A Hawick Army veteran has successfully cycled 1,918 miles across the Borders and beyond in 100 days in support of Poppyscotland.

Ian McLeod, 62, broke the 1,918-mile barrier on Saturday as he cycled between 19 of the region’s war memorials, placing a poppy cross at each one.

The challenge, which Ian began at the start of August, has seen him cycle around 150 miles each week both across and outwith the Borders, in aid of Poppyscotland, a charity supporting ex-services personnel and their families.

On Saturday Ian was joined by his grandchildren Jadyn and Lucy Jackson to lay a poppy cross in Jedburgh. At Selkirk he was greeted by members of the Ex-Servicemens’ Association and piper Kevin Turnbull, and in Hawick he was joined by town dignitaries, a piper and his grandchildren Florence and Max McLeod, who travelled from Perth, to help Ian lay a final wreath and a poppy cross.

In fact that 87-mile route around the war memorials took him to the 2,109-mile mark and helped raise more than his £1,918 target as part of the 1918 Poppy Pledge, a year-long national fundraising campaign launched to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

“The day started with a bugler playing Reveille outside Hawick town hall,” Ian said. “It ended with a piper playing a lament when I laid the last wreath at Hawick war memorial. It was quite special.”

“I was doing this on behalf of the Hawick branch of Legion Scotland,” Ian, now branch chairman there, added. “They put together a small support team that arrived at each location just before me each time on Saturday. I only had four minutes at each memorial. They were absolutely great.

“We are very active in our support of the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal and feel strongly about providing support to our veterans.”

Having joined the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, at just 15, Ian served for six years and spent time in Belfast, Berlin and Inverness. Some years later, he joined the Territorial Army, serving for 18 years.

Read more here: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/veteran-ian-gets-on-his-bike-for-the-1918-poppy-pledge-1-4809136

A unique project pulling together textile skills and commemorating the centenary of the First World War ending has been created in Hawick.

Around 300 first and second-year pupils have spent the past few weeks designing and creating remembrance artworks to be displayed around the town in the coming weeks.

While learning how the textile industry works, and how to sew, cut and project manage, the group has coordinated the creation of hundreds of painted and hand sewn poppies accompanied with words of remembrance.

This project, a collaboration between Developing our Young Workforce Borders, has been supported by the Hawick branch of Legion Scotland.

Teacher Sue Moncur said: “I have been fortunate in my career to have worked with some of the best names in the textile fashion business and I wanted to bring that experience to this course, developing projects that have a strong industry focus, but maintain the creativity.

“I am very impressed with the respect and enthusiasm from the pupils for this Poppy project and their willingness to learn new skills.”

Hawick High School Headteacher Vicky Porteous added: “It’s fantastic to see our students working together on a project like this. They have been tasked with a real-life brief and they have all worked extremely hard as a group to produce some wonderful work for such an important cause.”

It’s business as usual at Melrose post office after its successful move just 180 metres uptown to Market Square last week.

The town’s new local style service based within Masons of Melrose book store opened its doors last week, almost a year after the last attempt to rehome the service fell through.

The service launched just hours after postmaster of the last 29 years, John Collins, completed his final shift at the Buccleuch Street post office.

He had been hoping to retire and move closer to family near Falkirk for some time – but vowed to wait until the future of the post office was secure before selling his last stamp.

Tracey and David Mason, of Clovenfords, have been welcoming customers to the new post office branch since last Tuesday.

They are offering Post Office products and services from an new open-plan counter running side by side with the existing one. It operates during the store’s usual opening hours, from 9am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday, providing 51 hours extra availability each week.

“We have had quite a lot to learn and it’s a slow process but people are being positive and mostly patient. I think our customers are pleased that there’s still a post office in Melrose.

“We hope it will bring an increase in footfall for us and bring people into the bookshop that would never normally visit. The location of the bookshop is ideal because it is much easier to find, parking is better and it’s better for tourists.

“It will be convenient and a really successful thing for the town and for us.”

