.

Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, said: “These works are the latest in a series of improvements to the stretch of the A7 road from Galashiels to the Midlothian border which the council is responsible for.

“The Torsonce corner south of Stow was resurfaced in May this year, and the council carried out improvements to Falahill, Crookston and the Heriot bends last year.

“The A7 is one of the busiest roads in the Borders, with around 5,400 vehicles using the northern section, but by carrying out the works between 9am and 3.30pm on both days, the council has attempted to minimise the disruption for commuters.”

For further information, go to www.scotborders.gov.uk/roadworks

Two boys have been charged over a vandal attack on a Borders war memorial.

Two poppy wreaths at the Wilton Lodge Park memorial in Hawick were set alight and destroyed on Sunday, October 1, sparking an outcry in the town.

A police investigation was launched, leading to the two boys, aged 12 and 13, being charged this week.

They will now be dealt with by a children’s reporter.

Police are still appealing for witnesses to come forward to help them identify another individual believed to have been involved.

Inspector Carol Wood, of Hawick police station, said: “We recognise the distress and anger this incident caused the local community, and the public can be reassured that this matter has been investigated robustly.

“While two arrests have been made, we are continuing with our inquiries, and if you believe you have any other information relevant to this incident, then please contact us immediately.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident 1,547 of October 1.

Alternatively, calls can be made to the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Disgust at the destruction of the wreaths, left by the King’s Own Scottish Borderers’ Association and the town’s 111 Masonic lodge in memory of the 130 local soldiers killed in the First World War’s Gallipoli campaign, prompted almost a dozen businesses in the town to club together to offer a £600 reward for information leading to the culprits being caught.

Numerous notes and flowers were also left at the memorial by shocked townsfolk.

A motion calling for Scottish Borders Council to support a ban on the smacking of children in Scotland has been carried by 19 votes to eight.

It was tabled at yesterday’s full council meeting by the SNP’s Helen Laing (East Berwickshire) who urged colleagues to endorse the campaign for a law change being spearheaded in the Scottish Parliament by Green MSP John Finnie.

“I want us to send a message to our lawmakers that smacking, banned in our schools since 1987, is not acceptable in the home and that children should have the same protection under the law as adults,” said Councillor Laing.

“Not only is it in contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but there is robust evidence that the smacking of children can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and, at its worst, can become increased in severity and frequency and sadly end up in abusive situations.

“This is not about criminalising parents, carers or guardians, but rather empowering them to find the best ways to deal with their children’s negative

behaviour in a nurturing and positive way.”

Ms Laing’s motion was seconded by council leader Shona Haslam (Con, Tweeddale East) who said this was a matter of conscience for councillors.

She revealed that members of her administration would have a free vote on an issue which would ultimately be decided at Holyrood.

In a maiden speech, retired high school teacher Councillor Claire Ramage (SNP, Hawick and Denholm) said: “Mental wellbeing is rightly very much to the fore at the moment and I would contend that some of the issues bringing about mental problems lie in our acceptance that the strong can exert physical punishment over the weak and vulnerable in our society.

“We are all diminished as human beings by corporal punishment – especially in the one place, the home, where love and caring should be unassailable.”

Opposing the motion, retired police officer Councillor Harry Scott (Ind, Galashiels and District) told the meeting: “While there is research which serves those who advocate the scrapping of physical punishment, there is other research which argues it does no harm to the wellbeing of children and that in some countries where smacking has been banned, child discipline has deteriorated and educational attainment has declined.”

Mr Scott believed there was already adequate provision in the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003 which proscribes the physical punishment of children by a blow to the head, shaking or with an implement.

He said the Act also set out the specific circumstances in which courts could decide if the smacking of a child was a “justifiable assault”.

“My view is that parents know what is best for their child, including when it comes to discipline.

“Some will choose not to smack there children and some with choose to, but it is not for me or anyone else in this chamber or for so-called experts to judge these parents.

