“I noticed I’ve got five cups sitting here and I thought, that’s a real achievement for a seven-year-old boy.”

So said proud Oxnam mum Joanne Stenhouse this week about her and husband John’s son Hamish.

For the mini rugby player was the youngest rider in five of the Borders common riding and festival rideouts this summer.

Mrs Stenhouse said: “The fact that he did all these rideouts on his own is quite an achievement. I’m just really proud of him”

Hamish and his sister Emma, a previous winner of youngest rider cups, completed the Stob Stanes (at Yetholm), Melrose and Flodden (from Coldstream) rideouts last year when Hamish was just six.

They added two heavyweights, Redeswire, the big Jedburgh rideout, and the day-long Yetholm ride from Kelso, this year.

“They are really difficult rides and it was a horrendous day for Redeswire this year, “ said Mrs Stenhouse.

The nursery nurse would know for she and her sister Lesley were also youngest riders when as children they too took part in the summer horseback festivities.

And it was Lesley, who has the Langlee Riding Stables at Jedburgh, who lent Hamish the brown 12.2hh 12-year-old Dartmoor pony, Milo, on whom he completed his challenging summer.

“Hamish has been known to doze off while he’s on a pony. He’s laidback, he’s a bit like Milo, they’re both very laid back. Milo was ideal for the rideouts because I knew they were safe and with my sister, the girls who work for my sister and Emma, ” said Mrs Stenhouse.

Hamish has been riding since he was about three years old “bombing around” on the 10.2hh chestnut Nugget, who is about 20 years old and is now being ridden by Hamish’s three-year-old sister Millie.

“Hamish has done a bit of hunting and enjoyed the rideouts. He enjoys his riding and he enjoys his rugby “ said Mrs Stenhouse: “About four years ago when Graham Slorance was Herald (in Jethart Callant’s Festival), Hamish idolised him. He wasn’t bothered about being Callant, he wants to be like Graham and wear a red jacket and be up at the front!”

The hydrotherapy pool at Borders General Hospital has been given a stay of execution.

The move follows fears that it would be closed to make way for a new outpatients’ department.

Back in November TheSouthern revealed the pool was under threat, and by last week more than 1,300 people had signed a petition demanding the vital service be retained within the hospital.

On Tuesday, the hospital’s assistant medial director Dr Hamish McRitchie confirmed the pool would be retained until a review of services was complete.

Dr McRitchie said: “One area that has proved difficult is the arrangement for reproviding hydrotherapy. Our hydrotherapy service review has commenced and the senior clinicians advise us that we should retain the pool until the review is complete and an alternative is established. This will allow time for a process of staff and public engagement. We have therefore adopted a phased approach to the development of the outpatient department.”

And this week, following an offer of additional capital funding to use this financial year, planning and preparatory work for the new outpatients’ department is now under way.

“Phase one will see audiology, physiological measurement and medical outpatient clinics move to the new development on the ground floor in June 2013. The hydrotherapy pool will remain in its current position during this phase. Some outpatient clinics will need to remain upstairs at this time.

“Phase two will see the development of a purpose-designed physiological measurement area and the relocation of the remainder of outpatient clinics.

“The new outpatients’ department will be created in the existing occupational and physiotherapy areas on the ground floor of the hospital. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy will be integrated into a new combined rehabilitation facility which will be created in the current Ward 10 area. Ward 10 itself will move into Ward 14 when the Margaret Kerr Unit opens in January. The move of Ward 10 will also allow us the opportunity to create an environment that is more fitting for the patient groups in the ward and address the issues, including an improved entrance and signposting, which were identified in the Older People in Acute Hospitals inspection of the hospital in July.”

Dr McRitchie added: “This is a wonderful opportunity for the Board to invest a substantial sum of money on improving its facilities and services which will benefit thousands of patients across the Borders.”

COUNCILLORS have agreed not to object to proposals to extend one of the largest wind farms in Europe into the Borders as long as government ministers consider ommitting five specific turbines, writes Mark Entwistle.

If the Scottish Government agrees to that condition, the Borders council will have no objections to the application for 54 more turbines near Tweedsmuir from SSE Renewables.

The bid, if successful, would see an extension to the current 152-turbine Clyde Wind Farm development in South Lanarkshire, and was considered by SBC’s planning committee on Monday.