The shop, opened by the couple 10 years ago, already employs one full-time member of staff, and has now taken on another full-time worker and a part-timer.

The back counter has been altered to contain the post office and security gates, and new signs and a portable ramp have been installed to the shop front.

Clive Serplus, Post Office area network change manager said: “As with any other branch, robust security procedures are in place, anyone handling Post Office transactions, including new staff, will be fully trained on all operational and service issues, including customer privacy, to ensure they meet Post Office standards.

“We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents.”

“We are confident that this vibrant new-style Post Office at the heart of the community will meet customer needs.”

Last year plans to relocate the Buccleuch Street post office to Abbey Mill in Annay Road were abandoned at the 11th hour due to community opposition over the 350-metre move.

A part-time poultry worker from Lauder has swapped her wellies for high heels after being named this year’s Miss Edinburgh.

Holly Reshad, 24, saw off competition from 17 other young ladies at George Street hotel Le Monde on Sunday in her debut appearance at the pageant, now in its 10th year.

The animal biology student at Edinburgh Napier University is more used to spending her time as a cheerleader for the Edinburgh Capitals ice hockey team and working at West Morrison poultry farm, near Earlston.

“It was my first time doing anything like this,” she said. “I recently gave up cheerleading and live back in Lauder. I felt there was a bit of an empty space so decided to give this a go.”

Holly impressed the judges across each competition category – casual wear, swim wear, occasion wear and sportswear – where she had the chance to show off her love for animals.

“I wore my riding competition stuff which was pretty cool,” she said, “Not a lot of people have horses, so it was a bit different. As Miss Edinburgh I’m now a patron for Kidney Research UK and get to pick another couple of charities to champion, too, so I’ll be picking some local animal charities.”

Up against a former Miss Scotland finalist, as well as some seasoned pageant competitors, Holly, supported on the day by mum Lynn, stepdad Mick, dad Earl, siblings Edward and Suzan, admits it was a daunting experience.

“There were so many lovely, gorgeous girls,” she said. “I had no idea if it was my name in the envelope or not.
“A few of the girls had entered before, some were new to it like me. It was a mixed bag.”

“We supported each other through the process or choosing dresses and outfits. We were all really nervous so we were helping each other. It was not catty at all, like you would expect for a pageant.”

Kidney Research UK fundraising manager for Scotland, Sharon Sheridan, added: “We’ve had some fantastic support from the winners of the Miss Edinburgh competition over the years. Special mention must go to Holly’s predecessor, Rachel Flynn, last seen raising funds by hiking the Munros in high heels! We send Holly our congratulations – we can’t wait to see what she has in store.”

Michelle Ballantyne has spoken out against criticism from her peers following the furore which erupted after her address at Holyrood last week.

The South Scotland Conservative list MSP came in for widespread condemnation for her defence of universal credit and its two-child limit for benefit handouts during a Scottish Parliament debate on poverty and inequality last week.

Since then Mrs Ballantyne has received calls for her to resign from her position and been dubbed a hypocrite.

SNP Christine Grahame MSP has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament condemning those comments. She also claimed Mrs Ballantyne’s position as patron of a Borders foodbank “where she will have come face-to-face with people driven into hardship by Tory welfare cuts” as the “height of hypocrisy”.

She said:“Nobody who holds these deeply troubling views on people who rely on the safety net of the welfare state should hold a front bench role on this very issue. She should resign. And if she won’t, she should be sacked.

“And now it transpires she’s the patron of a foodbank – it’s the absolute height of hypocrisy.

“How can she look people in the Borders in the eye when it’s her own party’s damaging cuts driving them to rely on foodbanks just to survive?

“It wasn’t a slip of the tongue – these abhorrent views are deeply held. However, that doesn’t make them acceptable.

“Her position as Tory welfare spokesperson is now completely untenable.”

In response, Mrs Ballantyne said this week: “Back when I was a candidate, and Ms Grahame was already a sitting MSP, we were all invited by the foodbank, Food, Fact and Friends, to get involved. Only I chose to do so. It beggars belief that she now has the gall to criticise my involvement with them.

