A heartless conman has stolen a five-figure sum from an elderly man in Kelso, after telling him he was there to check the security on his computer.

Borders police are appealing for information and have issued a warning to the public after the 85-year-old man let the corrupt crook into his home in the Shedden Park Road area on Monday, October 30.

After being given access to the house and a laptop within, a five-figure sum was removed from the victim’s internet banking accounts.

Inquiries are ongoing to identify the suspect and communities are reminded never to let any unsolicited callers into their homes or provide them with access to any of your personal details or information.

Inspector John Scott said: “The callous individual responsible for this scam has clearly targeted an elderly man and has stolen a signficant sum of cash from the victim’s internet banking accounts.

“We are pursuing a number of local lines of inquiry to trace this male and anyone with information is asked to come forward.

“The public are advised never to let those they do not know and trust gain entry to their homes, and do not provide anyone with your personal information that allows them to access your bank accounts.

“If you would like any advice on crime prevention then you can either visit www.scotland.police.uk or call 101 to speak to a local officer.”

Those with information can contact Kelso Police Station via 101 and quote incident number 1084 of October 30. Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A Borders peer at the heart of an expenses row has said he is to retire from the House of Lords in 2018.

Lord Sanderson of Bowden hit the headlines this week when he was slammed by the Electoral Reform Society for claiming £12,279 expenses in the past parliamentary year – despite not speaking in any debate, submitting a written question or sitting on a committee.

The 84-year-old did vote on 25 occasions – each time voting “not content” on the various bills put before the house.

He defended his expenses over the previous year, citing the fact that he had done a lot of voluntary work for the Conservative Party over the years, saying: “I think you should realise that some people at their own expense give their talents for free and you would do well to study what is involved over the whole period of service before drawing conclusions.”

He added that he was thinking about retiring, and told us yesterday evening that was, indeed the case, following the release this week of a report set up in December last year by the Speaker of the Lords, Norman Fowler, which recommended that the house be reduced by a quarter, with new peers limited to 15-year terms, “in order to maintain confidence in the chamber”.

In his email, Lord Sanderson told The Southern: “As you know the House of Lords Reform paper has now been published.

“I was there to hear about it and I have made clear to my party that I wish to retire in 2018 on a date of their choosing, thus being in the first batch under the new system of withdrawal.

“This is exactly what I wanted to do, but wanted to be sure that the policy had all party support.

“Now you will realise why I could not confirm what my intentions were until publication of what I had hoped was coming out.

“I hope you got the gist of the story that I can tell you about the enormous amount of unseen work on behalf of the party of my choice, which I have consistently carried through.”

Our followers on Facebook, however, had more difficulty equating voluntary work for the Conservative party with claiming expenses without participating in debates.

Marco McGinty said: “I used to do a lot of voluntary work. Does that now mean that the UK government will grant me a tax-free £10k sum on an annual basis?”

And Jacki Lindsay wrote: “What he may have done voluntarily in the past has no bearing whatsoever.”

A man has been remanded in custody after admitting assaulting his teenage sister during a disturbance at their Galashiels home, then getting involved in a violent confrontation with police officers.

Michael Brown, 23, appeared from custody at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to plead guilty to three offences committed last Thursday and Friday.

He admitted threatening or abusive behaviour by shouting and swearing, making abusive and offensive comments and threatening his sister with violence before pushing her onto a couch and twisting her arm and scratching it.

Brown also admitted struggling violently with police constables at the Borders General Hospital in Melrose.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser explained that Brown had only just been recently released from prison and had been staying with his parents at their house in Larch Grove.

His younger sister found him asleep in her bed as she was just about to go out to work as a waitress, but Brown lost his temper after she woke him up.

He insisted on her making him a cup of tea and called her a slag and an idiot.

Mr Fraser said: “She went for a bath to get ready for work and then he started banging on the door saying he wanted a bath.

“The sister phoned her mother so she could hear what the accused was shouting.

“He wanted into the living room and he said he would knock her out with one punch and threatened to batter her.

“He was pulling her hair and then twisted and scratched her arm and then damaged some glass ornaments.

“The mother was still listening in the background and could hear her saying to call the police and her father.

“The girl could be heard saying ‘stop battering me’ and ‘stop hitting me’.

“The police were called to the scene, and the front door was locked. The police got in, and by then, the accused was on the balcony trying to get out.