Only three of the proposed additional turbines would be sited within the Borders boundary – none are located in the region at present – in SSE Renewables’ proposed layout, with the remainder in South Lanarkshire.

It is due to the large scale of this particular wind farm that it is the Scottish Government which will decide whether the application is successful, with both the Borders and South Lanarkshire councils involved only as consultees.

SBC planners want the wind farm scaled down for visual impact reasons, with the developers having already reduced the proposal from 57 to 54 machines.

The applicants claim the £246million scheme will generate nearly 150 jobs locally, with more than £20million being pumped back into local communities over the lifespan of the wind farm.

South Lanarkshire Council already considered and agreed not to object to the application.

The existing Clyde Wind Farm lies to the south and west of the proposed extension site and the area being [proposed for the extension lies within the Tweedsmuir Uplands Special Landscape Area (SLA)

The extra turbines will be 142m to tip in height, but councillors heard that any significant impacts from the additional turbines were generally limited to the A701 corridor and the omissions of certain turbines, relocation of others and reduction in turbine heights would result in lesser visual effects.

SBC wants the further omission of five turbines to particularly improve the visual impact when viewed from the A701 road south of Tweedsmuir.

Local councillor Stuart Bell (Tweeddale East, SNP) said, as someone who drives up and down the A701 road quite frequently, the turbines were visible to motorists.

“I’m impressed there has been some give on turbine location and that some of the heights of turbines have been reduced,” Mr Bell told fellow committee members.

“But as you drive towards the Devil’s Beef Tub, you keep coming upon wind farm upon wind farm, practically all the way to the Crook Inn.”

Mr Bell added that if there were further extensions in certain directions, they would have a “very dominant impact” visually.

However, he said he would find this latest proposal acceptable if doing so helped protect the eastern part of the valley – as people travel north from the Borders – from further encroachment.

A £5.5million mountain bike centre near Innerleithen has been given the green light by councillors this week.

At Tuesday’s meeting of Scottish Borders Council planning committee, planners said the scheme to build a mechanical chairlift, toboggan run and visitor centre on land east of Traquair House could be accommodated without disturbing a colony of protected bats nearby.

The bats occupy a small area of woodland which needs to be felled to provide access to the bike park, but officials explained there was sufficient land to modify the junction to create a safe access and at the same time protect the bats.

The community group behind the scheme, Action on the Innerleithen Mechanical Uplift (AIMUp), will now start the process of raising more than £5m to fund the scheme.

The 1.4km uplift system is based upon a German rail-mounted design which is of low profile without the need for towers or overhead wires on the route towards the summit of Plora Rigg. The toboggan run will be of a similar design, running 1.1km back to the base station.

Planners received 112 representations on the application, all of which have been in support of the project which is seen as an extension of existing mountain bike facilities within Traquair Forest, already one of southern Scotland’s 7 Stanes mountain bike centres.

Ian Campbell, a member of the AIMUp team, said the group was delighted with the planning committee’s decision.

He said “This is obviously great news for the project, Innerleithen and, we believe, the Scottish Borders. With planning approval, we have something tangible to progress discussions with potential funders.

“We are also hopeful that the decision on our NFLS application to lease forest estate land will be made before the end of the year.”

Speaking afterwards, local Scottish Borders councillor Stuart Bell (Tweeddale East, SNP), also the local authority’s executive member for economic development, said he has been impressed with what he called the “wisdom” of AIMUp in promoting its scheme not just as an installation to get mountain bikers up the hill more easily, but as an initiative to help raise economic activity and improve the prosperity of Innerleithen, Walkerburn and the wider area of Tweeddale. Mr Bell told us: “The planning application, which was approved on Monday, will not just be a facility for downhill enthusiasts, but will help get more leisurely mountain bikers up to a plateau on Plora Hill where they can enjoy less demanding blue and red runs, and will open up the hill for walkers.

“This, together with the spectacular toboggan-run, will significantly expand leisure options for young an old coming to Innerleithen, and strengthen the Scottish Borders as Scotland’s premier cycling destination.

“Increasing the numbers of visitors to the area will increase their length of stay, which will benefit local shops, cafés, hotels and guest houses.

“The challenge now is to get the backing from public and private partners to fund the £5m or so of investment that is required – no small task in these difficult economic times.

