A wind farm development near the Cheviot Hills which attracted more than 1,000 objections has been thrown out by council officials.

The planning department’s decision on Tuesday ends a four-year battle led by campaign group Protect Your Cheviots to stop Whitton Wind Farm project near Morebattle going ahead.

Initially, applicants Vattenfall applied for six turbines in August 2009, which attracted around 800 objections. And despite submitting an amendment in February to reduce the proposal to five turbines by removing the machine closest to Oxnam, a further 400 dissatisfied comments were made to SBC.

Among them was the Duchess of Sutherland, who agreed that the development would mar views from the Eildons, Cheviots and Carter Bar. She added: “It would spoil a particularly magnificent part of our countryside and will be seen for miles around.”

SBC’s refusal report said the proposal would have “a significantly adverse effect on local landscape character” in an area which is currently wind farm free.

Vaffenhall cut the scheme’s size to meet concerns of the Ministry of Defence with regard to the impact on the Eskdalemuir’s underground nuclear testing station.

It was also offering the local community an incentive of up to £1.875million in spin-offs from the wind farm over 25 years, and the application did receive support, including Jedburgh councillor Sandy Scott, who said most of Morebattle’s residents were behind it.

A spokeswoman for Vattenfall said the company was disappointed with the council’s decision.

She told us: “We will now review the grounds for this decision and consider our options going forward.”

A councillor says he has been assured local primary schools, at least in the Kelso area, are not threatened with merger as part of the planned £11.5million cuts in Scottish Borders Council’s education budget.

Councillor Simon Mountford claims the pledge was made at a recent meeting between councillors and education staff.

“Glenn Rodger, director of education and lifelong learning, assured me there are no plans to merge any of the area’s primary schools,” said Mr Mountford. “This is particularly welcome in Yetholm and Morebattle, where there were fears the villages’ schools – which already share a headteacher– might be forced to combine on one site. In Kelso, it means Edenside and Broomlands schools are unaffected.”

Mr Mountford said schools in other parts of the Borders were not discussed, but there was an “inferred presumption” against mergers.

But asked to comment, SBC said: “The meeting last week was to brief an elected member reference group on a range of review areas that officers and headteachers have been working on and therefore no decisions or assurances were appropriate to be given.”

Mr Mountford says he appreciates no cast-iron promises were made.

“But, as things stand, I was told that there are no plans for mergers,” he added.

Galashiels faces a summer of disruption with major works starting as the Borders Railway closes two well-used traffic and pedestrian routes.

Network Rail will shut Plumtreehall Brae and two large sections of the Black Path on Monday, while council schemes to improve the town centre and flood defences begin next month, followed by the start of the transport interchange in October.

A new civic space will be created in Cornmill Square, as well as work to the High Street. The realignment of Stirling Street is needed to make room for the interchange at Ladhope Vale, and a new car park and civic space. The Gala Water flood defence project will also see work in the Plumtree area, with its bridge to be demolished by Borders Railway contractor BAM Nuttall and replaced by a footbridge.

Galashiels Chamber of Trade chairman David Houston has urged townsfolk to stay patient ahead of the inevitable delays.

Mr Houston told The Southern: “The transport interchange will benefit the town centre in that all pedestrian traffic will be directed into the heart of the town and more new parking will be created at the old bus station site.

“The Cornmill Square work will entice pedestrian traffic from the retail parks into Bank Street and Channel Street and the High Street improvements will create a nicer space with more on-street parking right next to shops. Overall, more pieces of the jigsaw are being put in place to ensure Galashiels is in pole position to attract new businesses as the economy recovers over the next few years.”

Councillor Gordon Edgar, SBC representative for infrastructure, said: “I realise that these (works) may cause some inconvenience for local people, but would urge you to remember that these changes will bring some significant benefits for local businesses and the creation of a transport exchange for travel into and out of the Borders for local people and visitors.”

Hugh Wark of Network Rail added: “The closure of Plumtreehall Brae to traffic will create a safer and more attractive route for pedestrians and for local residents once the new footbridge is constructed.”

The Galashiels war memorial clock is to be silenced for two weeks from July 22, writes Jason Holland.

The upgrade work is predicted to cost £2,000 and SBC says it is needed to ensure the clock operates smoothly for years to come.

The organisation which manages air traffic control in the UK has said a wind farm near Hermitage Castle would have an unacceptable impact on radar.

The Windy Edge proposal by Infinis was submitted to the council on June 28.

NATS, responding to the council’s consultation on the plans, has said that the turbines, up to 121.5m high, would have an detrimental impact on the Great Dun Fell radar, with Prestwick air traffic control centre confirming that this would be ‘unacceptable’.The response states that the turbines would cause ‘false primary plots’ on the radar system.

However, the developer has anticipated this objection, and also believes the Ministry of Defence will also object as the turbines will cause ‘clutter’ on radar data from their Deadwater Fell equipment.

The developer also states within the planning application: “The impact on the setting of Hermitage Castle will be of minor significance.”

The Territorial Army’s Galashiels base needs you, after it survived a raft of cuts to units across Scotland, writes Kenny Paterson.