“This highlights the difference between her and I. She is playing politics with a serious issue whilst I am engaging in the debate and taking a hands-on approach to helping out where I can.

“The fact of the matter is that I believe that we all share the same responsibilities. Part of that means that those on benefits should face the same decisions when it comes to family planning as those who fund themselves solely through work.

“As Deputy Presiding Officer, I would have hoped that Ms Grahame would have acted in a manner more appropriate to her position rather than indulging in political point-scoring.”

Closer to home, Mrs Ballantyne’s former colleague on Scottish Borders Council, independent Hawick and Hermitage councillor Davie Paterson has also spoken out against her views.

He is calling for the council’s Conservative-led executive to push for Mrs Ballatyne’s removal from the front bench.

In a letter to council leader Shona Haslam this week, he said: “All sorts of words have been used to describe Mrs Ballantyne’s comments. These, in my opinion, are some of the cruellest, insensitive, ignorant uncaring comments that I can recall ever being made by any MSP of any party.

“Is this MSP acting alone or is this what most Scottish Tories also want?

“If you agree with me will your administration be writing to the Scottish Tory party leadership urging them at least to have this MSP removed from the front bench and at best to have this MSP removed from the Scottish Parliament as quickly as possible.”

A carer who abandoned a Borders girl in Lincolnshire has been jailed for 15 months for child neglect.

Graham Mackie, aged 33, of Church Street, Ecclefechan, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court on Tuesday.

Mackie’s former employer Radical Services told him to drive the girl to a potential placement in the Nottinghamshire area in March. But instead of returning home immediately afterwards, he drove to the Lincolnshire area so that he could meet a friend before leaving her there.

Later that day he contacted police claiming she had gone missing whilst they had stopped for food at McDonalds in Kingstown, Carlisle, on the way home. Officers searched the nearby area before establishing that she was in Lincolnshire.

Detective Constable Sarah Edgar, from North Cumbria Police said: “Graham Mackie was employed to look after a vulnerable girl which is something he clearly did not do.

“Mackie was well aware of what his role that day consisted of in travelling to the Nottinghamshire area to look at a potential placement for the victim in this case. He was then expected to return the same day and was given an allowance for refreshments.

“He took it upon himself to drive her to Lincolnshire before leaving her there. He attempted to cover his offence by claiming she had ran away in Carlisle, wasting police time in doing so.

“I am pleased he has been sentenced for his actions.”

A lorry driver has been charged with causing a crash between two articulated lorries on the A7 on Monday afternoon.

The road was closed in both directions north of Stow for five hours following the accident at around 2.20pm.

Fire and ambulance crews were called and a 39-year-old man was cut free from one lorry and taken to Borders General Hospital with serious leg injuries.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “The road was reopened at around 7.20pm, following recovery of both HGVs and the roadway being cleared.

“A 39-year-old man has been charged in connection with this and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

The outstanding young people of Hawick have been celebrated with the return of the Top Teri awards.

Ten awards were handed out at a glitzy ceremony in Hawick Town Hall on Friday, to young people who make a positive impact to the lives of others within the community.

The event was brought back to Hawick after evolving into an annual Borders-wide youth awards in 2013.

“With 2018 being the year of young people, we thought what better time to bring it back to our local stage to showcase just what wonderful young people we have on our doorstep,” said Sian Snowden of Escape Youth Cafe, which organised the event.

“Friday night was spectacular and highlights not only the talent that exists in our town, but also the time that people give up to make projects work,” added Hawick and Denholm councillor Clair Ramage. “It is hoped to run this event biannually, which is a great way to highlight the enormous amount of talent that we have.”

The winners were: Brogan McIntosh, volunteer award; Ronald Yule, culture and environment award; Act 1 Youth, music and arts award; Hayley Mowat, unsung hero; Joyce Short, children’s champion adult; Fraser Clyne, sports personality; Taylor Lyle, enterprise; Escape Youth Cafe youth committee, community award; Alex Thomas, special recognition; Marcus Brogan, children’s champion youth.

