Townsfolk are being warned there is no option open to Scottish Borders Council other than to demolish a scaffolding-clad building in Jedburgh town centre.

Another objection to the local authority’s application for planning consent to pull down the four-storey corner property at High Street and Exchange Street was received this week.

However, the town’s community council has been told there is no plan B and that the building, shrouded in scaffolding for the last four years, must come down.

Town councillor Jim Brown told last week’s meeting: “The building will be rebuilt by Scottish Borders Council with funding from the council and Historic Environment Scotland. It will be demolished and the building next to it made safe.

“Hopefully, there’ll be some funding available to help with the dry rot, which has moved into the building next door, as it’s a major issue too.

“The building that replaces it will be of a similar design and handed over to a registered social landlord.

“It was obvious it was never going to be a simple problem to solve.

“I don’t think there is any question that it will not come down.”

Looking ahead, he added: “I think we are still in negotiations with one of the owners, and it takes a long time to get these compulsory purchases.

“The council is bending over backwards to get a deal here.

“What they are hoping to achieve is, one way or another an agreement face to face or the compulsory purchase, and hopefully that’ll happen by the end of this year, with demolition to follow next year.

“I know it’s dragged on, but that’s the way it is.”

His update came just days before a formal objection to the planning application was lodged by London-based Save Britain’s Heritage.

It criticised the council’s failure to find out the building’s current market value and said it should not be abandoning the site.

Mark Afford, a spokesman for the organisation, said: “The setting itself requires the highest standards of protection and an exhaustive attempt to find viable solutions.

“We do not believe that search should be abandoned at this stage.

“It is our opinion that the proposal to demolish this category-C listed building should be refused. The current application falls short of satisfying local and national planning policy, and the character and integrity of Jedburgh should be safeguarded.

“The total loss of 2 High Street would be hugely regrettable. Buildings of this age are often irreplaceable.

“We fear that the continuing inconvenience and appearance of the scaffolding are driving decision-making, rather than established policy.

“Although the description of eyesore may be momentarily apt, it applies simply to the current scaffolding, not the building.

“A demolition followed by an undeveloped gap, followed in turn by an almost inevitably inferior new build will not improve local aesthetics.

“The importance of the setting of this building demands all efforts be made to find a solution which retains the asset, and we believe the planning authority are justified in mounting a robust defence of designated assets and the historic character of Jedburgh.”

Those sentiment were shared by community councillor Brian Woods last week, and he said: “Why take it down to rebuild it and put it back up with a big space in the middle of the town that will haggle on and then ask what are we going to do with it?

“I really harmonise with the fact that it has cost too much to keep it up, why not keep it up and get on with it rather than bring added cost to the situation.”

Other members of the community council agreed demolition was the only viable way forward, though.

And Historic Environment Scotland says it will not oppose the demolition bid.

In a written response to the council, it says: “It should be demonstrated that all reasonable efforts have been made to retain the listed building, which should also include the marketing of a building.

“In reviewing the supporting information, we consider it is a reasonable conclusion that the retention and reuse of the building is not going to be economically viable.”

Plans to create a golden eagle visitor centre in Selkirk are set to take flight now the Scottish Government has announced £155,000 funding for the project.

The venture is among the latest recipients of support from the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, with an initiative to improve Galashiels town centre also set to benefit.

The golden eagle centre, one of five schemes awarded a share of £1,045,184 in the latest funding round, will form part of a nature tourism expansion project at the Philiphaugh Estate.

Pledging £154,484 towards the scheme at the estate’s Waterwheel Cafe on Monday, Scottish Government rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing said: “The Scottish Government, working with the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, is determined to help the south of Scotland to realise its full economic potential.

“We’re doing that by targeted investments in projects which we believe will act as the catalysts for creating new businesses, providing vital skills and making the region an even more attractive place to visit.

“The Borders has got so much to offer Scotland.

“Some people think that in the past it hasn’t got the full attention it deserves.

“I’m determined that won’t be the case in the future.”

Expansion plans at the Philiphaugh Estate, as well as establishing the golden eagle centre, include extending its cafe, installing a children’s playpark and making more of the estate walks.

They are expected to increase visitor numbers by 10,000 within the first three years, creating four permanent jobs and four seasonal ones.