“He was apprehended and still shouting and swearing, and he was shouting at the sister ‘look at what you have f***ing done’.”

Brown was taken to Hawick police station, then started complaining that he was suffering from chest pains.

The fiscal said he was taken by ambulance from there to hospital and said he would do anything not to get locked up in the cells.

He added that it was 1am by then, the incident having started at 2pm the previous day.

Brown was deemed fit for release but started to “kick off” when police officers tried to put him into the back of the police van, said the fiscal.

During that struggle, he tried to grab the batons of the officers and was shouting and swearing at them. Other officers attended, and eventually he was forced into the van.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick claimed the incident had started when Brown’s sister burst into her room and started shouting at him.

He added: “The assault came about because she had a mobile phone he was trying to retrieve.”

Brown had no bail address to offer, so he was remanded in custody until Monday, November 20, for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

A Peebles woman has smashed her crowdfunding target of more than £2,700 to help buy an electric wheelchair.

Phoebe Boag, 37, told the Southern that she is now mainly housebound as a result of myalgic encephalomyelitis, known as ME for short, a condition she was diagnosed with in 2014.

The former charity worker set up a JustGiving page just two weeks ago and having already reached her initial target, she now hopes to reach a second target of £3,075 to cover the website’s fees.

She says her symptoms include dizziness, light-headedness and muscle fatigue,leaving her unable to stand up for over a minute.

When she was diagnosed, Phoebe was living in Leith, Edinburgh, and was working for a homeless charity in a job that she loved.

“I had also just been offered the opportunity of a lifetime. I was going to be living and working at the Penguin Post Office in Antarctica for four months,” she said.

“Unfortunately, just a few months before I was due to leave, I became unwell with a set of mysterious symptoms and I had to pull out of Antarctica. I was eventually signed off work in December 2014. I was diagnosed with ME early in 2015 and moved back to my home town, Peebles, so I would be closer to my mum, who does a lot to care for me.

“I am mainly housebound, but I am hoping that having a wheelchair will allow me to get out and about a bit more often.”

Borderers are being urged to have their say on the future of Scottish Government-funded free transport.

Age Scotland is calling on people of all ages to take part in the consultation before it ends on Friday, November 17.

The charity will be hosting a presentation about the concessionary transport scheme at a meeting at Melrose Corn Exchange next Thursday, November 9.

The Scottish Government is holding a nationwide consultation about the future of the scheme, including seeking views on a proposal to raise the eligibility age to 65, in line with the women’s state pension age, to save money.

Currently, everyone is entitled to a free bus pass when they reach 60, and 1.3 million holders of such passes make 145 million journeys a year.

Those aged 60 to 65 would not lose any passes they hold at the moment if the age of eligibility is raised, however.

Keith Robson, Age Scotland’s charity director, said: “We know how much older people value and use the concessionary scheme, and it can be a real lifeline for many of them.

“We’d encourage everyone to make sure their voices are heard.”

Advice on financial matters such as pensions and budgeting, as well as updates from Peebles and District Old Folks’ Welfare and Hawick Men’s Shed, will also be on offer.

Selkirkshire councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol, Scottish Borders Council’s older people’s champion, will give a closing address.

For details of the meeting, starting at 10am, with the transport presentation at 1.30pm, email members@agescotland.org.uk or call 0333 323 2400.

To take part in the consultation, go to consult.scotland.gov.uk or call 0131 244 0781.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a suspicious fire in Galashiels.

The incident happened at around 6.30pm on Saturday, November 4, at the Pavilion Cinema, Market Street.

A patron within the venue reported a smell of burning to staff and it was found that a fire exit door had been set alight.

The small fire was quickly extinguished and those within did not need to be evacuated.

However, around £1,000 in damage was caused to the door.

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

Inspector Mike Bennett said: “Thanks to the vigilance of the customer, and the quick actions of the staff, the fire was discovered and extinguished before it could grow and spread.

“Nevertheless, this reckless act of stupidity had the very real potential to become a far more serious incident and we are keen to identify the culprits as soon as possible.

“If you saw any suspicious activity around the cinema on Saturday evening or have any other information that can assist with this investigation then please contact police immediately.”

Those with information can contact Galashiels Police Station via 101 and quote incident number 3484 of the 4th November.

Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made through the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Members of the public helped police arrest three men in West Linton on Saturday, who have been charged following the theft of cigarettes from a lorry.