“That judgement should lie where it does at present – in the courts. This proposal advocates an unwarranted intrusion into personal family life.”

Lowood Bridge on the B6374 between Galashiels and Melrose, will close for up to 20 weeks next year.

In 2016, the bridge was closed temporarily as tests on the structure were carried out.

A presentation by Scottish Borders Council’s design services manger Paul Frankland and assets manager David Richardson to Melrose Community Council last week showed the extent of the damage found on the category B listed bridge.

Mr Frankland said: “In the inspection carried out on the bridge last year, we looked at every aspect of the structure, and found the bridge to be in a fair to poor condition.”

The bridge requires some essential masonry work carried out, stitching of cracks in the arches, scour works to the central pier, repairing of mortar and a rebuild of the parapet walls, which are leaning out.

Also required are ecological and bat surveys, as well as locating water and gas mains, which are carried by the bridge.

Mr Frankland added: “We are looking at doing this in one phase of works – and it is expected to take between 16-20 weeks.

“We are fully aware of the disruption this will cause, but we need to close the road while the work is being carried out.”

The cost of repairs to the bridge, which would conclude with the resurfacing of its deck, is expected to cost in the region of £640,000 – and after the repairs are completed, the 26-tonne weight limit imposed last year will be lifted.

Another main route between Galashiels and Melrose, Galafoot Bridge on the A6091, is also set to close for a period next year for bridge deck refurbishment, and Mr Frankland said it was important that the two repairs did not run concurrently, and that the council will be liasing with Amey – which is reponsible for the Galafoot Bridge – on the matter.

He added that the council had two windows for the work on Lowood Bridge – known locally as the Bottle Bridge – to take place, both of them bearing Melrose Festival, held in the third week in June, firmly in mind.]

Mr Frankland stated: “We can start in February or June, after the festival. However, if we begin in February we could run the risk of the repairs taking longer if the river is too high to work on the bridge because of melting snowfall higher upstream.”

Councillor David Parker said: “We are in discussions with Amey, and I think it’s more than likely that Galafoot works will begin in February, and the Lowood Bridge in June.

“With the best will in the world, you have to close the roads to do the works. It is necessary, and there is no way around it.”

Businesses in Kelso are joining forces in an effort to fill the gap that will be left by the closure of the town’s tourist information centre next week.

More than a dozen businesses in and around the town, all members of the Visit Kelso group, have agreed to become VisitScotland information partners and offer advice to tourists.

VisitScotland hopes that new network of 15 iKnow-accredited partners, as they are known, will help replace the its iCentre in Kelso Town Hall now facing the axe, as reported in the Southern last week.

A country clothing store, gift shop, café, pottery studio and pub are among the businesses that have signed up.

They are among more than 80 such partners across the Borders offering the benefit of their local knowledge to visitors to the region.

Visit Kelso secretary Nikki Allman said: “As a group of local business owners in Kelso and the surrounding area, we realise how important it is to share our local knowledge and insights with our visitors to help make sure they receive a warm welcome and make the most of what there is to see and do in the local area.

“We want our visitors to have a great time in this wonderful part of the country, and we are looking forward to continuing to ensure visitors enjoy a first-class experience.

VisitScotland regional director Paula Ward added: “Visit Kelso does an amazing job at attracting and offering a first-class experience to visitors of Kelso, and we are delighted to welcome the group to our VisitScotland information partner programme.

“It is well-deserved official recognition of the fantastic work that the group already undertakes to promote the local area.

“The programme is designed to allow those working within the tourism industry to become local ambassadors and help provide information, assistance and advice on all there is to see and do here.”

Kelso provost and community council chairman Dean Weatherston is unconvinced that the new arrangement will form an adequate replacement for the tourist information centre, however.

“While I understand the world is moving more towards technology to get our information, and VisitScotland’s figures are no surprise, I was disappointed they didn’t communicate with the community sooner so that different options could be explored,” he said.

“I personally feel there is still a need for a centralised information point, and I’ve already started speaking to people about a way that could be delivered.