Estate owner Michael Strang-Steel said: “It is a very exciting project. We will be able to expand the Waterwheel Cafe and create a golden eagle centre, having released the golden eagle in southern Scotland in the last two years.

“The centre will have live cameras to show them in the wild and interpret their life cycle.

“At the same time, we are renovating the salmon visitor centre, where we have live underwater cameras showing the annual migration upriver.

“We intend to have a new display of the history of water power in the Borders and create new walks on the estate, including one from the cafe to the Selkirk Gin Distillery and one to the restored Victorian walled garden, which produces items used in the distillery.

“With those visitor attractions, together with the hydro station on the River Ettrick, we hope to increase the amount of tourists and local visitors to the estate and hope that this will also benefit businesses in the area.”

Energise Galashiels has also been awarded funding towards its efforts to enhance the town centre ahead of the Great Tapestry of Scotland visitor centre opening next year.

The partnership has given the project £72,500 for improvements and marketing projects in the town in a bid to attract more visitors to the area.

Mr Ewing said: “The Great Tapestry is a marvellous thing. I have seen parts of it myself when it was in Holyrood.

“It’s part of the history of the south of Scotland, and I’m delighted that the announcement today will take it a step forward.”

Community Enterprise Support, a pilot project aiming to increase the number of community enterprise ventures in the south of Scotland, was the biggest beneficiary in the latest round of funding, with the partnership awarding £510,000 to the scheme.

Growing Rural Skills was awarded £289,000 to build on the success of a dairy sector pilot in Dumfries and Galloway by expanding the programme into the Borders, and Eyemouth-based social enterprise ReTweed has been given £19,200 to pilot a new business incubator to help women start and grow their own creative businesses.

Calls have gone out for lessons to be learned from the apparent impending demise of a historic Jedburgh building.

Jedburgh residents believe more intervention is needed if it is to save further buildings falling into the same state of disrepair as the one currently facing demolition in the square.

The baronial tenement building, built in the 1860s by Glasgow firm Clarke and Bell, sits in the heart of the town’s conservation area but could be bulldozed if an application going before planning chiefs in the coming weeks is given the go-ahead.

Background here: https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/the-only-way-is-down-for-jedburgh-building-despite-objections-mounting-townsfolk-told-1-4993498

Jedburgh councillor Jim Brown told last week’s community council meeting: “What’s happened here is folk have not been maintaining their properties for a period of time.

“It can be expensive. Simple things like getting your gutters cleaned, when up a height, are more expensive nowadays, so it’s just not happening.

“The Scottish Government has noticed this, and that’s why were are the third town in the Borders to get money from the Scottish Government from the conservation area regeneration scheme to make sure that the properties that are in a dangerous state, especially within the conservation area, are looked after.

“With this building, the council’s responsibility was to make it safe.

“The second engineer survey didn’t fall into place with the first and a decision had to be made at council level.

“The executive looked at the costings and it made sense at that point that we had to demolish the building.

“I made it clear then that there was no way we would have a repeat of what happened at Bert’s Shop.

“There was no way we were going to have a gap site right in the main centre of the square.”

The previous demolition site referred to, formerly Bert Dalgleish’s shop at 31 High Street, has been a gap site since 2012, when it was demolished after a similar story of neglect. Plans were approved earlier this year for seven flats there.

Community councillor John Taylor alluded to the same site, adding: “I am very critical of the council, but I must say this is not all their doing.

“I do hope lessons are learned from this, because that’s twice this has happened on the High Street, and we cannot allow it to happen again.

“The council are the ones who are taking the rates. They have to somehow figure out what buildings are at risk and step in to get the owners to take responsibly.”

Georgiana Craster, referring to the building currently under threat in the square, added: “The owners have not looked after their property.

“They have shrugged their shoulders of it and left it to the council to sort.

“The guilt here stands with the owners.”

‘The X-Factor of Bare-Knuckle Boxing’ is coming to Scotland for the first time – and has chosen the Borders for its visit.

The search is on for new talent to become professional bare-knuckle boxers and a training day – the first of its kind to be held in Scotland – is happening in Hawick on September 14.

Ultimate Bare-Knuckle Boxing, aka UBKB, is a professional legal promotion company for the sport, owned and run by Shaun and Amanda Smith, from Warrington, and Stu Armstrong, from Newcastle.

It says its main emphasis is the health and safety of the fighters.

