The first ever Scottish Youth Hostel Association facility, sited at Broadmeadows, is to be sold, writes Kenny Paterson.
The Yarrow Valley building has been fighting the threat of closure for 18 months but the SYHA will now look to sell the building, which has been a hostel since 1931.
It leaves Kirk Yetholm, which is affiliated but not run by SYHA, as the only hostel left in the region.
Borders MP Michael Moore said: “It’s very sad to hear that the SYHA have decided to sell the youth hostel at Broadmeadows even after having worked with local groups to try to find alternatives to closure.
“SYHA said that they reached this decision because numbers have declined even further at the hostel, so it is no longer able to cover its costs.
“The closure is especially sad because Broadmeadows was the first youth hostel in the whole of Scotland.
“They are now hoping to sell the youth hostel, preferably as an affiliate hostel, similar to what was achieved at Kirk Yetholm last year.
“I am therefore urging local groups and/or businesses to come forward if they are interested in taking on this hostel so that low-cost accommodation for visitors can still be provided in the area.”
Efforts were made to revitalise Broadmeadows last year, as occupancy rates reached only 13 per cent during the summer of 2011.
Melrose’s youth hostel closed in 2012, as did Kirk Yetholm’s before it was purchased as a going concern.