Visitors to the String Jam Club at the County Hotel next Saturday evening (November 10) are in for a double treat.

Two of Scotland’s most revered multi-instrumentalists, Mairearad Green (accordion and bagpipes) and Anna Massie (guitar, banjo, fiddle) will be in session – and it’s not to be missed.

The truly captivating duo, provide a highly energetic performance with an instantly warm and friendly stage presence.

Having played alongside each other for more than 10 years, they revel in an intuitive approach to each other’s musical ideas and interpretations, and an “almost telepathic communication” on stage (Hi-Arts), effortlessly showcasing the fruits of duo partnership to the highest level, creating “music more than the sum of just two parts” (The Scotsman).

Mairearad and Anna both grew up in the Highlands amidst very similar musical backgrounds (most notably, mandolin-playing dads), and so share an innate understanding of Scottish culture and music.

They have enjoyed many successes, including five stars in The Scotsman and high praise from KT Tunstall, becoming a much-loved live act.

Their three albums – 2009’s eponymous debut, ‘Doubling’ in 2013 and ‘Best Day’ 2015 – have met wide critical acclaim, Mairearad and Anna was recorded live, whilst Doubling features many layered tracks, building a more complex sound, though still just from the duo.

At the heart of Doubling remains the live sets, intricately arranged and executed with symbiotic sympathy, enhancing their “must-see” reputation.

The concept for their fourth album ‘Farran’ – the Scots word for the starboard side of a boat – is to represent exactly what this virtuosic duo perform live.

It is the stripped-back sound of vocals, guitar, accordion, fiddle and bagpipes, and it was recorded live at the Gloworm studio in Glasgow with co-producer, Calum MacCrimmon from the band Breabach.

The material includes the JP Cormier song about a boat, ‘Molly May’ and a haunting fiddle number ‘Mo Chailin- Dileas Donn’, written by Ullapool fisherman, Hector Mackenzie.

Also on the album, there’s a foot-stomping set of local reels written by Mairearad’s piping teacher Norman Gillies, and many other great tunes, notably, some self-penned compositions which is a staple for this pair’s music.

Both award-winners, Mairearad currently performs with King Creosote and Mike Vass, and Anna with Blazin’Fiddles and Rant. They have also previously performed with a number of well-known bands and artists; The Poozies, Bella Hardy, Box Club, Kate Rusby, Karine Polwart, Karen Matheson, Capercaillie and together in Scotland’s one and only Celtic Big Band, The Unusual Suspects.

Tickets, £13, are available from the County Hotel by calling 01750 705000.

Tickets will be reserved for collection on the night, or you can pay on the door, subject to availability.

There’s also 10% off County Hotel restaurant meals from 6-7pm for ticket-holders.

The doors open at 7.30pm, with the show expected to end by around 11pm.

A musical rave up at an auld folks tea dance in Newcastleton has proved an internet hit with more than 12,000 viewers logging on to view extraordinary scenes.

Click here to see the remarkable video

The Copshaw Common Riding committee organised the annual tea dance at the village’s Legends venue on Sunday afternoon.

All the pensioners from the village and others from outside it were were invited to go along and the event proved a big hit.

However, it was far from a laid-back affair ... as the video proves.

The pensioners really got into the spirit of a modern rave by wildly dancing and swinging their arms to a relentless dance beat.

Within a few days the video clip had already been viewed by 12,376 online viewers.

That’s quite an achievement – especially as less than 800 people live in the village itself.

The reaction online was overwhelmingly positive.

Joan Rutherford posted the message: “Love this video SO much. It warms my heart to see the fun everyone is having regardless of their age and ability.

“I’d like to think that when I reach the tea dance age, and I’m edging ever closer, that the organisers would give consideration to the popular music of my younger days, rather than trawl out the usual World War Two and music hall singalong numbers.”

The video can be viewed by logging on to the Copshaw Common Riding page, where one of the organiser described the event as a “complete success,” adding: “Please note:- no OAP’s were harmed or required medical attention at this event.”