“Sadly, yet again Kelso has been let down. Live Borders has stepped in at Hawick, but in Kelso we have just been encouraged to do it ourselves.

“While we will do this because we want our town to be successful, it’s very unfortunate that a town like Kelso, that has so much history and heritage, doesn’t have a museum or tourist information centre because of cuts, yet other towns have seen investment in their museums.”

VisitScotland provides its partners with signage, promotional material and information resources.

The businesses taking part include A Hume Country Clothing, cookware shop One Basket, Focal Point Furniture, the Kelso Pottery, Kelso Border Retreats, micropub Rutherfords, balloon supplier and cafe Seasons, the Cream Chimneys cafe, Borders Cookware and Swans Shoes.

Floors Castle, the Roxburghe Hotel, Kelso Holiday Cottages, Border Holiday Homes and Hendersyde Farm Cottages have also signed up as partners.

For more information, visit www.visitkelso.com or www.visitscotland.org

Taxi fares in the Borders have been frozen for another year despite a request by taxi operators to increase charges by 5%.

Scottish Borders Council’s executive committee has unanimously agreed to keep taxi rates unchanged despite operators asking to increase standard daytime charges from approximately £4 to £4.20 after the first mile of a journey.

Consultations were carried out during August, with five operators in attendance and two responding by email.

One of those operators had signed mandates representing the views of 22 taxi operators wanting changes to their current prices.

That operator called for an initial hire rate of £2.40 for between one and four passengers during social hours, with a 10p mileage rate, or 15p for larger vehicles, kicking in after 95 yards rather than the current 100 yards.

It was also hoped that for larger vehicles, an initial hire rate of £3.60 would be introduced.

The operators’ call for an increase in fares for the first time since April 2015 was attributed to the rising costs of fuel and insurance and improved minimum hourly wages.

However, Hawick and Hermitage councillor Watson McAteer said: “Members of the council’s executive committee agreed with officer recommendations to leave current taxi fares across the Borders unaltered until the next statutory review in about 18 months’ time.

“The council uses a recognised funding formula to determine taxi fares and that has, I understand, resulted in consistent increases since 2010.

“Councillors did question the comparison of charges with other council areas and have asked for information to be provided ahead of future fares review.”

Hawick and Hermitage councillor George Turnbull added: “There was a healthy discussion on this very important issue, and I am satisfied with the outcome.

“As always, the taxi operators have the right of appeal should they wish to pursue this issue.”

The formula used to review the charges for taxi fares, established by the council in 2009, showed a total variation of -0.45% on indicators including the price of petrol and cost of vehicle tax over the last year.

Sitting down at work is often blamed for poor health, but office workers are less likely to die early than a builder, according to a new study.

Cleaners, factory workers and building site or farm labourers are more than three times as likely to suffer premature death, according to new research.

Mortality rates differ over three-fold between occupational groups, say scientists.

In some jobs - such as domestic cleaning - women are more likely to die early than they were 20 years ago.

The worst jobs for health include those in factories, construction, farm labouring or housekeeping and call centres, the study shows.

The best include those in medicine, business and public services, finance, teaching and IT.

The study - which tracked about half a million Britons for 20 years - showed low pay and social circumstances play a bigger role in premature death than having a sedentary desk job.

Keep on moving

Lead author Dr Vittal Katikireddi said: “That is not to say moving around at work is not important.

“Recent research has focused on the changing patterns of work in the UK and how having a desk job can raise the risk of an early grave by reducing exercise.

“That of course is true. But we have shown labourers for instance - who are active at work - have high mortality rates.

“There needs to be greater emphasis on helping people lead healthier lives at work.

“It goes beyond advice to encouraging HGV drivers for instance to get out of their cabs regularly and offering them the opportunity to eat healthier foods.

“This could be provided by their companies.”

His researchers also found if occupational death rates in England and Wales applied to Scotland - where mortality is higher - almost 1,000 lives a year would be saved.