Officers received a call at around 8.15am on Saturday, November 4, after a group were seen to be removing cigarettes from a delivery vehicle at the Co-Op store in Main Street.

Police then received a report of a disturbance in Broomlee Crescent, where members of the public had stopped a male acting suspiciously within a car.

To provide a quick response to these incidents, response officers from Peebles, Galashiels and Midlothian and a dog handler from Edinburgh quickly attended to support the investigation and the male in Broomlee Crescent was detained.

A robust search was then carried out, resulting in a further male being detained near to the Gordon Arms pub on Dolphinton Road, before a third male was found hiding within a shed in a nearby field.

The men aged 19, 22 and 28 were all subsequently charged in connection with the theft and will appear at Selkirk Sheriff Court at a later date. The 22-year-old was also charged with possession of drugs.

Inspector Mike Bennett said: “Thanks to the vital assistance of the public and the support and speedy response of officers, three arrests were made in relation to this incident.

“Whenever crime occurs within the Scottish Borders, we will utilise all appropriate resources at our disposal to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”

He might not be able to part the Red Sea in the manner of Moses or hold back the tide as the 11th century English, Norwegian and Danish king Cnut is credited with having tried, but farmer Jim Sinclair has got a track record of keeping flooding at bay in his corner of the Borders.

And that success at keeping the Gala Water in check has now won the 67-year-old, a tenant farmer near Heriot, a prize.

Jim has been named as this year’s 2017 Tweed Forum river champion in recognition of his efforts to integrate farming, forestry and conservation and for his enthusiasm for land and water management education.

Together with son Graeme, 47, Jim manages a 2,000-strong flock of sheep and 70 suckler cows at Crookston Farm on the Armet Water, a tributary of the Gala Water.

Nearby Stow and Galashiels have been hit by floods in recent years, but Jim has been doing his bit to avert that by using natural flood management techniques to slow the flow of surface water from the catchment above them to cut the risk of flooding downstream after heavy rainfall.

With the blessing of landowner Lord John Borthwick, Jim has planted more than 52 hectares of native woodland on the flood plain and hill-slopes of the Gala Water to reduce water run-off rates.

Four ponds have been created and 2,200m of fencing put up at the 815-hectare farm, with the resulting mix of wetlands and woodlands also providing an ideal habitat for wildlife species including otter, brown trout, lamprey, reed bunting and the great crested newt.

That work also safeguards streams vital for maintaining the region’s salmon population, a resource worth £24m a year to the Borders economy and supporting more than 500 jobs.

Jim is an enthusiastic ambassador for taking an integrated approach to managing the river catchment, and Crookston Farm has become a demonstration site welcoming visits from fellow farmers, students and land and water managers from as far away as Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.

Jim, a tenant at Crookston Farm since 2000, said; “I’m surprised and delighted to be receiving this award.

“As a farming business, we’re always looking at ways to do things better, and we know that the work we’ve undertaken has benefited both our livestock management and the farm environment, as well as helping to reduce potentially damaging flood waters further downstream.

“We recognise that this is just one small element in the management of the river catchment, but we’re proud of the work we’ve done and hope it encourages others to think about how they can better manage the land and waterways in and around the Tweed for current and future generations.”

After presenting Jim with a glass trophy made by Edinburgh artist Jane Raven, Tweed Forum chairman James Hepburne Scott said; “Jim has made a truly outstanding contribution to flood prevention and biodiversity initiatives, and his commitment to helping to educate others about this work has also been exemplary.”

“The protection and conservation of the Tweed and the area surrounding it relies on the dedication and foresight of a host of people and organisations, and we’d like to thank Jim and others like him who work so hard for all our benefit.”

This is the second year the river champion award has been handed out, last year’s inaugural winner being Frank Turnbull, of Coldstream.

Funding for work carried out at Crookston Farm was provided by the Scottish Rural Development Programme and wind farm mitigation money through Scottish Borders Council.

A cancer charity is tickled pink, thanks to Lochcarron of Scotland bringing a local woman’s bright idea to life.

Elaine Monro, a member of the committee of the Selkirk branch of Cancer Research UK came up with the idea of creating a tartan.

The Lindean resident said: “I was sitting in the coffee shop here at Lochcarron one day, surrounded by all this tartan, and thought ‘why on earth does Cancer Research UK not have its own tartan?’