“But I’m sure that the enthusiastic group of volunteers are up for this challenge.”

TWO Borders soldiers are looking forward to returning home in the next few weeks from tours of duty in Afghanistan, writes Mark Entwistle.

Sergeant Sgt Mark Macrae, who hails originally from Golspie in Sutherland but now lives in Kelso, is a piper in the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards.

Although a full-time piper in the regimental pipe band, in Afghanistan he is primarily an infantry platoon sergeant in the commanding officer’s group.

The battalion is presently working with the Afghan National Security Forces to keep an important highway secure so that the local population can travel freely through the area.

In over 16 years’ service with the pipe band, Sgt Macrae, 38, has played at numerous high-profile events, including the Queen’s birthday six times, Edinburgh Military Tattoo five times and a state banquet where he piped for US president Barack Obama.

He has also been on operations in Iraq, Northern Ireland and in 2010 was in Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 12.

Sgt Macrae told us: “Compared to Herrick 12, the Afghan National Security Forces take control more, they have advanced, they stand and fight without our help.”

His tour highlights so far include piping for a Remembrance Service in November and more recently for Saint Andrew’s Day at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Oullette where he and another five bandsmen played ‘Abide With Me’ and ‘Amazing Grace’ at a church service.

Sgt Macrae’s wife Susan, son Ben, 5, and daughter Sophie, 8, all live in Kelso where Mrs Macrae works for her father at Roger Fish & Son, Crosslaw Caravan Park, Coldingham.

Sgt Macrae says he is looking forward to seeing his family, taking Ben to football and having a pint in the Red Lion when he goes home soon on leave.

The Pipe Band of The Scots Guards is the largest in the British Army, and it has toured the world in recent years, playing everywhere from the United States to Azerbaijan, Japan and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, another Borderer currently serving with the Scots Guards in Afghanistan is also looking forward to coming home in time for Christmas.

Guardsman Ross Hayworth, 22, from Melrose, has been working closely with the Afghan National Civil Order Police (ANCOP) to bring security to an area of the Upper Gereshk Valley in Helmand Province.

Gdsm Hayworth, who also serves with the Catterick-based 1st Battalion Scots Guards, is a general purpose machine gun (GPMG) specialist in 8 Platoon.

He has been based in Pan Kalay, a small check point on Route 611 which has been handed over to the ANCOP.

Gdsm Hayworth told TheSouthern: “The ANCOP have been amazing and we’ve grown a strong bond.

“They know what they are doing so we can trust them to do a good job when we leave, they are professional from the top down.”

The Scots Guards have been responsible for maintaining security on the road. Working closely with the ANCOP, the Scottish troops have built up a good relationship with the police officers and it’s through this mutual trust that the checkpoint has been handed over to the Afghan police for full control.

A keen sportsman, Gdsm Hayworth has played rugby for Melrose, as well as for the Scots Guards, and on his return to the UK will be attending trials for the Army U23 team.

He and his fellow platoon members will be returning to the UK just before Christmas as part of the drawdown plan for combat troops in Afghanistan.

Gdsm Hayworth says he is looking forward to seeing his girlfriend, Fran, spending Christmas with his family in Melrose and going to The Ship for a beer.

When not on operations, the Scots Guards carry out ceremonial duties and during Gdsm’s three-year army career, he has guarded the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace, St James Palace and Windsor Castle.

FESTIVE shoppers have been urged to ditch the internet and spend their cash in local shops, writes Bob Burgess.

The plea to abandon online searches for Christmas presents has come from MSP John Lamont.

He says people who have still to do their Christmas shopping can find all they need without leaving the Borders.

Experts reckon that households across the UK will spend a staggering £22billion on gifts, cards, decorations and food over the festive season. And the Conservative MSP says that with online retailers taking more and more of this money, some local stores are struggl ing. He has urged shoppers to support their local stores before going elsewhere.

He stressed: “Here in the Borders, we have one of the best selections of shops in Scotland available to us. There are hundreds of independent retailers in our towns and villages offering more unique and more high quality products than you can find anywhere else. We are extremely lucky to have them on our doorstep.

“The Christmas period represents a huge economic boost to many retailers across the UK, but more and more people are choosing to do their shopping online.

“This has meant that some local stores have started to struggle, and if we don’t support them now, we risk losing them altogether.”