Hawick is also the home town of the UBKB British Heavyweight Champion, Gareth ‘Gumpy’ Walker, who has taken the sport by storm over the last two years.

He started boxing after retiring from rugby – the highlight of his career was playing for Scotland.

UBKB said it hopes to give the opportunity for some Borders people to be a part of Europe and the USA’s fastest-growing combat sport.

Said Stu: “Those who attend our training days will train with (referee) Shaun Smith, heavyweight champion Gareth ‘Gumpy’ Walker and the UBKB team and, if we think you have what it takes, you may be offered a professional BKB contract with us.

“But be prepared – it’s a brutal session that really sorts the men from the boys and only those who we think have what it takes will be signed.

“We are looking for experienced fighters from any combat sport but also talented raw novices.”

The session starts at 2pm prompt on the day and anyone interested should fill out their details at www.ubkb.uk/fightforubkb.html or contact Stu Armstrong via email at

stu.armstrong@ubkb.uk

You won’t be expected to fight or spar during the session, but be prepared and dressed to train.

A plea has been made for Live Borders to allow free access to Tweedbank athletics track during the World Athletics Championships, which run from September 28 to October 6.

The request was made by Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for culture and sport, Cllr Euan Jardine, who formally raised it with Live Borders chief executive Ewan Jackson at a recent council executive meeting.

Cllr Jardine said: “The World Athletics Championships will be live on BBC every day, and in a world where most sporting events are behind a

pay TV wall.

“This is a great opportunity to engage and ignite a passion for the sport in people who may not know we have an 400m track in the Scottish Borders.

“It would be great to see people running or jumping on the track during the championships.”

Cllr Jardine garnered support from Berwickshire athlete and Great Britain 800m

internationalist Guy Learmonth, who trains on the Tweedbank Track.

“It would be incredible, as increasing participation in the sport is vital, especially for the younger generation, so to have it more accessible and free would be great,” he said.

“Just to see young people out there enjoying themselves, taking part in this fantastic sport, would be amazing. The facilities are great and I

would encourage Live Borders to open up the gates and show how good the sport is during the championships.”

Helping the local clubs grow is another reason Cllr Jardine believes it’s a good idea.

“This is an ideal opportunity for local clubs to meet with anyone wishing to join,” he added. “Traditionally, people only access the track during club nights. This can be a bit overwhelming for anyone trying out the track

for the first time.

“So to get an opportunity to go along for free and run how you feel, with no pressure, is an ideal way to become familiar with your surroundings. “Also to know the stars on TV, like Guy Learmonth and long jumper Jasmin Sawyers, have trained on the same track would make it that little bit more special.”

Live Borders’ response so far has been entirely non-committal.

In a statement, a spokesman said: “Cllr Jardine raised some great suggestions about Live Borders’ activity in relation to the opportunities arising from the World Athletic Championships taking place this year.

“We will most certainly be using the increased attention on athletics as a catalyst for our engagement with all ages and abilities, to encourage athletic development all year round in collaboration with our Sports Development team.”

Plans for four low-carbon homes in Hawick have been approved on appeal. 

East Lothian-based Borders Low Carbon Developments originally submitted plans to build four semi-detached houses on the north side of Weensland Road, opposite Mansfield House, in December 2018.

However, planners at Scottish Borders Council rejected that application, citing concerns over their potential visual impact and effect on neighbouring properties. 

In response, the Humbie firm lodged an appeal, and it was upheld by the council’s local review body last week. 

A statement, submitted to the committee by Galashiels-based Ferguson Planning on behalf of the developer, reads: “Concerns relating to residential amenity are considered to be unjustified in this case as the proposal will in no way have unacceptable impacts on 8 Weensland Terrace. 

“There are no windows on the elevation facing Weensland Terrace and the proposed set-back positioning of the development will not cause unacceptable disruption to daylight reaching the rear of the adjacent property. 

Planning officers remained opposed to the scheme, though, telling councillors that the houses would not fit in with their surroundings.

Kelso councillor Simon Mountford disagreed with the officers, telling the committee: “I think this is an imaginative development.

“I welcome the low-carbon concept and the sustainability of the design.

“You can’t do things like that in a conventional design, and I think the developer is right to do that.

“I don’t see the fact it is set back from the road as a problem as you need to get cars back off the road. 