“I thought it would be a good fundraiser, so I approached the charity and asked them for permission to use the corporate colours, which they gave. I then came to Lochcarron and they were very enthusiastic about it, and the result is this beautiful scarf.”

The factory’s design team came up with six different tartans, and the local branch of the charity decided on the one shown.

Keith Russell, who works with sales at Lochcarron, said: “I met Elaine over a cup of coffee here just under a year ago, and we both decided this would be an interesting project.

“The design concept came from picking the corporate colours of the charity, and it is quite stunning. I love it, and there is a large number of people in the factory who have said they love it too.”

The tartan has been made into 300 scarves initially. And the offcuts have been made into pendants, earrings and clothes-peg fairies.

A trio of celebrities have been signed up as ambassadors for the tartan.

Melrose rugby player Mark Robertson, who won a silver medal with the Great Britain sevens side at the Rio Olympics; Greenlaw wheelchair racer Sammi Kinghorn, who was named in September as “Scottish Sportsperson of the Year; and famous panto villain and radio personality Grant Stott have all given their thumbs up to the design.

Also at the launch on Friday evening were the region’s political representatives John Lamont MP, and MSPs Rachael Hamilton and Michelle Ballantyne.

The scarves – which cost £22.50 – and other items can be purchased from Liberty Star Trading in Selkirk’s Market Place, or by emailing Elaine at elaine.monro@btinternet.com

The design has been registered as a tartan on the Scottish register.

Almost 180 tractors of all shapes, sizes and ages hit the road yesterday, November 5, in aid of Borders rugby union legend Doddie Weir’s motor neurone disease research charity.

The machines, ranging in vintage from the 1940s to the present day, gathered at Thirlestane Castle, near Lauder, before heading out for a three-hour tour of Lauderdale.

Crowds lined the streets of Lauder and gathered along the route to watch the 178 tractors taking part go past.

Each entrant had donated a minimum of £50 to take part in the parade, organised by Ross Montague, of Blackburn, Lauder, in aid of the My Name’5 Doddie foundation.

Further funds were raised by the auction of a vintage John Deere Model A tractor donated by a local farmer. It went for £8,000.

Other lots included a holiday in Skye and a pedal tractor.

Ross said: “When I originally had the idea of getting a few tractors together to raise funds for MND research, I never imagined that it would get to the scale of what we saw at Thirlestane Castle and in Lauder on Sunday.

“The vintage tractors were great to see and a credit to their owners. When combined with the big modern machines, row after row of them at the castle and then heading as a parade through Lauder, it was absolutely amazing to see.

“Huge thanks to the drivers, the local tractor dealers and the farmers and contractors and tractor enthusiasts who took part and made the parade such a fantastic spectacle.

“There were hundreds of people out watching in Lauder. Without exaggerating, the atmosphere in the centre of town felt like being at a rock concert.

“There are so many people I must thank for helping to make this happen – Edward and Sarah Maitland-Carew for allowing us to use their fantastic venue of Thirlestane Castle, all of the stewards who helped arrange the parade, our sponsor NFU Mutual and all of the raffle and auction lot donors, the Fullerton family and Dining with Doreen for keeping everyone fed and watered and my wife Moira for putting so much work into this.

“Thank you so much to everyone who put their hand in their pocket and donated to this extremely worthwhile cause. We are not ready to announce the total raised as yet as more has been pledged, but it looks like the My Name’5 Doddie foundation will be receiving a very substantial cheque.”

Father-of-three Weir, 47, of Stow, revealed he had MND in June, and since then the former Melrose and Newcastle Falcons lock, capped 61 times for Scotland between 1990 and 2000, has pledged to raise money for others affected by the disease.

Controversial plans for a waste transfer station to replace the landfill site at Galashiels next year have been given the go-ahead by councillors.

Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee rejected proposals for the £4.8m facility at Easter Langlee by five votes to two in April on road safety grounds.

However, on Monday a new incarnation of the committee followed the advice of planning officers and approved a revised application.

The facility, intended to prepare more than 40,000 tonnes of household waste a year for transfer outwith the region, will be brought into use after the closure of the landfill site when it reaches capacity in 2018.

This time around, the application included extra improvements to the C77 road leading to it as the road’s suitability was one of the main issues raised by objectors.

However, the plans remain unpopular with nearby residents, many of whom attended this week’s meeting.