Mr Lamont added: “Thousands of jobs in the Borders are supported by the retail industry, and that’s why I’m encouraging as many Borderers as possible to shop locally this Christmas. Whether it’s buying Christmas cards, turkeys or presents for family and friends, there is a wide selection available on our doorstep.”

And he believes shopping local can provide better value for money.

He commented: “While online shopping does have a role to play, you can often find cheaper and better produce on your local high street. I know that I’ll be shopping locally this Christmas, and I hope that as many people as possible will do the same.”

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that, for the first time, almost £1 in very £10 spent on goods by Britons is spent online. We spent around £539million online each week in September out of sales of £5.61billion. Easy access through smartphones has helped boost online sales.

DESPITE being described variously as a ‘carbuncle’, ‘looking like a damaged box’ and a ‘missed opportunity’, the design for the new Galashiels transport interchange still garnered enough support from councillors to be approved this week.

Scottish Borders Council planning committee voted 8-4 in favour of the recommendation from planning officers to approve the scheme for the site wedged between Stirling Street and Ladhope Vale.

The lower portion of the interchange will be stone, while the upper sections will be clad in silver-coloured shingles similar to those used in the futuristic modern terminal building at Farnborough Airport.

However, councillors were faced with the bizarre situation of having a recommendation to approve before them, while at the same time noting that the council’s own heritage and urban design officer had expressed serious concerns about the external appearance of the proposed building, particularly the controversial twisted mansard roof and the metal shingle cladding.

Added to this were comments from the council’s urban design officer who felt the modern three-storey building design did not relate particularly well to its surrounding Galashiels context.

Although designed for three storeys, the building is actually of a scale comparable to a five-storey residential building and will dwarf neighbouring properties.

As well as the new interchange building – for which Birmingham-based firm, D5 Architects, has utilised two ‘colliding’ forms – the project will see Stirling Street realigned, with its bus station demolished and a new bus park adjacent to the interchange.

There was some concern raised that, with the actual railway platform on the other opposite side of Ladhope Vale from the interchange, an elevated walkway to link the two had not been adopted, but councillors were informed this would not have complied with road safety requirements.

The council’s roads planning officials, however, gave the scheme a glowing recommendation, saying the project will deliver a fully-integrated transport system in the heart of the town.

Planning officer John Hayward said the interchange would be a significant building for Galashiels.

“This will create opportunities for the enhancement of the town centre,” he said. “It is the first phase of the wider regeneration of this part of Galashiels.”

Local Galashiels councillor, Bill White (Ind), said the interchange had the ‘wow’ factor. “This will be the largest civic building the council has undertaken and what we wanted to create was something that demonstrated what the Scottish Borders is all about – innovative and open for business, and that we are not some dowdy, backstreet council.”

However, Conservative Group leader Michelle Ballantyne (Selkirkshire) was less enthusiastic and unhappy that rush-hour traffic would be continually halted by people using the pedestrian crossing to get to the platform.

Councillor Nicholas Watson (Leaderdale & Melrose, BP) felt it was a “poor, weak,” design. “When I showed the design to my children they said it resembled a damaged box, which I thought was quite a perceptive remark,” he said.

“The roof in the middle, I feel, is particularly a mess, while the windows look like they were added as an afterthought.
It’s a very unsatisfactory design and does not sit well next to the other nearby buildings.

“I think we should be thinking about refusing this on design grounds.

“It won’t be a waste of time, though, because with some proper architectural input it could be turned into something really good.”

Councillor Simon Mountford (Kelso & District, Con) described the new building as a ‘carbuncle’. “It’s is mish-mash and I think we’re missing an opportunity,” he told the meeting.

A NEW mini planning brief has been approved for two areas of Morebattle, writes Mark Entwistle.

Members of Scottish Borders Council planning committee, meeting on Monday, agreed a recommendation to approve the brief for housing sites at the village’s Renwick Gardens and West Renwick Gardens.

These have been identified in the council’s consolidated local plan (CLP) for housing and the brief is aimed at helping create a development ‘vision’, address potential constraints and encourage good quality new development.

A draft mini planning brief was approved back in April and was used as the basis for a 12-week public consultation process.

The two areas of Morebattle have a combined indicative housing allocation in the CLP of 29. Councillors heard that the site at Renwick Gardens is currently used as a playing field, with a small area under cultivation as allotments.