“There is no uniformity of design in that area, and I don’t think it’s an affront to the placemaking design of the neighbourhood.

“I like the idea of the grass roof surface for ecological and environmental purposes.”

In contrast, East Berwickshire councillor Jim Fullarton said: “I think we’re really going for a tick-all-the-boxes approach here when there are real concerns over flooding and ecology. 

“I think the design is flawed, and the officer has got it right in this instance.”

Councillors could not come to a unanimous decision, so the appeal went to a vote, with four voting in favour of granting planning consent and three against.

Speaking after the meeting, the firm’s boss, David Anderson, said: “The site is entirely sloping ground, but by carefully balancing the amount of cut and fill, we have created house platforms with no underbuilding and where removal of surplus soil is completely unnecessary. 

“We aim to start on site in the new year and, before the end of next year, deliver four supremely comfortable homes ready to meet the challenges of the uncertain global future.”

Inspirational vice-captain Greig Laidlaw keeps his place in the Scotland rugby squad as Borders pair Darcy Graham and Jamie Bhatti return – while it’s Stuart Hogg’s turn this time to watch from the sidelines.

Head coach Gregor Townsend hgas reshuffled the Borders contingent once again for the third of Scotland’s four Summer Tests and World Cup warm-up matches, which takes place this Saturday in Georgia.

Following the Scots’ much-desired 17-14 win over France in Edinburgh last week, the next game takes them to the Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, with a kick-off time of 5pm BST, 8pm local time, live on Premier Sports.

Scotland will be the first Tier One national side to travel for a Test match on Georgian soil, which doubles as the last opportunity for players to stake their claim for the final 31-man group for Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, due to be announced by Townsend in a public event at Linlithgow Palace on Tuesday (September 3).

Townsend, himself a former Borders star player with Gala, has kept faith with Jedburgh’s own Greig Laidlaw, who was a model of calmness and assurance as he kicked a penalty and two conversions in Saturday’s win at BT Murrayfield.

Townsend has put ex-Hawick star Hogg back on the shelf, as one of 10 changes to the side which defeated France, but has recalled former Mansfield Park player Darcy Graham, in place of the injured Tommy Seymour, while former Melrose prop Jamie Bhatti is on the bench.

Also returning to the side is Sam Johnson, who made a significant impact in the Six Nations tournament, while Rory Hutchison starts his first Test match for his country. A number of other players will also have the opportunity to build on Saturday’s performance.

“There were improvements in our back-to-back games against France, in particular in defence, game management and at scrum, as well some elements of our attack,” said Townsend.

“All of these will be put to the test against a very good Georgian side, who we expect to be extremely motivated by their passionate home support.

“We’re expecting a very physical and confrontational encounter, which will be a great test for our squad. In order to rise to this challenge, we must take the game to our hosts right from the start, playing with relentless effort and accuracy.”

Scotland team – 15 Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), 14 Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), 13 Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), 12 Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors) , 11 Sean Maitland (Saracens), 10 Finn Russell (Racing 92), 9 Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne). 1 Allan Dell (London Irish), 2 Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), 3 Willem Nel (Edinburgh), 4 Ben Toolis (Edinburgh), 5 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), 6 John Barclay (Edinburgh), 7 Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), 8 Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors). Substitutes: 16 Grant Stewart (Glasgow Warriors), 17 Jamie Bhatti (Edinburgh), 18 Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), 19 Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), 20 Josh Strauss (Blue Bulls), 21 Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), 22 Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), 23 Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors).

Council chiefs have confirmed that three Borders primary schools shut for between three and seven years will never reopen.

Councillors today, August 29, rubber-stamped plans to close the village schools at Ettrick, west of Selkirk, and Hobkirk, south of Bonchester Bridge, along with Eccles/Leitholm Primary, midway between Kelso and Coldstream.

That agreement came after they heard that all three would require significant capital investment to be fit to reopen as their buildings are not suitable for use at present.

A report, presented to today’s full meeting of Scottish Borders Council at the authority’s Newtown headquarters by its interim director for children and young people, Stuart Easingwood, advised that reopening Hobkirk, Eccles/Leitholm and Ettrick would cost around £229,000, £107,000 and £38,000 respectively. 

His report reads: “Hobkirk Primary School was mothballed in 2015 following a sustained fall in its roll after a substantial increase in placement requests. 