Objector Norman Young told the committee: “Council officers are aware of the dangers of the road. They state these in the reports, yet ignore them.

“The second application is no different to the first that was turned down.

“We are all for a recycling centre if done in the right place.”

The road improvement measures promised consist of increased street lighting along part of the route, minor widening in places, improved and enhanced signage, and a modified junction arrangement where the site access road meets the C77.

Derek Inglis, the council’s lead roads planning officer said: “Clearly there are issues on the C77. There is no getting away from that.

“Having said that, it is a 30mph road, and what I have got to be very mindful of is that obviously there are landfill operations going on at the site just now.

“We are looking at what the difference could be with regards to the waste transfer site in relation to what is going on just now.”

The site will see 88 lorry movements along the road a day, up from 82 at present, as lorries currently bringing waste from transfer centres in Hawick and Peebles will no longer travel to Easter Langlee.

Galashiels councillor Sandy Aitchison visited the site on Monday to see for himself how busy the road was on an average morning, and he said: “I wanted myself to see what the statistics said.

“They seem reasonably in line with the figures given in the paper. These are the statistics collected myself to satisfy my own troubled conscience.

“I am now reasonably clear in my own mind on that but am prepared to look to and listen to my fellow councillors.

“I can assure you there are 1,000 places I would rather be this morning than sitting with such a controversial application before me, but I can now say I am happy to support the proposal.”

However, fellow ward councillor Andy Anderson, failed to be swayed and raised an amendment to go against the recommendations based on the grounds of the C77’s suitability.

He said: “I don’t really see what material changes we have from what was being proposed before.

“I was hoping to be convinced by the arguments in relation to improvements on the C77 but I don’t really see them so far, to be honest.”

Speaking after his amendment failed to garner a seconder, he added: “I am a bit disappointed. I was the one lone objector.

“I did feel with some of my objections that some of the other councillors did have the same feelings, but they did seem to have had their fears allayed by the officers.”

Construction could begin this month and be completed by August next year.

Coopersknowe Residents’ Association chairman John Birnie added: “There is no mention of health and safety in regards of the council workers who have to walk and cycle to work and currently cut through the estate rather than use that road.

“It’s so unsafe that the school bus stop had to be withdrawn from Coopersknowe Crescent.”

Mr Inglis also told councillors: “There has been a lot of mention of accidents on the road. What the council looks at in terms of road safety is to look at accidents where there has been injury, but we are quite aware that there are other accidents too.

“There have been only four accidents which have caused injury on the road in the last 13 years, with three of those taking place before the 30mph speed limit was introduced in late 2008.

“There is a degree of worthwhile road improvements proposed.”

“The widening being proposed is very minor.”

The One Show’s charity rickshaw challenge returns to the region next week, and Borderers are being urged to show their support.

This year’s team will pedal 500 miles to help raise money for BBC Children in Need, setting off from London today, November 9, and heading north to Glasgow.

The rickshaw is being ridden by six young riders all supported by BBC Children in Need-funded projects.

One Show presenter Matt Baker will cycle alongside the team throughout the challenge, and co-presenter Alex Jones will chart their progress live from the studio during screenings of the BBC One magazine show.

To date, the challenge, now in its seventh year, has raised more than £16m.

The team will travel up from Penrith in Cumbria to Hawick, via Newcastleton, along the A7 Carlisle-Edinburgh road next Wednesday, November 15.

After an overnight stop in Hawick, the rickshaw riders will head north via Ashkirk, Selkirk, Stow and Heriot, and they are due to arrive in Glasgow on Friday, November 17, in time for this year’s BBC Children in Need appeal show.

This will be the challenge’s first stop in Hawick since its inaugural journey in 2011, and it has only been back to the Borders once since, setting off from Jedburgh last year en route for London.

This year’s six-strong team includes two Scots – Greg Francis, 18, of Dunfermline, and Shona Beveridge, 17, of Inverness.

Former Blue Peter presenter Baker, 39, said: “I really look forward to this time of year, when I get to jump on my bike and hit the road with Team Rickshaw to raise money for BBC Children in Need, a cause that’s near and dear to my heart. It’s the highlight of my year.

“We have an epic 500-mile cycle ahead, and I just know that our six young riders have the determination and grit to make it through this year’s rickshaw challenge. They really are an incredible team.