Councillor Davie Paterson, who represents the Hawick and Hermitage ward that incorporates Newcastleton, added: “It was absolutely fantastic. Scott Wilson, the Newcastleton Community Council chairman, told me.

“The Copshaw Common Riding raise absolutely thousands for various organisations in Newcastleton, they do a fantastic job, and Sean, one of the owners of Legends, is a Common Riding stalwart and organiser.”

See our Facebook page for a link to the video.

A Borders councillor has pooh-poohed claims that a new community police team is proving a success after statistics revealed only two tickets had been issued for dog fouling in the last six months.

The council-funded Police Community Action Team (CAT) was established in April as a way of addressing anti-social behaviour across the region.

Supporters of the new initiative have highlighted its successes.

Between April and the end of September this year, 460 parking tickets were issued by CAT officers across the Borders.

In the same period in 2017, 332 tickets were issued, representing an increase of 38.61 per cent.

However, since April the community team, funded with a joint investment of £282,000 from the council and Police Scotland, has only issued two penalty notices relating to dog fouling.

That figure is damning one, according to Councillor Davie Paterson, of Hawick and Hermitage, who said the council should “ask for its money back”.

Executive member for community safety, Councillor George Turnbull, disagreed with that assessment when the figures were revealed at a meeting of the full council last week.

He said: “There are cases in which there is an identified dog owner and a witness willing to provide a statement to Police Scotland. Once a statement has been obtained a ticket is issued if there is a sufficiency of evidence.

“The CAT patrols areas where dog fouling is a problem, and when the police are visible people are tending to pick up after their dogs.

“We would highlight that the CAT responsibilities do extend beyond those of dog fouling and we would point to the other positive aspects of the team’s deployment, i.e. parking tickets, high visibility patrols, proactive drug searches and road checks etc.”

Mr Paterson said: “I put the question on how many members of the public have been fined for parking infringements in the Scottish Borders.

“I was told by the portfolio leader that 460 people had been fined for parking infringements while only two people have been fined for failing to clean up after their dogs.

“I then asked a supplementary question as to when the council leader or the portfolio holder will be meeting with the Scottish government to demand our money back. This is our money and we should have use of it.

“This is costing the council over £30,000 a year, money that goes straight into the Scottish government coffers. It’s like they are just concentrating on the motorists and just ignoring the ever-increasing dog fouling issue.”

Nine jobs will go at long-established Bruce Motors in Hawick when the firm shuts up shop for the final time at the end of the year.

Four-times winners of the Peugeot Gold Lion dealer award and other franchise accolades, the car dealership on Commercial Road will cease trading on December 31, ending 80 years of family involvement in the motor trade.

The three directors , Stewart and Michael Bruce and Riddell Laidlaw, made the decision partly due to manufacturer demands, with Peugeot requiring them to undertake a costly revamp of the premises, last done in 2011.

“As the three directors are all over retirement age, it was felt time to call it a day,” said Stewart Bruce.

“Bruce Motors can look back with pride on their 37 years with Peugeot. Many people have been employed over the years and all have made a valued contribution to the company and clients’ motoring satisfaction – too many to list, but too many not to appreciate. Thank you all.”

The directors say that the members of staff affected will be “very employable” due to their motor trade experience.

He added: “Ross Oliver (Gus) our master technician has decided to set up his own garage and has secured premises in Slitrig Crescent in the former Water Board workshops, where his 15 years of Peugeot training and knowledge will mean all our customers can enjoy service continuity from a highly-qualified engineer.”

Little did Jack Bruce know way back in the mid 1930s when he came down from Edinburgh by train to take up a car sales position with A & J Guthrie at 61 High Street, Hawick, that some 82 years later a business bearing his name would be operational in the grey auld toon.

On returning to Hawick after war service in the RAF, Jack was made a partner at Guthries in the mid 1950s, and on the death of his senior partner Archie Guthrie in 1963 he worked to buy his late partner’s share of the firm. A bachelor, Archie had no children and his nephew, Jimmy Guthrie junior, left the town for employment elsewhere.