The site at West Renwick Gardens is currently used for arable crop production.

Planning officials believed that a failure to approve a mini planing brief for these two areas of land would have impacts in terms of resources in the development management section at the council, potentially resulting in delays in processing applications.

The planning committee members unanimously approved the planning brief recommendation.

Local councillor Simon Mountford (Kelso & District, Con), however, warned that any increase in traffic could be problematic for that area of Morebattle. He told the meeting: “We should be wary of increasing traffic volumes down what is in effect a rural cul-de-sac.”

On possible landscaping and planting, Councillor Vicky Davidson (Selkirkshire, LD), commented: “I’m not a fan of structural planting to hide it off – if successful, any developments have to feel part of the village.”

TWO of the Borders’ biggest social landlords have signed a £5million agreement to renovate a Hawick housing estate.

Scottish Borders Housing Association (SBHA) and Waverley Housing agreed to the legal transfer of empty properties at Stonefield.

Refurbishment work on existing blocks of flats is currently under way, while 11 empty blocks are to be demolished by autumn 2013 to make way for 44 new family-sized affordable homes.

The agreement between SBHA, Waverley Housing and Scottish Borders Council (SBC) was sealed this month.

Ray Licence, chairman of SBHA, said: “This marks the culmination of many years of hard work by SBHA and Waverley Housing, with significant assistance and support from Scottish Borders Council and the local community.

“We can now embark on providing high-quality modern homes, working closely with tenants and residents to provide a sustainable, vibrant community.”

Rita Stenhouse, chair of Waverley Housing, added: “We are delighted to be party to the regeneration of Stonefield estate and look forward to engaging with tenants and residents in our refurbishment programme, which will breathe new life into the area.”

SBC leader David Parker welcomed the deal.

He said: “This agreement will transform the Stonefield area by providing more affordable housing and bringing long-term empty houses back into use to meet identified local needs.”

FEARS over their viability as a tourism development and potential impact on the quality of life for neighbouring residents, has seen controversial plans to build 28 holiday chalets at Whitmuir Hall on the outskirts of Selkirk thrown out by councillors.

Scottish Borders Council planning committee, meeting on Monday, voted 7-4 to refuse the application from Whitmuir Hall’s owner, Alan Williams.

This was despite a recommendation from planning officers that the scheme be approved.

Local authority planning officer Scott Shearer’s report had stated that Mr Williams proposal was in line with the local authority’s tourism policies.

Supporters of the project had also pointed to an economic review which claimed there was only a modest supply of existing self-catering provision in the Borders.

But speaking ahead of Monday’s meeting, local resident Hilary Dunlop, whose family owned Whitmuir Hall before selling it to Mr Williams in 1989, dismissed the economic forecast as a whitewash.

“The sole reason for recommending approval seems to be that it is in line with the Borders Tourism Strategy which, because of the economic downturn, has gone out of the window,” she said.

“It is a totally inappropriate site for a development. The facilities do not support the numbers which the developers say will use the lodges.”

A total of 50 objections were received by planners over the proposals, while last month Selkirk Community Council reiterated its opposition due to the proximity of the development to Whitmuir Loch, a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) still owned by the Dunlop family.

Although Mr Shearer’s report had contained assurances the proposal would not have a detrimental impact on the environment or visual amenities, it failed to sway seven members of the committee.

These included Selkirkshire councillor Michelle Ballantyne (Con) who had a number of concerns, one of which was that the project failed to grasp the policy that states tourism developments have to be sustainable.

“I’m struggling to make that link in terms of this particular development,” said Mrs Ballantyne. “It also does not support the policy of linking to the transport system as there is no public transport in or out of this site. Everyone going there would require a car.

“Also, the department never received an economic justification report, which one would have expected would have been done beforehand, instead of depending on a market overview which doesn’t refer to this site in particular.”

Mrs Ballantyne agreed the region needed more good quality self-catering properties, but doubted this was the development to help satisfy that need.

“There are a number of self-catering flats already there and there is no evidence this scheme is coming out of demand for these.”

Mrs Ballantyne said she was also alarmed by proposals to grant people occupancy periods up to six months in duration. “I don’t know many people who go on holiday for six months, renting a holiday flat at holiday rates for that length of time. It sounds more like short-term tenancies.”