“The catchment area was temporarily re-zoned to Denholm Primary School at the time of mothballing. 

“There have been no enquiries received about the school since mothballing, and 88% of Hobkirk catchment children are currently attending Denholm Primary School.

“Eccles/Leitholm Primary School was mothballed in 2016 following a sustained fall in its roll after a substantial increase in placement requests. 

“The catchment area was temporarily re-zoned to Coldstream Primary School at the time of mothballing.

“Since mothballing, the council has not received any enquiries regarding the school.

“Ettrick Primary School was mothballed in July 2012 following a sustained fall in its roll.

“Since mothballing, all primary-aged pupils have been transported to Kirkhope Primary School. 

“The number of primary-aged children has remained consistently low since mothballing and the council has not received any enquiries regarding the school in that period.”

East Berwickshire councillor Carol Hamilton, the authority’s executive member for children and young people, said: “I’d like to make it clear that this is not a decision that is undertaken lightly, and I’d like to thank officers for their diligence and understanding in this process.

“The council officers have taken note of pupils and parents’ views and have listened to the communities. 

“Looking at the declining school rolls, the council has a duty to look at providing the best education possible for people in rural areas.”

Hawick and Melrose each want to make progress in this season’s Scottish Cup – so both are treating Saturday’s preliminary round clash at Mansfield Park with the importance it deserves.

Little hint of a pre-season warm-up is likely to waft around this encounter – each side will be testing a few players and hoping for a good run in the competition. Therefore, a full-blooded Borders derby is on the cards.

Both clubs were in action last Saturday so have some continuity to draw on – Melrose were edged out 29-22 by Jed-Forest in the Booker Borders League, while Hawick went down 40-24 in a friendly at Carlisle.

Hawick head coach George Graham said: “We have had quite an intensive pre-season; the boys have been working very hard. We’re just fine-tuning things now to get ready for Saturday and then the Musselburgh game a week after that.

“I don’t know what team Melrose will put out but whatever is put in front of us, we need to try and deal with it – focus on what we have and what we need to get right.”

Melrose coach Stuart Johnson said there were many positives to take from the game at Riverside, with around five under-18 players in the squad and some other preferred choices missing.

“I think we lost it ourselves rather than they (Jed) won it,” he said. “We gave them four easy tries through missed tackles and we had plenty of opportunities.”

Saturday would be a different game, added Johnson. “Hawick are very dominant up front and it will be more physical. Up front will be where it is won and lost. It could be a bit feisty but we want to try and progress through.”

These are some of the most unusual baby names parents in England and Wales named their children in 2018, according to the Office for National Statistics data.

Scottish Borders Council leader Shona Haslam has hit back at continuing criticism of the authority’s plans to shut many of the region’s small playparks so it can focus resources on fewer but larger ones.

Councillors agreed in May to consult on the closure of 74 small playparks said to be underused and falling into disrepair. 

That move will go hand in hand with spending £5m over the next decade on six large playparks, three skateparks and four fitness shelters.

At a full council meeting today, August 29, the sums involved in that change of emphasis were called into question by Kelso councillor Euan Robson, however.

He asked Tweeddale East councillor Mrs Haslam to explain how the local authority calculated savings supposedly made by closing smaller playparks and was told: “The council is investing significant sums in enhancing play facilities in our towns, improving the quality of facilities, which in many cases provide a very poor play experience. 

“No net saving is planned from the programme, which is designed to be revenue-neutral.

“The overall revenue budget for the upkeep of parks across the Borders is contained within the budget for neighbourhood services, and no savings are projected from this budget as a result of the play programme.

“The removal of old play equipment from playparks which, following appraisal, were deemed to be low-value facilities will allow for sufficient resources to be deployed to maintain the new facilities being invested in by the council through the outdoor community spaces capital project on an ongoing basis.

“The new facilities include more pieces of equipment, widening access and providing higher play value than the previous, aged, low-amenity play equipment.

“The decommissioning of the older low-value facilities will ensure the revenue impact to the parks and environment service budget is cost-neutral. 

“I would further confirm that no playpark will be decommissioned until such times as the new playpark investment in that locality is complete.

“Members should also note that no town or village which currently has a playpark will be left without one following the upgrade process.”