In 1972, Jack’s sons Michael and Stewart came into the business, and along with Riddell Laidlaw, ran the then Chrysler/Talbot franchise at 61 High Street. Peugeot Motor Co bought Chrysler in 1976 to create the PSA group and in 1981 Peugeot cars were introduced alongside the Talbot range in Hawick.

The increasingly congested High Street encouraged the firm to relocate to Commercial Road, where they had a storage yard.

In 1988 the High Street premises were sold and a new dealership was built on their Commercial Road site, with another garage purchased in Galashiels, so there were two Peugeot dealerships in the two main Border towns which were rebranded Bruce Motors Peugeot.

Hawick town centre could be in line for a major facelift as Scottish Borders Council begins work towards a regeneration project in the town.

A report by the authority’s economic development officer, Bryan McGrath, which is due to go before the council’s executive on Tuesday, seeks approval to begin applying for grants.

It advises the council to seek £1.41m funding from Historic Environment Scotland’s conservation area regeneration scheme (CARS) fund, to restore shop fronts and historic buildings.

The council will also add £157,700 to the pot, which, together with private sector contributions of £358,750, would give the project a £1.93m budget.

According to the report, a similar scheme in Selkirk, which saw £2.4m of public sector funding invested between 2013 and 2018, returned considerable results, with the number of at-risk buildings down from seven to two, average footfall rising from 2,090 to 2,710, and the percentage of vacant shops now sitting below the Borders’ average.

Hawick, on the other hand, has seen a marked deterioration in its town centre, with average weekly footfall declining year on year, from 9,990 in 2008 to just 4,680 now.

The latest retail audit in December 2017 showed 37 vacant units in the town centre, two thirds of which had been vacant for over a year, and there are currently seven ‘at risk’ buildings within the historic centre.

In the report, Mr McGrath says: “Hawick town centre has declined in recent years with a significant reduction in footfall and a noticeable cluster of vacancies at the southern end of the High Street.

“There are a number of prominent buildings which have deteriorated and require major external repair works.

“A heritage focused regeneration proposal has been developed for Hawick following the model used for other successful heritage based town centre initiatives delivered in Kelso and Selkirk and currently in Jedburgh.

“The proposal will seek to begin to reverse the decline by conserving and enhancing key properties within the Hawick conservation area and act as a catalyst for wider regeneration in the town.”

Key properties which would be renovated as parts of the project include the Crown Business Centre, the former Queen’s Head pub, the old Liberal Club, the former KT Krafts shop and the former Beauty Lounge, all in High Street.

If councillors agree to submit the application, the outcome should be known by February 2019, and work could begin as early as April.

Teries with mobility problems will be on the road to more freedom if an £8,000 fundraising campaign proves successful.

Cycling Without Age is a global movement started in Denmark in 2012 to help people, particularly the elderly, who have limited mobility get out and about, and are now represented in 40 countries worldwide.

The organisation has 1,200 locations, more than 2,000 trishaws, 13,000 trained cycle pilots who have provided 60,000 elderly people with cycle rides

It provides free use of a trishaw - a motorised cycle - to local nursing home residents and others with problems getting about.

The movement reached Scotland in 2016, originally in Falkirk, and recently a Cycling Without Age group was established in Hawick.

This week more than ten people involved with the group met at Hawick Fire Station to discuss the options for purchasing a dedicated unit for use in and around the town.

Residents at Deanfield Residential Home at Roadhead in Hawick saw the benefits of a trishaw first hand when one of the vehicles was brought down from Falkirk last week in order that people could see it up close.

Cheryl Fowler, a community capacity development worker with the Scottish Borders Council, has been working alongside keen Hawick cyclist Keith Irving to establish a local group.

Cheryl said it would cost £8,000 to purchase a trishaw from Denmark - where they are built - for exclusive use by residents, both old and young, in the Hawick area.

She said: “We are now starting to look at the funding options to buy one. We had a test drive with residents outside of Deanfield last week and they really enjoyed it.