Dr Katikireddi said: “Excess deaths in Scotland were concentrated among lower skilled occupations - such as female cleaners.”

He added: “Our results show there were very large differences in death rates by occupation with professional occupations such as doctors and teachers faring far better than factory workers and garment trade workers.”

Unemployment risk

The highest death rates for both sexes overall were among those who were unemployed.

Dr Katikireddi and colleagues at the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at Glasgow University looked at records from 1991 to 2011.

Using census and death records they confidentially compared mortality rates with occupational data in England, Wales and Scotland - the first study of its kind in the UK in 30 years.

Dr Katikireddi said: “Detailed assessments of mortality by occupation are scarce.

“Ongoing changes in the labour market make a reassessment of mortality by occupation timely.

“In particular - trends in the job market - such as the rise of so-called zero-hours contracts - could adversely affect health and health inequalities.

“It cannot be assumed patterns identified in the 1970s - which still underpin our contemporary understanding - continue to apply.”

The results showed doctors and other health professionals have very low death rates while factory workers and cleaners have amongst the highest.

During 4.51 million person-years of follow-up among 20 to 59 year-old working age adults there were over three-fold differences in mortality rates among 63 occupations.

Sick men (and women)

Researchers also compared differences in mortality rates between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

This revealed higher rates of death north of the border were concentrated in the lowest skilled occupations.

Dr Katikireddi said: “We studied trends over a twenty year period where we found that in most occupations mortality rates have fallen.

“However, in some they have remained stagnant and for women in some occupational groups, such as cleaners, mortality rates have even increased.”

The study published in The Lancet Public Health also found men who were health professionals - medical doctors, dentists, psychologists, pharmacists, opticians and vets - had the lowest mortality rates.

Among women, teachers and business professionals had the lowest mortality.

However the highest mortality rates overall occurred in men who reported no occupation.

National differences

Dr Katikireddi said: “Our study has particular relevance to policymakers in Scotland as there has been considerable concern health outcomes in Scotland are poorer than elsewhere in Western Europe.

“Addressing Scotland’s ‘sick man of Europe’ status requires paying particular attention to improving health amongst people working in low skilled jobs and who are unemployed.”

Computer models suggested if mortality rates by occupation in England and Wales applied to Scotland 631 fewer men and 273 fewer women of working age would die in Scotland every year.

Dr Katikireddi said: “Mortality rates differ greatly by occupation. The excess mortality in Scotland is concentrated among low-skilled workers and, although mortality has improved in men and women in most occupational groups, some groups have experienced increased rates.

“Future research investigating the specific causes of death at the detailed occupational level will be valuable, particularly with a view to understanding the health implications of precarious employment and the need to improve working conditions in very specific occupational groups.”

The study was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), The Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO) and Wellcome.

Ten worst jobs for health: deaths per 100,000 person years

1 Elementary construction occupations - 701

2 Elementary process plant occupations - 672

3 Elementary personal services occupations - 650

4 Elementary agricultural occupations - 623

5 Admin occupations - communications 604

6 Elementary cleaning occupations - 592

7 Textiles and garments trades - 569

8 Housekeeping occupations - 567

9 Metal forming, welding and related trades - 563

10 Elementary sales occupations - 556

Ten best jobs for health

1 Health professionals - 225

2 Business and public services professionals - 228

3 Functional managers - 233

4 Finance institution and office managers - 234

5 Corporate managers and directors - 250

6 Teaching professionals - 262

7 Production managers - 265

8 Protection services occupations - 265

9 IT professionals - 267

10 Business and finance associate professionals - 269

An historic building in Melrose is set to be transformed into a restaurant with a 1am weekend drinks licence.

Owners of the ground floor at the rear of the C-listed West End House in the town’s High Street have been granted a new premises licence with plans to open doors next month.

The Scottish Borders Licensing Board heard on Friday that the family-run Orde Cafés Limited, of Kelso, intends to open a 58-seater coffee shop and restaurant at the establishment which lies between the new Co-operative store and the St Dunstan’s car park.