Tweeddale West councillor Heather Anderson also queried the council leader, asking for an update on the proposed closure of 11 parks in her ward. 

Mrs Haslam told her: “The council requested feedback to the programme for decommissioning of playparks with an end date of August 18. 

“Officers will now undertake a review of the feedback and, where appropriate, respond prior to implementing the council decision.

“In announcing a significant investment in outdoor community facilities, the council recognised the need to address the historic overprovision of low-value playparks.

“Indeed, the council is in amongst the largest providers of playparks per 1,000 head of population when compared to similar authorities. However, when it comes to quality, it is amongst the lowest in play value terms.

“The council decision to invest in destination playparks and decommission those playparks which are obsolete does not remove the spaces from fulfilling an important community need in terms of access to open spaces. 

“These spaces can be used for informal play and have the potential to help the council address other issues such as its obligation to identify places for community food-growing.”

The council recently spent £342,000 on a new playpark at Harestanes Countryside Visitor Centre, near Ancrum, following on from new such facilities opening in Galashiels, Oxton and Stow. 

The council also opened a £300,000 playpark in Hawick in 2017 as part of the £3.64m regeneration of the town’s Wilton Lodge Park.

And Coldstream is next in line, a £250,000 playpark being set to open in its Home Park this Saturday, August 31.

The former Kelso high school, one of the town’s most recognisable landmarks, would largely be retained if plans submitted this week for its conversion into homes for the elderly are approved.

A detailed bid to create 34 extra care apartments for older people at the old secondary school in Bowmont Street, in addition to 47 affordable homes within its former grounds, will now be considered by Scottish Borders Council planners.

Selkirk-based Eildon Housing Association, in partnership with Kelso builder M&J Ballantyne, is also planning some demolition work on the site.

That would include flattening the old teaching block, games hall and music block, all dating back to the 1960s, and a partial demolition of the main school building.

However, the majority of the original building, opened in 1939, would be retained.

The conversion of the grade-B listed former school and its redevelopment is being supported by Historic Environment Scotland.

The old high school has stood empty since October 2017, following the opening of the town’s new £21.4m high school in Angraflat Road,

It was put on the market back in February last year, later being sold for an estimated £1.5m to M&J Ballantyne.

The extra care apartments form part of a 10-year vision for the delivery of housing, care and support for older people developed by the council and its partners.

The proposals incorporate one-bedroom apartments over two floors, with support accommodation, a central hub and sensory garden.

A spokesperson for the project’s architect, Galashiels-based Aitken Turnbull, said the new housing had been designed to complement the existing building, adding: “The principal buildings of interest are to be retained.”

The development has been welcomed by Kelso councillors.

Simon Mountford said: “I welcome this proposal as there is a very real and growing need for extra care accommodation in the area.

“We have an ageing population, and it is essential that facilities are provided that meet the challenges that this presents.

“I am also delighted that this proposed development will create a new use for one of Kelso’s most iconic buildings.”

Tom Weatherston added: “I am delighted the old high school is to be developed for extra care housing for the elderly.

“This is part of our 10-year programme to deliver similar projects across the Borders and provide much-needed new housing units designed to the very high standards clients need to live independently, with support, for as long as possible in their own homes.

“It’s also great news that much of the character of the old school is to be retained.

“It’s been a Kelso landmark for a lifetime for many, and it’s great that we will still see the old building still standing for many years to come.”

Michael Ballantyne, managing director of the Shedden Park Road building firm, said: “We are excited by the prospect of being involved in the retention and transformation of the former Kelso high school.

“Our proposals would provide extra care and private housing which will not only safeguard many construction jobs but also have a wider economic benefit.”

A woman found in possession of a knuckleduster has been ordered to behave herself for the next six months.

Claire Condie, 30, pleaded guilty to having that offensive weapon on her in North Bridge Street in Hawick on February 19.

Depute fiscal Fiona Hamilton told Jedburgh Sheriff Court that Condie had been arrested in relation to another matter, and following a search, the knuckleduster, said to be only a small one, was found attached to a set of keys.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said: “She was given this item and put it on her key-ring and did not think much about it.”

Mr Patrick added that Condie, of Allars Bank in Hawick, is now in far better condition than she used to be as she has overcome a previous drugs problem.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said he would defer sentence for six months for good behaviour and hand out a small fine then if she manages to behave herself in the meantime.