She went on to flag up concerns about access and increased traffic, while her fellow Selkirkshire member, Vicky Davidson (LD), said objections to the proposals to develop the site had not diminished, despite the project being on the table for a number of years.

“I have no doubt this would change the character of this small settlement – it would impact on its neighbours and their quality of life,” she said.

“I don’t think this development would happen quickly and I just foresees very muddy roads and construction traffic for a long period. Generally, I’m not supportive of this development.”

Scottish Borders Prostate Cancer Support Group held its end-of-year social evening in Borders General Hospital’s chaplaincy centre last week.

Members were entertained by Marion on her keyboard before a buffet supper. This was followed by quizzes – one featuring photographs of Scottish castles and stately homes, the other about Christmas.

The next meeting will be held in the same venue on February 6 at 7pm when anyone suffering from prostate cancer or awaiting results of tests will be made welcome.

A JEDBURGH firm has been recognised for its commitment to environmental excellence at a sustainable business awards.

Mainetti beat off stiff competition from businesses across Scotland to win the management award at this year’s VIBES 2012 ceremony which was held at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel.

Now in its 13th year, the Vision In Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) awards programme recognises the commitment, actions and achievements of companies in reducing their impact on the environment. The VIBES management award recognises businesses whose management systems deliver continuous improvement in environmental performance.

John Bathgate, of Mainetti, said: “This is great recognition for our commitment to sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint. Not only does being green as a business support the environment, but it is also a boost for our bottom line.

“We now aim to build on this achievement by further expanding our green credentials.”

BORDERS health spa Stobo Castle has received the Investors in People (IIP) Gold Award.

Morag Roper, accounts director at Stobo Castle, received the award from First Minister Alex Salmond, right, at the Scottish Parliament.

Stobo Castle now joins the five per cent of accredited Scottish companies who have achieved this standard by excelling in how it manages and treats its workforce. It is the only establishment in the hospitality business in Scotland and the only privately-owned business in the Borders to receive a Gold Award.

“The management and staff have worked extremely hard to gain this recognition and I greatly value their on-going dedication. Such is our enthusiasm to continue to improve how we manage and develop our people, I would now urge Investors In People to introduce a Platinum Award,” commented Stobo Castle managing director Stephen Winyard.

IIP is a global business improvement framework and is recognised as an achievement of world-class best practice.

DURING the last couple of editions we’ve been looking at the basics of getting your business selling online. We’ve already covered the different kinds of software available and how to take payments online.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

So, now you’re all ready to get stuck into selling your products to the eagerly-waiting public? Not quite. You have to make sure that you comply with the various rules and regulations that relate to selling online. At the very least, your website should clearly:

z Provide a full geographic address;

z Provide a proper email contact address;

z Flag up any hidden or unexpected charges early in the buying process;

z Be clear about cancellation rights;

z Provide a full refund, plus refund of delivery, when things go wrong.

The Distance Selling Hub is a resource set up by the Office of Fair Trading. It’s a great place to find out what rules apply to you and how you should implement them: www.oft.gov.uk/business-advice/treating-customers-fairly/dshome/

COPY

Give your customers as much information about your individual products as you can, in a clear and concise way. They are more likely to buy from you if you provide a full specification rather than one line of text.

Many e-commerce systems allow you to structure your product pages in a way that presents a short overview of the product, and then delve deeper to get more information if they wish.

The copy should also reflect the personality of your site: a small boutique selling unusual clothing would have a far more informal approach to speaking to its customers than a large site selling computer gear.

PHOTOGRAPHY

There’s no point in having a swish-looking website if the product photography isn’t up to scratch. Don’t be tempted to use your phone’s camera to snap a few pictures of your products. Many manufacturers invest thousands of pounds in taking professional shots of their products, so check with those you buy from to see if they can provide you with any.

One disadvantage to this is that your images will more than likely be exactly the same as many other sites that are selling the same products. Seriously consider investing in hiring the services of a professional photographer. If the budget won’t stretch to having all your products photographed, just use key ranges that you want to highlight. This can also help if you use shopping sites such as Google Shopping, where your unique images will stand out from the rest.

DELIVERING THE GOODS

You’ll need to have an efficient system in place for processing and delivering orders when they start coming in. Get quotes from a range of delivery companies to see which best fits with your business. Also, make it clear on your website how much delivery charges are – don’t make customers wait until they add an item to their basket before you tell them.