“It will be perfect for use in Wilton Lodge Park. The park has had many improvements but the residents have not been able to see them because of mobility problems.

“This scheme gives the opportunity to get out and about and enjoy the park. The trishaw travels quite slowly so it can stop and they can have a chat with people and enjoy the different seasons. It gives a freedom they currently don’t have, not to mention getting some fresh air.

“Once we have the funding in place it will take about eight weeks to have the trishaw delivered.”

The vehicle will be based at Deanfield Residential Home, where it can also be charged and used by the whole community.

One of Selkirk’s oldest licensed hotels, Heatherlie House, has gone up for sale this week.

The seven-bedroom country house hotel, which has played host to gatherings and meetings of most of the town’s clubs and associations over the years, has been put on the market at offers over £300.000.

Edinburgh-based independent chartered surveyors firm, DM Hall, described the property as “an attractive seven-bedroom country house hotel”.

Its description of the hotel said: “The 5,812 sq. ft. property, which includes a dining room, a lounge bar, a catering kitchen and annex owner’s accommodation which has been converted to provide two additional letting rooms. Set in attractive mature grounds on the southern periphery of Selkirk, the property lies close to the main A7 trunk road from Galashiels which serves as one of the main arterial roads between Edinburgh, 40 miles to the north-west and Carlisle and is also a summer tourist route.”

Ben Mitchell of DM Hall, said: “This property offers the potential to be traded as a hotel or redeveloped into a large single house or, alternatively, flats, subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents.

“Offers over £300,000 are invited for the purchase of our client’s heritable interest in the property with the benefit of vacant possession.”

Anyone wishing to arrange a viewing of the hotel should contact Mr Mitchell at DM Hall’s agency department, Edinburgh on 0131 624 6130 or ben.mitchell@dmhall.co.uk or oliver.lawson@dmhall.co.uk.”

You might also be interested in:

£2m revamp on cards for deteriorating town centre

New policing team ignoring dog fouling issues, claims councillor

Video of Copshaw pensioners REALLY enjoying a tea dance goes viral

Local democracy reporter

The local authority is currently reviewing its waste collection service, which is expected to feed into the new budget for 2019/20.

At a meeting of Scottish Borders Council on Thursday, October 25, Hawick and Hermitage councillor David Paterson asked: “Could you please tell me if this administration has any plans to change the general waste collection from every two weeks to every three weeks?

“I feel that if such a move was ever introduced to save money, I am certain this would cause real hardship to many families in the Scottish Borders and create an even bigger problem with fly tipping.”

Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, the authority’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, said: “The council is currently undertaking a review of its kerbside collection service, with the support of Zero Waste Scotland, by comparing how these services have been delivered by other authorities across Scotland.

“No decision will be taken with regards to changes, including the frequency of general waste collection, until this review is complete, and the potential implications are fully understood.

“Officers will be bringing a report to council shortly as part of that budget setting process.”

Speaking after the meeting, councillor Paterson expressed his dismay at the answer he received: “That doesn’t fill me with confidence. I’m more worried than I was before.

“The reason that I put in the question is that I am certain that a three-weekly collection for general waste was something that this administration will have to be looking at.

“As I said, I was a wee bit concerned when I put the question in, but when I got the reply I was even more concerned.”

A Scottish Borders Council spokesperson said: “A review of the council’s kerbside collection service has been undertaken with the support of Zero Waste Scotland, beginning in 2016 and concluding late summer 2018.

“The review was undertaken to consider a number of aspects of the service and to ensure waste services remain fit for purpose, financially sustainable and continues to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.”

A Galashiels man who admitted a series of offences including possession of a knife and spitting on a police officer at Borders General Hospital has been jailed for a total of two years at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Derek Stewart was found in possession of the offensive weapon in Laurel Grove, Galashiels, when he was supposed to be at his Tulley Court home on a night-time curfew on August 9.

When searched he was also found to have small quantities of heroin and ecstasy.