A retail delicatessen, from which wines, spirits and beers will be available, will also be available.

The firm, which specialises in events catering, will now be able to sell alcohol from 11am till midnight on weekdays and Sunday and till 1am on Friday and Saturday. An off-sales licence from 10am till 10pm has also been granted.

Children aged 15 and under will have access when accompanied by an adult to have a meal, snack or light refreshment or when attending a pre-arranged function. Young persons, aged 16 and 17, will have similar access unaccompanied.

The firm, recently shortlisted in this year’s Vow Awards, is employing a new head chef and sous chef from November.

It was established in the late 1970’s by Gill Orde, who found her passion for cooking at her family home in Johannesburg and who was trained at the renowned Le Cordon Bleu cookery school.

She now runs the firm with her two sons Christian Orde, operations director, and Justin Orde managing director.

Justin Orde said he did not want to give further details of the venture.

Scottish Borders’ Council’s bid to create a £4.8million waste transfer station at the site of the current landfill at Easter Langlee continues to hang in the balance, despite SEPA withdrawing an objection this week.

The environmental watchdog had originally, in September, objected to the plans on the grounds that not enough information on foul and surface water had been released.

However, the information required by SEPA has since been relayed by the council, and this objection has been withdrawn.

And, in his latest letter to planning officer Carlos Clarke, SEPA’s Paul Lewis stated that its second objection, regarding odour and stack heights of the waste, could be withdrawn, subject to “further modelling of the stack height assessment and the inclusion of details of retro-fitting abatement measures and a timescale for such work.”

While SEPA seems to be warming to the application, letters of objection continue to be submitted – 19 by Tuesday of this week – most of them pertaining to the C77 road between Galashiels and Lauder being deemed unfit for purpose.

At Melrose Community Council’s meeting last Wednesday, community councillor Tom Douglas, of Glendearg Farm on the C77, asked for the community council to submit an objection.

He said: “The road is extremely dangerous, and while it is not in the jurisdiction of this community council, we have a duty to bring up what we believe is the Achilles heel of the plans.

“It will not just be bin wagons using the road, it will be five-tonne tippers. I think it is an accident waiting to happen.”

Also airing his objections at the meeting was John Birnie, chairman of the Coopersknowe Residents Association, who also made his feelings clear during last month’s meeting of Galashiels Community Council.

In his letter of objection, he states: “I am lodging an objection to the proposed waste transfer station at Easter Langlee landfill site on the basis that no fundamental change is proposed by SBC to the road infrastructure to the planning application refused four months ago.”

He also mentioned his fears over the ability of nearby Lowood Bridge of handling 40-tonne lorries and said the area was more populated, with more families moving into the Melrose Gait housing estate.

Both Melrose and Galashiels community councils have raised concerns over the suitability of the road, with the latter’s vice-chairman Rick Kenney concluding in the group’s consultation reply: “In essence, the view is that the waste transfer station application is flawed, particularly the transport report, and we object to this and also suggest that the council should be looking for another location.”

Finding another place to put the waste transfer station, however, appears to be problematic.

Facing objectors at the Galashiels meeting last month, Martin Joyce, director of assets and infrastructure at SBC, said a team had looked at all other options – including placing the station at Charlesfield – but Easter Langlee remained their best choice.

He said: “The problem we face is that the landfill site will be full at the end of 2018, so we have to find a solution.

“We could open another landfill site, but this wouldn’t be a cheap thing to do.

“The other option is to move all the waste outwith the Borders – also very expensive.”

Delayed discharges of patients from hospital has cost NHS Borders £2.5million in the past year, accounting for 11,565 days of beds being blocked.

A delayed discharge is a hospital inpatient who is clinically ready for discharge from inpatient hospital care and who continues to occupy a hospital bed beyond the ready for discharge date.

This happens for several reasons, mostly because there is nowhere for the patient to go, due to social care issues or delays in assessing care requirements.