So that’s the basics of getting your e-commerce site set up … but we haven’t even touched on how to market your site and get it noticed. That’s another story for another day.

z Andrew McEwan of The Web Workshop in Morebattle (www.thewebworkshop.net) helps businesses in the Borders and beyond with their online presence and digital marketing.

A DRIVE to reduce energy consumption and waste has paid off for Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf & Spa near Peebles.

Installing energy-saving spotlights and light fittings in all 99 bathrooms and public areas of the hotel has cut electricity output by just over 40 per cent, while plans to introduce another recycling bin is expected to further improve waste-management measures.

CASH is having to be freed earlier by organisations helping to pay for the £11.6m upgrade of Abbotsford House after trustees of the property hit a funding hitch.

Scottish Borders council is expected to release £112,500 from the 10 per cent it was holding back from its £1.5m contribution. The retained cash wasn’t due to be paid until the renovations are completed next spring.

Abbotsford trustees also hope the Heritage Lottery Fund will cut its retention from 10 per cent to 2.5 per cent to help avoid any delays in the scheme.

The trust says it is only facing a cash flow problem and not a shortfall in funding.

MORE should be done for Borderers who lose their jobs, writes Kenny Paterson.

That is the view of Galashiels community councillor John McLaren, who believes Scottish Borders Council could provide more support to workers made redundant in the region, no matter how big or small the business. He was responding to the closure of Comet in Galashiels last month, with the loss of 14 jobs.

Mr McLaren said: “When Exacta (later known as Viasystems) closed in Selkirk, the council stepped in with support.

“For the workers of Comet, there has been no support. Even though there were far fewer people involved, they are entitled to help.

“I am challenging SBC to consider its responsibility around trying to provide help for sacked workers.

“I am concerned that the council will only step in once a big factory closes.”

Galashiels councillor Bill White said: “The council, along with the Scottish Government, will only step in when it is a significant employer which is set to close.

“But the council has set up a £300,000 business loan fund to help firms borrow money and has a shop-front improvement scheme, so it is trying to help.

“There is not a lot the council can do if a national business wants to close down a shop.

“The likes of Comet and Woolworths have gone to the wall because they have not kept up to date and, as a result, have failed.”

But Mr McLaren replied: “There are existing services in SBC which could be engaged to help these people.

“But if there is no system there to help them, how do they access these services?

“We need to make sure people who lose their jobs know where to go. I just think we have an opportunity to do something.”

A BID by a nightclub boss in Galashiels to extend drinking times by an extra hour on Boxing night and Hogmanay looks set to be blocked.

Police and the licensing standards officer have opposed a request by Richard Crawford to keep the Indigo Rooms in Overhaugh Street open for revellers until 3am.

The councils licensing board has already agreed to 2am extensions for the midweek festive days.

But Police Inspector John Scott and licensing officer Ian Tunnah will tell the board tomorrow they oppose the 3am bid over fears of disorder.

FIGURES published by the director of social work in the Borders reveal a big jump in the number of adults referred for protection – up over 12 months from 133 to 292.

Andrew Lowe says in his annual report out today that one reason is a change in the way medication errors are recorded.

Mr Lowe says the figure reflects improved reporting and awareness but with a rise in reports from residential settings.

Reasons for referral were : physical harm (24 per cent); financial or material harm (21 per cent); acts of omission or neglect (20 per cent); psychological abuse (12 per cent); sexual abuse (5 per cent) and self harm or neglect (5 per cent).

PUPILS from Newtown St Boswells and Melrose primary schools proved they had the life-saving know-how to come out tops in this year’s Crucial Crew event.

Every primary school in the Borders, as well as children at the privately-run St Mary’s in Melrose, took part – a total of 1,216 pupils.

They were given safety instructions and tested on the dangers posed by electricity, water, fire, farm machinery and rail lines, as well as drugs and alcohol.

The Crucial Crew experience is now in its 20th year and spearheaded by Lothian and Borders Police and their various partners.

This year’s event spanned 14 days during September and October.

And on Monday Alexander Leitch and Richeldis Brosnan picked up the £100 prize on behalf of their schools from Constable Rachel Stevenson, locality integration officer, and Karen Wilks, of Victim Support.