Smears on backers of Union must end
IT is right and proper that the Scottish people get the chance to vote on whether they wish to see independent status restored to their nation.The latest development in the independence debate involves...
View ArticlePurvis and Grahame clash over Devo Plus plan
DEFEATED at the polls last May after eight years as the Lib Dem MSP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale, Jeremy Purvis this week stepped back into the national political spotlight, writes Andrew...
View ArticleMelrose group calls on SYHA to gift hostel in bid to halt closure
A COMMUNITY group wants Scottish youth hostel bosses to donate the Melrose youth hostel to it free of charge or at least sell the building so it can run it itself.Melrose Youth Hostel is one of the...
View ArticleVolunteers wanted to serve their community
ELECTIONS for new community councillors for St Boswells will take place on April 5 and local residents are being urged to put their names forward as a number of long-standing councillors are retiring...
View ArticleBGH road revamp is demanded
NHS Borders has welcomed last week’s decision by Scottish Borders Council to demand an immediate road safety review of the notorious BGH junction.Councillors unanimously approved the motion of Melrose...
View ArticleTweeddale’s roll of honour
Norman Elder joins an exceptional roll of honour which has grown in size and stature since 1991 when the first Tweeddale Citizen of the Year award was presented to Janette Blackwood to acknowledge her...
View ArticleElder statesman Norman is Peebles’ leading light
Peebles man Norman Elder,62, has been honoured as the 2011 Tweeddale Citizen of the Year at an award ceremony in the town’s council chambers.Scottish Borders Council convenor Alasdair Hutton, who...
View Article‘Teachers under pressure’ warning as primary head is ousted after inspection
THE head teacher of one of the region’s largest primaries has been relieved of her duties following an inspection visit to her school last week.The news that Cathy Mady has been removed from her post...
View ArticleCare home complaints upheld
THE watchdog Care Inspectorate (CI) has upheld no fewer than five complaints levelled by the daughter of an elderly resident at the specialist home for dementia sufferers at Craw Wood in Tweedbank.As a...
View ArticleHawick woman trapped in car crash near Selkirk
FIRECREWS used special hydraulic gear to free a woman from the wreckage of her crashed car near Selkirk this morning, writes Bob Burgess.The 49-year-old driver, who hasn’t been named, was taken to the...
View ArticleSchools chief rules out new exams delay
THE BORDERS’ education chief has ruled out following another Scottish council’s lead by postponing new exams which form part of the new curriculum for excellence, writes Kenny Paterson.Glenn Rodger...
View ArticlePublic views sought on library and contact centre opening hours
LATE opening of libraries on selected evenings and, for the first time, access to council services on a Saturday are two innovations which Scottish Borders Council hopes will receive the blessing of...
View ArticleLament for Melrose pipe band competition
‘COMPLETE madness’ on the part of Scottish pipe band bosses is being blamed for the decision to scrap the highly popular Melrose Pipe Band Championships after 17 years.Those behind the Melrose contest,...
View ArticleSBC offers a helping hand for contracts worth £129m
AROUND half of Scottish Borders Council’s recently approved £264million revenue budget for 2012/13 will go to pay its own workforce and meet the costs of property overheads.But around £130million of...
View ArticleCovenant will strengthen ties between civilians and military
THE armed forces community in the Borders received a highly visible mark of support from local public sector organisations this week.Scottish Borders Council (SBC) and partners strengthened their...
View ArticleWe’re gonna clean up this here town
A GROUP of Kelso youngsters showed the way this week, with a litter pick around part of their home town that netted a bin bag full of rubbish.The litter pick was organised by local childminder Gwen...
View ArticleWooed Pender calls for ‘younger, fitter’ councillors to take the reins
A FORMER Lib Dem councillor revealed this week he has been approached by both the Borders Party and the SNP with a view to representing them as a candidate at the local government elections in May.But...
View ArticleConstruction begins on £9m West Linton school
it will take more than a year to become a reality, but the first symbolic step to create a new £9million replacement school in West Linton was taken this week.Pupils, teachers, Scottish Borders Council...
View ArticleGrahame calls for UK-wide ban on circuses using wild animals
A LOCAL MSP fears that a new ban on the use of performing wild animals in circuses in England could encourage travelling circuses to head for the Borders and the rest of Scotland, writes Mark...
View ArticleMurder accused claims self defence
A WOMAN accused of stabbing a man to death at a farmhouse hear Peebles will stand trial on May 8.At a brief hearing in the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday, lawyers for Eliska Novotna, 22, claimed she...
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