Labour MSPs this week blamed the Scottish Government for the failure to tackle the issue, despite Health Secretary Shona Robison’s promise in 2015 to get rid of delayed discharges completely.

South Scotland Labour list MSP Colin Smyth, also his party’s spokesperson for social care, said: “These figures reveal the huge cost to the NHS in the Borders because of the SNP’s failure on delayed discharge.

“The SNP promised to abolish delayed discharge completely. Instead, it has cost £2.5m in the past year in the Borders alone.

“The system is unsustainable. The SNP government cannot continue to slash the budgets of local councils who provide the services that people rely on and not expect it to have a knock-on effect to our health service.”

Fellow South Scotland Labour list MSP Claudia Beamish added: “We would end the cuts to our councils and deliver a national guarantee for care workers. Labour would ensure all care workers are given appropriate training and paid the living wage.”

A spokesperson for NHS Borders said that the health board was working with its partners to ease the problem.

The spokesperson stated: “Patients delayed unnecessarily in hospital is a significant issue for us, our patients and their families, and also for patients awaiting admission for treatment.

“We saw a 44% increase in our occupied bed days in 2016-17 compared to the year before for patients who were ready to leave hospital.

“We are currently working with our partners at Scottish Borders Council and the integration joint board to provide better out-of-hospital care.

“This is in addition to a range of programmes we are supporting in the community to encourage good health and wellbeing to reduce the need to go to hospital in the first place.”

NHS Scotland estimates that it costs £214 a day to keep a patient in hospital who is medically cleared to return home, adding up to £100m a year across Scotland.

A 24-year-old man has been charged with drink driving after crashing his car on the A68 on Saturday.

The incident, which left his maroon coloured Skoda Fabia overturned four miles south of Jedburgh, happened at approximately 5.20am.

The driver was not injured and the car caused no obstruction to the road on which it was travelling southbound.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “A 24-year-old man has been charged with drink driving following a road collision on the A68 on Saturday, October 21.

“A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.”

Staff at Borders General Hospital in Melrose say they are getting on top of the latest norovirus outbreak, but have warned people to stay away if they have symptoms.

Last week, we reported that wards 4, 5, 9, 10 and the medical assessment unit at the Melrose hospital were all affected.

While there are new cases in Kelso and Hawick community hospitals, it is believed that the outbreak is slowing.

Claire Pearce, director of nursing, midwifery and acute service, said: “There are still confirmed cases of norovirus in wards at Borders General Hospital, Kelso and Hawick Community Hospitals, however the situation is improving.

“Please remember, the advice is always to stay away from any hospital ward if you or anyone in your family has experienced symptoms of diarrhoea and/or vomiting in the past 48 hours.

“Thank you for your co-operation”.

For updates, visit www.nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk.

Four ambulance technicians from the Borders were this week rewarded by the First Minister for their efforts in saving a newborn baby.

The heroic quartet were presented with the award by Nicola Sturgeon at the Brave@Heart Awards, held at a special event at Edinburgh Castle, which hailed the bravery and heroism of 47 individuals from the emergency and voluntary sectors.

On the day in question, Robert Anderson and Susan Angus were dispatched to a patient presenting a breech birth at her home.

The crew was presented with a footling breech, with the baby’s head stuck and the cord stuck tight around the baby’s neck.

Robert tried some positional attempts to ease the baby out, while his colleague called the obstetrics ward at the local hospital for advice.

It became clear that the baby’s survival rested on the advice from the consultant to pull the baby out.

Robert held the baby’s neck and body and pulled her free.

The wee girl wasn’t breathing when she was delivered and the crew urgently moved to resuscitation mode.

By then, a back-up crew arrived and Mark Neill and Kevin Douglass then assisted with resuscitation and care of the mother.

With Susan driving and Robert and Mark continuing to resuscitate the baby, she began to have a pulse and as they approached hospital she made attempts to breathe.

Shortly after the ambulance left the house the consultant and midwife arrived and helped Kevin with the care of the mum.