“The rest is down to you, the Great British public. We hope that you’ll continue to give your support, so follow our journey, show your support for this inspiring group, and if you see us on the road, honk or wave hello.”

Jones, 40, added: “I hope you’ll join me and follow every moment of this year’s rickshaw challenge as this inspirational team of young riders pulls out all the stops to raise money for BBC Children in Need.

“It’s thanks to your support over the last six years that the challenge has made such a difference to young lives, helping even our own Team Rickshaw members when they’ve needed it the most.

“I urge you to rally behind the team and help make year seven the most successful one yet.”

Simon Antrobus, BBC Children in Need’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to see the rickshaw challenge return.

“This really is a very special and important fundraiser for the charity because it not only sheds light on the real life challenges many children and young people face, but it also shows that, despite these challenges, with the right support they can achieve great things and inspire others along the way.

“This year’s rickshaw team is truly inspiring, and I know everyone will give as generously as before to help other young people just like them.”

Viewers of the One Show will be able to follow Team Rickshaw’s progress daily, and a real-time update on the youngsters’ progress is available at pudsey.viewranger.com

To support the challenge, you can donate either £5, £10 or £20 by text. To donate £5, text the word TEAM to 70405. To donate £10, text TEAM to 70410. To donate £20, text the word TEAM to 70420. Texts will cost your donation, plus your standard network message charge.

For full terms and conditions, go to bbc.co.uk/pudsey

Borderers are being urged to have their say on taxi fares as part of a public consultation on the issue.

As the licensing authority, Scottish Borders Council is required to set scales for fares and other charges and review them every 18 months.

After considering feedback by taxi operators, councillors on the executive committee agreed last month that no increase in the fares should be introduced.

Of the seven operators who responded directly to the consultations, three were in favour of the proposal that taxi fares remain unchanged for 2017/8 and four were not in favour– and o ne of the four who were not in favour held signed mandates to represent the views of 22 taxi operators.

He has submitted a proposal which had asked for a fare increase of 5% – which he said would cover “various cost surges to the trade over the last 18 months” and “our understanding of probable increase in costs over the next fare review period”.

With the 5% rise, for instance a journey carrying 1-4 passengers over six miles would rise from £12,66 to £13.29. The same journey in unsocial hours would rise from £15.82 to £16.61.

The operator added: “We understand that the taxi trade is an essential part of the Scottish Borders Transport Framework and should be accessible by all.

“We believe it is imperative that our services stay available to all able bodies and disabled in the community and continue to provide a door-to-door service for those disabled members of the community who are not able to use other forms of public transport.

“We are aware that an increase of fares may impact negatively on certain groups ... we, as a co-operative, would be willing to discuss with any working groups, community transport organisations and the local authority to facilitate a common approach to alleviate any increases that may affect those who experience a negative effect.”

THe operator gave the example of the Taxicard, used by East Lothian, West Lothian and City of Edinburgh councils.

The proposed fare scales are available to view and comment on at www.scotborders.gov.uk/taxifaresreview until November 24. Representation can also be made in writing to Mr B Frater, Service Director Regulatory Services, Scottish Borders Council, Newtown St Boswells, Melrose, TD6 0SA.

The council will consider all consultation responses before the new fares are set.

Councillor Gordon Edgar, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, said: “Taxis play an important role in Borders society and it is right that members of the public can have their say on the proposed new fares.

“I would encourage them to visit the council website to submit their opinions before the November 24 deadline.”

Hawick residents are being asked to get behind the town’s flood protection scheme for the sake of those who have had their home devastated by the power of the Teviot.

Councillors last week gave preliminary approval to the scheme which will defend over 900 properties from a one in 75 year flood event.

While the £44m scheme needs to pass two more stages, the decision means the project team now has the authority to start the detailed design stage and set-up new working groups.

It is intended to draw on local knowledge and use the collaborative working model that was so successful for the Selkirk Flood Protection Scheme to move forward.

There are still 36 open objections to the scheme, citing concerns over themes such as the visual impact of the scheme; the the project failing to consider other options fully; and that it would be detrimental to business and tourism, amongst others.

However, all objections which are still open come from people not in the area within the one-in-75-year flood event, which means the council was free to make the preliminary decision to proceed with the project without referring to Holyrood for a pulic local inquiry.

Councillor Stuart Marshall, who is chair of the Hawick Volunteer Flood Group, told The Southern: “Im delighted that SBC has produced the latest progress report and is now actually making a preliminary decision to confirm the scheme for our town.