He warned Condie that if she lapses back into her old ways, the matter will be treated differently, however.

A father and son have admitted brandishing a weapon during an incident in Gala Park Court in Galashiels and will be sentenced on Thursday, September 26.

Robert McMillan, 59, and his 22-year-old son Philip pleaded guilty to shouting and swearing, threatening a man with violence and brandishing a weapon during a row on June 8 last year.

The court was told that the younger McMillan had invited a man dating his partner’s best friend to his father’s home.

Once he was there, however, the father and son began threatening him, claiming he looked like someone likely to be a “lassie-basher” and waved a crowbar or similar instrument close to his head, as well as bragging about their criminal activities.

The court heard that the man was alarmed at what had taken place, and after he left the house he called the police.

Sentence was deferred at Selkirk Sheriff Court until September 26 for background reports.

A 52-year-old man has been banned from the road for 14 months at Selkirk Sheriff Court for driving while more than three times the legal alcohol limit.

Charles McCallum, of Laidlaw Terrace in Hawick, pleaded guilty to driving with a breath-alcohol count of 68 microgrammes, the legal limit being 22, in Magdala Terrace in Galashiels and Ettrick Terrace in Selkirk in June.

McCallum also admitted having no valid driving licence or insurance.

The court heard that his erratic driving had sparked concerns, leading to the police being alerted.

Police officers found a third-full bottle of vodka in the footwell of the vehicle when they caught up with it after it had crashed into a wall, the court heard.

McCallum was also ordered to carry out 100 hours’ unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody due to his previous convictions.

A Tweeddale bridge is to be closed for two weeks to allow a five-month refurbishment programme to be completed.

Merlindale Bridge, near Drumelzier, will be closed from next Tuesday, September 3, to Tuesday, September 17, to allow waterproofing work to take place as part of a £335,000 restoration project due to be completed at the end of next month.

The bridge is on the B712 Hallyne-Rachan road, so traffic will be diverted via the A72 and A701 during the closure.

Signage will be in place to direct traffic and advise road users that local businesses remain open.

During the closure, the 91 Peebles-to-Biggar bus service will also be diverted along the A72 but will still serve passengers in Broughton.

In addition, a demand-responsive taxi service will operate for communities along the B712, including Drumelzier, Stobo and Broughton. Call 01721 721212 to book it.

Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, said: “We fully understand the importance of Merlindale Bridge to local communities and businesses along the B712 road, which is why we have tried to avoid closing the crossing during the five months of work.

“However, the works now required mean a closure is unavoidable.

“We have kept the closure to two weeks and have put in place contingency measures to try to keep disruption to a minimum.

“We thank local communities and businesses for their understanding and co-operation during the refurbishment of Merlindale Bridge.”

A planning row resulting in CCTV cameras being installed and accusations of harassment from both sides is set to be determined by councillors on Monday next week.

Robert and Lynda Jones, of Heiton, near Kelso, want to remove a planning condition imposed on them by Scottish Borders Council stating that they must maintain a public right of way running alongside the home they built on hitherto-unused land at Ladyrig. 

The Joneses maintain that the path is not a historic right of way as they say previous maps from Ordnance Survey Scotland and the National Library of Scotland show it either missing or running along a different course. 

However, angry neighbours have lodged 28 objections to the plans and have also submitted a petition backed by 21 signatures. 

Locals say that the Joneses have erected large gates at either side of the path and have installed CCTV along the side of the house, giving the impression the path has already been blocked off. 

Sharon Keen, of Ladyrig, writes in her objection: “The footpath has always been regularly used and continues to be so despite the applicants’ actions in removing signage to discourage visitors from exercising their lawful rights to use the path. 

“It has come to my notice, and I have witnessed extreme harassment of users by the applicants and the erection of gates to discourage use in flagrant violation of the conditions of their planning approval.

“I suggest that the council should take action to correct these breaches.”

Richard Gray, also of Ladyrig, agrees, saying: “I was dismayed that the footpath between the new houses at Ladyrig is threatened with closure. 

“I have regularly used the route as part of a circular walk since moving here long before the new house was built.

“I am also concerned that the fencing has made the path narrow and that it is overlooked by cameras attached to the house walls.

“I note that discussions have already taken place with council officers, but it is my hope that local views are sought before making a decision.”