The 37-year-old started feeling unwell at Hawick Police Station and was taken to Borders General Hospital where he spat on the face and chest of a constable while being put in a police vehicle.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client had forgotten about the small knife which was at the bottom of a rucksack and “not readily accessible.”

Sheriff Peter Paterson commented: “I cannot ignore the catalogue of offending after a short period of being released from custody.”

The jail sentences totalling 24 months were back-dated to August 10 when Stewart was first remanded in custody in connection with the matter.

Selkirk’s Colonial Society, founded in Canada by exiled Souters to retain their links to their beloved royal burgh, and which plays an important part inthe town’s common riding, has published a book detailing its rich history.

The book, titled ‘’Tales of the

Exiles’’ was released at the end of October, and it tells the story of the Society, from its founding in Hespeler, Ontario during 1910 by Souters who had emigrated looking for work in what was the textilebcapital of Canada.

Also included is a look back at the society’s first standard bearer and bussin’ concert in 1911 and the new Flag sent from Canada.

It takes the reader on a journey through the next 100-plus years to 2018 and the newly-created mosaic on the riverside and the Market Place regeneration, with the society emblem ‘’set in stone’ alongside the other casting associations.

Also included in the book is a photo gallery of all its standard bearers and lady bussers, together with a host of pictures covering the history of thesociety.

Many tales of its members are spread across the book, which was compiled by society chairman Ian Clapperton..

Some of these tales were written by High School students as part of the annual colonial history medal competition, while others originated from newspaper articles, or from the members themselves.

The book is only available from The Forest Bookshop in the Market Place, and is priced at £7.50.

The B6360 Abbotsford Road has been cleared following a accident this morning.

Rush hour motorists were held up after a Honda Civic R-Type car lost control at around 8.10am and overturned, blocking the road.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The driver and sole occupant was uninjured and the vehicle was uplifted at around 8.45am.”

There have been a number of minor incidents on the Abbotsford Road in recent months, which is being used as a one-way diversion while work is carried out on the Galafoot Bridge.

Eastbound traffic has been diverted via the A7 to B6360 Abbotsford Road to Tweedbank roundabout since work began on August 5.

The first phase of those works are due to be completed by the end of this week, with the next stage scheduled to begin next February.

Plans have been drawn up to convert an old farm steading into three separate homes.

Leicestershire couple Callum and Dorothy Orr are in the process of buying former agricultural buildings at Wester Happrew, just outside Peebles, with the intention of renovating the site to create a family home for themselves and two other houses.

Lanarkshire architect Kanak Bose, representing the Orrs, of Nicolson Road, Loughborough, says in a statement submitted to Scottish Borders Council: “The steading dates to 1846. It formed part of the Dystart Estate, which extended to the south and west and included Easter Happrew Farm, the Stobo Estate and Stobo Castle.

“The buildings were certainly designed, and picking through the deteriorated structure, one easily finds quality features such as fine stone dressings and quality structural timberwork, not to mention the symmetrical and dominant west range of cart sheds, which are a delight.

“The buildings have deteriorated over the past 15 years, and this project enables a breath of new life for the buildings and to look forward to another 75 years.

“The applicant are aware of some of the difficulties the repairs may throw at them, but are welcoming the challenge.

“It is hoped that the end result will be a sympathetic re-use and renovation which also enhances the adjacent properties whilst breathing life back into the steading.”

The steading is served by a borehole created by a previous owners, but the new properties will also make use of individual rain-water harvesting to ease the burden on that shared water source.

In his design statement, Mr Bose adds: “Renewables have been considered, and given that the only grid service is electricity, this becomes of importance.

“There are large areas of south facing roof which will be used for wet solar or solar photovoltaic panels.

“The new lease of life brought into the buildings by conversion in compliance with the current building standards will naturally make them function as well as if they were newly built.

“It is intended to explore the use of air-source heat pumps for general space heating, whilst multi-fuel space heaters are to be fitted in the principal living spaces.”

Officers in the council’s planning department will now consider the Orrs’ plans before making a decision.