The entire incident lasted 26 minutes, and the mother and baby made a full recovery.

The First Minister praised the award winners in her speech.

Mrs Sturgeon said: “Each year I am honoured and humbled to be able to present these awards to individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary bravery.

“This is our chance to say a heartfelt thank you to those who, every day risk their lives in their professional roles and to members of the public who have stepped in to help a fellow citizen in danger or distress.

“Everyone who has been nominated for an award is a credit to Scotland and an inspiration to us all.”

Six of the winners also received the St Andrew’s Award for exceptional acts of bravery.

Judging panel chairperson, Lindsay Burley, said: “In my final year as chair of the judging panel I am amazed by the heroism demonstrated by all those nominated for an award.

“We must never forget how privileged we are to have such dedicated emergency professionals and members of the public, willing to assist even when their own lives are in danger. They are an inspiration to us all and I would like to offer my congratulations to all the winners.”.

A teenager has been charged following a suspicious fire at Balmoral Primary School in Galashiles on Saturday, October 21.

The 14-year-old male will now be reported to the Children’s Reporter. Police would like to thank the public for their assistance during this appeal.

A fire crew was called to the school in the town’s Balmoral Avenue at around 9pm on Saturday evening.

Firefighters found rubber matting from the playground had been dragged up to the building and set on fire.

A spokesperson for Scottish Borders Council said: “Thanks to the prompt action by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the fire at Balmoral was extinguished before any damage could be done.”

An appeal has been launched for help to restore a 19th century church in the village of Morebattle.

St Aidan’s Church, located on the 62-mile Saint Cuthbert’s Pilgrimage Trail which links Melrose and Northumberland’s Holy Island, has been closed for 55 years, and has been used as a lorry depot since.

Richard Pedersen, 74, and his 56-year-old reverend wife Margaret now hope raise £70,000 to turn it back into a worshipping chapel complete with a cafe and a craft centre for community use.

The couple met in Australia where Danish-born Richard lived for 40 years and to where Margaret emigrated after growing up at the manse of St Aidan’s Church.

Back in 2009, an eight-week holiday led Richard, a retired pastor of Australia’s Uniting Church, to fall in love with the Borders countryside. One year later, they used their savings to buy the former church for £165,000, despite a national wave of church closures at the time.

The building was constructed in 1866 for the congregation of the United Sessional Church of Scotland but closed after a merger with the nearby Morebattle Parish Church.

The father of two has been doing most of the work himself since 2012 when builders estimated a cost of £500,000 to complete the job.

Now the couple are seeking any willing tradesmen to come forward and offer help to complete the project.

Despite being established as a community interest company there are limited funding opportunities available due to the church being privately owned.

Rev Margaret Pedersen, who was ordained in the Scottish Episcopal Church in September, told the Southern: “Our heart’s desire is to restore this beautiful old church building to its former glory and purpose.

“Thomas Pilkington built this church for the community to use and we intend for it to be returned to the community in a way that will benefit as many people as possible.

“St Cuthbert was a Celtic saint whose love for the locals and the travellers meant that he became guest-master at Ripon Priory. In his memory we hope to serve both the local community and those who are visiting the area.

“We are situated right on the St Cuthbert’s Way Walk which gives us a unique opportunity to offer hospitality to the walkers, and to be available to them with prayer and encouragement for their journey.”

The couple’s appeal has been backed by Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP John Lamont.

He told the Southern: “I was delighted to pay a visit to St Aidan’s in Morebattle and I was amazed with the work which Richard and Margaret have carried out.

“Once it’s fully restored, this will be a fantastic facility which has the potential to bring in lots of visitors and prove popular with walkers on the St Cuthbert’s Way.

“However, in order to get it up and running, Richard and Margaret need some practical help. It would be great for any local tradespeople who want to see St Aidan’s restored to get involved.”

To make a donation or get in touch visit www.gofundme.com/StCuthbert-s-Coffee-Stop