Inspector’s service pledge
THE Borders’ new commander says it is business as usual for policing in the region, despite admitting he will have to work with a tighter budget.Chief Inspector Andy Clark will be based at Hawick...
View ArticleEconomy expert says companies must prepare for independence vote
Bosses have been advised to look at both the risks and the challenges created by next year’s referendum on independence.Graeme Blacket, the managing director of consultancy firm Biggar Economics, told...
View ArticleRegion less than fervent over Budget
Not bad, but… That’s the verdict of businesses in the Borders to George Osborne’s latest Budget. Anxious for any scrap of good news, the Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce (SBCC) and the Federation...
View ArticleHMRC shake-up will affect all employers
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is fundamentally changing the way PAYE is reported. A system known as real time information, or RTI, takes effect this month. Under the PAYE system, employers deduct...
View ArticleNews from the districts
ANCRUMWRIAt the March meeting, Amanda Withall told the story of the origin of Crookedshaws Pate. Competitions – ramekin of pate – 1, Janet Macdonald; 2, Ruth Walker; 3, Rachael Sinton; hand-made Easter...
View ArticleRoot cause at Redpath
A small group of hardy tree planters did their bit at West End Farm, Redpath, when 200 native oaks and cherries were planted.The efforts received funding help from Scottish Woodlands Ltd as part of the...
View ArticleMuseums staff adopting a joint approach
Volunteers at the John Buchan Museum joined forces with the staff of the Tweeddale Museum.Both groups enjoyed a tour of the museums within the Chambers Institution, Peebles, and discussed how they...
View ArticleEttrickbridge effort boosts cancer charity
At a social event held in Ettrickbridge’s Kirkhope Hall, the hall committee sponsored a 70s/80s-themed evening on behalf of the local Macmillan Support Group.Scott Muirhead and Alex Ballantyne are seen...
View ArticleLooking back at one of our worst winters
Snow arrived on Boxing Day 1962, and swept the country. The sea froze off the coast of Kent, and someone drove a car along the River Thames.January 1963 was the coldest month of the 20th century at...
View ArticleCancer support driven by bus group
Bus company First Scotland East is donating £6,000 worth of advertising space on its coaches to back Macmillan Cancer Support’s latest campaign, Not Alone.Posters will appear on each of First East’s...
View ArticleWind mast gets council approval
A 60m-high wind monitoring mast will be erected near Greenlaw for up to three years after it was given the green light on Monday.A number of objections to the plan had been lodged with the council,...
View ArticleEducation bursary funds available
Applications are open to current and former Galashiels Academy students for educational bursaries from the Gail Wilson Trust for the session starting September 2013. Applications must be submitted by...
View ArticleBowel cancer testing urged
HEALTH chiefs have urged people in the Borders to watch for signs of bowel cancer.It is the third most common cancer in Scotland with around 4,000 men and women diagnosed each year. Experts say that...
View ArticleFairtrade and red noses at Heriot
Heriot Primary School have got behind Fairtrade Fortnight and Red Nose Day.P3, 4 and 5 pupils ran a Fairtrade snack shop and hot chocolate café, while the pupil council organised a huge cake and candy...
View ArticleMum’s plea to Hague on son’s death abroad
A Borders mother wants Foreign Secretary William Hague to reveal what she claims are as yet undisclosed details about her son’s death.The body of Julie Sheppard’s son, Andrew Watt, 31, was discovered...
View ArticleGood progress is being made on eradication of BVD
The Scottish bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) eradication scheme is now well under way. With the February 1 deadline passed, all keepers of breeding cattle will have performed some form of screening...
View ArticleTeen arrested for alleged assault
A 19-year-old St Boswells man was arrested on suspicion of assault following an incident in Overhaugh Street, Galashiels, during the early hours of Saturday.A police report is being submitted to the...
View ArticleBan cigarettes in cars with kids, fumes Hume
Borders MSP Jim Hume is proposing a member’s bill in Scotland to ban passive smoking in cars with children.Australia, Canada, South Africa and other countries have already passed legislation banning...
View ArticleGrahame makes court call
A Borders MSP has proposed a Galashiels justice centre if Peebles and Duns’ courts close.To save costs, the Scottish Court Service (SCS) plans to keep Selkirk and Jedburgh’s courts open, and transfer...
View ArticleFarm diversification ‘dead in the water’
A DENHOLM farmer has said refusal of a planning application for a 74m-high wind turbine has left his scheme for diversification “dead in the water”.Jim Shanks, of Standhill Farm, had planned the...
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