“A scheme of this magnitude will always rise in cost and this surely has to be another good reason to crack on and get it delivered.

“This vast majority of townsfolk are supporting this scheme and once delivered it will protect around 1000 homes and commercial properties .

“I personally don’t have any issues regarding visual impact and anyone who has , should really think first about the poor people in our town who have on several occasions had the entire contents of their homes ruined by floodwater.

“I know these flood victims can’t wait for the time to come when they can go to their beds and sleep easy without the fear of the River Teviot gushing through their homes.”

At the council meeting last Thursday, Councillor David Paterson said: “Why would anyone object to such a scheme?

“I witnessed many scenes of devastation during the floods and some poor people were flooded more than once. I think it is a good scheme.”

Conor Price, senior project manager for the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme, and who also led the award-winning group who provided a similar scheme in Selkirk, told us: “The preliminary decision is another major step forward for this project. The team will now commence the establishment of the Community Vision Working Group and we invite anyone interested in working with the project to get involved.

“The Community Vision Working Group will aim to link the people and businesses of Hawick into the development of the design of the flood scheme during the detailed design stage.”

It has emerged that the cost of the scheme has risen from £40.7m to £44.3, due mainly to the extra cost of the flood protection work needed in Commercial Road.

If you want to get involved in the working groups, email hawickfloodps@scotborders.gov.uk

Selkirk’s Flodden 500 Association held a highly-successful fundraising event in the pop-up shop at One Tower Street on Saturday morning.

The monies raised will go towards the upkeep of the Flodden Memorial Garden in the grounds of the Victoria Hall.

The garden was opened in 2013 during the 500th anniversary commemorations and the association is solely responsible for its maintenance.

Secretary Sheila Lockie said: “We are very grateful to all who donated items for the raffle, cake and candy and tombola, and to everyone who supported the event on the day.

“It was very successful, as we raised more than £450, which will go towards replacing plants in the memorial garden, as well as the two tubs at the end of Chapel Street, which we have taken over responsibility of.”

Sheila said that next year, the group will be diversifying a little, and are looking into holding a fashion show fundraiser.

A gang of youths are suspected to have been responsible for an arson attack at a Kelso tourist attraction at the weekend.

Several wooden horse jumps were set alight at Floors Castle at around 4pm on Saturday, November 4.

No one was injured by the blaze, being treated by police as suspicious, but the jumps are said to have been left badly damaged.

Anyone with information on the identity of the culprits is asked to come forward, but a group of youths seen running away from the castle shortly after the fire was lit are being treated as the likeliest suspects for now.

Constable John Rettie, of Kelso police station, said: “This has been a needless act of destruction that has severely damaged the horse jumps at Floors Castle.

“As part of this investigation, we are keen to trace a group of youths who were seen running from the area around the time of the incident, and anyone who can help trace these individuals should contact police immediately.

“In addition, anyone with any further information relevant to this inquiry is also asked to get in touch.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kelso police via 101, quoting incident number 2,734 of November 4.

Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A bid to build a 12-turbine wind farm near Bonchester Bridge was rejected by councillors this week.

Leeds-based EnergieKontor’s application to create the Pines Burn wind farm on the Harwood Estate, unveiled last year, was recommended by Scottish Borders Council officers for approval at Monday’s planning and building standards committee meeting.

However, the plans were thrown out, mainly because of their feared adverse effect on the landscape, properties and historic sites.

The controversial development, sparking 60 letters of objection and 52 in support, would have included a dozen turbines, seven of them 149.9m tall and the other five 20m shorter,

Philip Kerr, speaking on behalf of Hobkirk, Denholm, Hawick, Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Water, Newcastleton and Southdean community councils, told the committee of their unanimous opposition to the plans.

He argued that the application’s landscape consultation is non-compliant with current guidelines, having been assessed against outdated supplementary guidance.

“At the heart of the issue is the unfortunate failure to follow the advice of the local planning reporter and the local development plan itself by producing supplementary guidance on renewable energy by May 2017,” he said.

“We just don’t have it, and we are still waiting.

“Communities like ours have been left vulnerable to developer opportunism by an absence of detailed policy guidance, leaving us unprotected on a range of issues at a time when there are so many massive wind applications appearing.

“Today, you are also being asked to determine an application based on outdated policies and using an out-of-date version of the guidance.”