In response to those objections, the Joneses hit back with a statement of their own.

It reads: “The map history around the path is a total mess. It is a path of double standards.

“It cannot cross one garden but crosses another. It is blocked in numerous places, but no one complains. It is unsigned everywhere, yet people want signs only in our garden.

“The 2016 decision notice highlights that this path has no identity or importance in the eyes of officers, yet officer after officer has conditioned it in our garden while allowing every other part of this path to fall by the wayside. “It shows open discrimination against us. 

“Scottish Borders Council’s access team have been unable to provide any proof to justify their actions in creating a path section on our plot in 2005. 

“They have also failed to prove that this path existed from 1948. We have clearly demonstrated significant evidence against the council’s position.”

The Joneses also state that problems have only started to arise since they lodged their application, explaining: “The access team requested we log usage, which we did for five months in advance of a meeting with the community council.

“This provided clear evidence of usage before this path became emotive. Usage has always been extremely low on the path section through the garden, although this has increased since the application has been submitted. 

“The path  section is now not being walked responsibly by certain walkers who are using it to harass and intimidate.” 

Now, the case will be heard by councillors sitting on the local authority’s planning and building standards committee on Monday, September 2. 

Council officers are recommending that councillors approve the application as they say that other legislation dictates that the right of way must remain open so to use a planning condition is unnecessary. 

Planning officer Euan Calvert writes in his report to councillors: “In planning terms, the condition has now served its purpose of securing the route of the footpath, and the council accepts that it is unnecessary to bind the applicant to maintain the right of way open and free from obstruction in perpetuity when other legislation exists to uphold access rights to this footpath.” 

The Joneses tried to bypass the council’s planning committee and took the case straight to the Scottish Government’s planning and environment appeals department, stating that the local authority had failed to make a decision within the agreed timeframe. 

However, a department reporter, acting on behalf of Scottish ministers, threw that appeal out after ruling that the council had not exceeded the relevant time limit.

Background reports have been ordered on a woman involved in a fracas while being transported to the Borders General Hospital at Melrose.

Grace Smith, 42, of Fisher Avenue in Hawick, pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner in an ambulance on the A7 at Ashkirk on November 2.

She admitted shouting and swearing, struggling with police officers and running away from an ambulance on an unlit road during the hours of darkness.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the accused reported that she had been assaulted by being hit in the face in a Hawick pub.

She had complained of having a sore face and was intoxicated, but there was no evidence of an assault, the court heard.

The fiscal said that an ambulance was summoned to take Smith to the Borders General Hospital, but at 9.15pm, while it was about five miles north of Hawick, paramedics called the police because she was being unruly.

Mr Fraser said the ambulance had to stop because of her conduct, and Smith jumped out of it and ran off along the road.

Ambulance personnel then ran after her and escorted her back to the vehicle.

Mr Fraser said: “Police officers arrived, and her behaviour was described as emotional and volatile.

“She started struggling with police and had to be placed in handcuffs.”

He added that Smith stated that if she was let out, she would kill herself.

A cigarette lighter was found in her underwear, and she intended to cut herself with it, she said.

Sentence was deferred until Tuesday, September 17.

Background reports have been ordered on a 62-year-old man at Selkirk Sheriff Court after he admitted receiving almost £30,000 in benefits he wasn’t entitled to.

Richard Bridges, of Maidenhall Farm Cottages, near St Boswells, pleaded guilty to banking income-related employment and support allowance payments of £29,738 without declaring payouts he was getting from pension plans.

That offence was committed over a five-year period at a house near Earlston.

Bridges told the court he has paid back all the money.

Sheriff Peter Paterson told him his offence was a serious matter and deferred sentence until September 23 for a criminal justice social work report and restriction-of-liberty order assessment.

A woman stood in front of a former partner’s vehicle in Hawick High Street following a dispute resulting from the end of their relationship.

Natasha Brown, 20, owned up to that offence and also admitted leaning on the bonnet of the woman’s car, shouting and swearing and kicking the vehicle on June 6.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick told Jedburgh Sheriff Court that the pair had been in a brief relationship but it had come to an end, leading to a falling-out.

He added that his client had been drinking alcohol when the incident occurred and there was a dispute.

Sentence was deferred on Brown, of Cheviot Road in Hawick, for six months for good behaviour.