He added: “All six community councils stand firm in our resolve to withstand unacceptable impacts on our community members.

“There is no evidence that this site is the optimal location within the myriad of applications we face.”

Committee members unanimously opposed the plans, with Hawick and Denholm councillor Clair Ramage seconding Galashiels councillor Sandy Aitchison’s motion by saying: “I just feel it’s detrimental to our landscape.

“It’s far too high, it impacts on Shankend Viaduct and a lot of our historic sites.

“When you see all of them in a row, the proposed turbines and the ones scoped it’s very concerning, I think.

“It’s such an area of beauty that we are going to spoil.”

Defending the plans, project manager Duncan Taylor told the committee: “This unique application is the only one in your area that has ever had the support of your planning service.

“If approved, we will build Pines Burn as a completely subsidy-free wind farm, something we would be immensely proud of.”

Speaking after the rejection, he added: “We are understandably disappointed by the decision.

“We are now considering our options.”

A nurse working in the Special Care Baby Unit at the Borders General Hospital has been given an 18-month conditions of practice order after making four breaches of infection control over three days during the Christmas period of 2015.

Cheryl Johnstone admitted failing to change gloves or wash her hands between changng a baby’s nappy and beginning a tube feed, placing clean sheets on a soiled bed, and dropping equipment on the floor and returning it to the shelf without cleaning it. On each occasion she was being directly supervised and no actual harm was caused.

A spokesperson for the Nursing and Midwifery Council, who imposed the order, said: “The Registrant [Ms Johnstone] admits that her conduct fell seriously short of the standards of behaviour expected of Registered Nurses. The Registrant further accepts that fellow practitioners would regard her actions as deplorable.”

In a statement to the council, Ms Johnstone said: “I am now a mother and I know how I would feel if I saw a nurse making the mistakes I did with my precious baby”.

Ms Johnstone, who now works as a services manager, will need to serve the conditions of practice order – which includes direct supervision, training on infection control and performance meetings – if she returns to nursing.

The ambulance station at the Borders General Hospital in Melrose scooped two awards at the Scottish Health Awards, held last Thursday (November 2) at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh.

The entire team at the station – which comprises of 15 paramedics, two paramedic team leaders, six technicians, six specialist paramedics, eight ambulance care assistants, one leading ambulance care assistant and one cleaner, won the top team award.

This award recognises a group of health professionals who work effectively together to deliver the highest possible level of care for people in Scotland.

And the work of the specialist paramedic team was recognised by the granting of the integrated care for older people award, which is given to an individual, group or team who provide vital co-ordinated healthcare and support to enable older people to live safely at home and be as independent as possible.

They were nominated due to the motivation and enthusiasm they have shown in their work on a local frail elderly project, and their commitment to co-producing improved ambulance care in the Borders.

Lewis Campbell, Scottish Ambulance Service east regional director, said: “It is fantastic to see both the specialist paramedic team from Melrose and Melrose station itself being recognised for the work they do to keep people safe and deliver a high level of patient-centred care throughout the Scottish Borders.”

And Pauline Howie, Scottish Ambulance Service chief executive said: “I am delighted to see a broad cross-section of the service recognised at the Scottish Health Awards this year.

“The delivery of high-quality clinical care by our staff and volunteers is right at the heart of what we do.

“The fact that we are saving more lives than ever before, treating more patients at home where they want to be cared for, and improving staff experience, in the context of rising demand and patient expectations, is testament to the

care, compassion and dedication of all our staff and volunteers.”

A spokeswoman for the awards ceremony said: “Both teams have been praised for fully embracing their projects, whilst continuing to work as full time paramedics, and delivering significant results by changing working practices and attitudes to caring for the elderly population in their community.

“They consistently deliver above and beyond what is asked or expected of them.”

The Scottish Affairs Committee – of which Borders MP John Lamont is a member – heads from Westminster to Selkirk on Monday, November 20.

Attendees at the public event, which starts at 9.30am, will be invited to talk to MPs about the issues that matter to them and suggest ideas for future committee inquiries.

Mr Lamont said: “I am delighted that the committee is holding an event in the Borders so early in this parliament and look forward to hearing the ideas from the people of Selkirk and across the Borders for the future of the committee’s work.”

The committee is also encouraging the public to submit ideas to the inquiry via social media and the committee’s website.