Seven TA facilities in Wick, Dunoon, Keith, Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline, Glasgow and Edinburgh will be closed as part of UK Government reforms.

The retention of the Galashiels base was welcomed by local MP Michael Moore, who wants Borderers to sign up as part-time soldiers in order to boost numbers.

As well as the reforms including the renaming of the volunteer force as the Army Reserve, there will also be an attempt to boost TA numbers in Scotland from around 2,200 to 3,700 reserve soldiers by 2018.

The UK Government hopes to achieve this by, among other ideas, giving small firms an additional £500 per month when staff are deployed with the reserves.

Mr Moore said: “I welcome that the paper set out a new, better deal for army reservists in the Borders as well as confirming the protection of the unit in Galashiels.

“The Reserves play a vital role in the UK defence forces and the £1.8billion committed by the Government over 10 years to deliver well-trained, well-equipped Reserves will be a huge boost to our local forces.

“This includes improved training, hundreds of pounds of financial incentives to employers and a £42million package of new kit for Reservists to put them on a par with Regular forces.

“These changes will offer Borders Reservists more training, kit and opportunities, while providing more support for their families and employers.

“As we increase the size of the Army Reserve force in Scotland from 2,200 to 3,700, the Army will launch a new recruitment drive in Scotland and I want to encourage Borderers to consider getting involved in the TA and look at the opportunities that are on offer.”

However, the news was not welcomed by the Scottish National Party, with the cutting of seven out of 38 TA centres being described as “disproportionate”.

Angus Robertson MP added: “The changes will arouse suspicion that it is another coalition cost-cutting move not really aimed at modernising the Army for the 21st century.”

But Major General Nick Eeles, who is head of the Army in Scotland, said the bases that were closing had few people attending them and that a new facility is due to be built in Kilmarnock.

TO ANY business, getting timely payment for work is vitally important, but keeping on top of invoicing and ensuring customers are paying within your credit terms can be a timeconsuming job.

Clearly, the sooner an invoice can be sent to a customer the better. Firstly, any queries can be dealt with whilst fresh in your mind, and the quicker the invoice is out, the quicker the money is in.

Waiting until the end of the month or when you have a minute is delaying your money and can lead to you being in overdraft at the bank, as you have to pay suppliers whilst waiting for customers’ cash.

Installing a computer program like Sage Instant Accounts may be the solution you need to keep ahead of the game, and top of the list of people your customers need to pay. It allows you to raise invoices simply, and with no prior knowledge of accounts.

The invoice layout can be set up to include both credit terms and, for example, bank details for direct payments. The invoices can then be printed or emailed directly to customer as a secure file.

Invoicing from Sage Instant Accounts also allows you to keep track of when you did a job and for whom, by creating a customer database, which records all work done for a client.

When payment is received, this is recorded, so an up-todate detail of who owes what is always available.

But what if you’ve done all of the above and you still haven’t been paid? Sage can generate letters, which you are able to customise, to chase for payments.

Of course, whilst you don’t want to hound customers and hurt your ongoing business relationship, it is equally important to remember that if work is done it is to be paid for in a prompt manner.

For more information contact 01573 224391 or gail.kristiansen@renniewelch.co.uk

The Kelso factory of Forbes has secured its first major order after the installation of new equipment.

The firm will supply six 80,000-litre tanks for a Manchester company who will use them for the storage of filtered water used during the manufacture of semi-conductors.

Forbes’ Kelso factory can now produce thermoplastic tanks of up to 100,000 litres capacity, thanks to the latest automated equipment.

New donors are needed for the Blood Transfusion Service visit to Selkirk next weekend.

BTS staff will be in the Victoria Halls on Sunday, July 21, from 10.15am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

Anyone who is over 17 years old and healthy can donate blood.

A CALL has been made for community council elections to be more transparent, writes Kenny Paterson.

Last month saw only seven people put their names forward for the voluntary group, which is meant to have 12 members, meaning elections were not needed.

And at Monday’s meeting, only five members were present, with chairman Graham Easton and treasurer Tommy Combe unavailable.

Vice-chair Ian King took charge of the meeting – and he wants to boost numbers in coming months.

He told The Wee Paper: “We are under-strength at the moment and want to co-opt on some new members, otherwise there will be too much work for so few people.

“We have one or two people who have expressed an interest and would welcome more.

“In future, I would like candidates in an election to write a paragraph about their interests and what they wish to achieve on the community council, instead of just a name on a page. The process at the moment is not transparent.”

Mr King added: “We want people with the knowledge and skills to help the community.”

Last month, returning officer Gordon Edgar said he was disappointed with the response for nominations for the council.

Local butchers J. A. Waters and Sons have marked Andy Murray’s victory at Wimbledon by producing a special meat treat.

The High Street butchers say their Murray Burger consists of 100 per cent beef and has been created in recognition of the Dunblane tennis star’s achievements.

HAWICK rugby supporters will be celebrating tonight after the club’s latest signing, James Parker, lifted the prestigious Jedburgh Sprint title at Riverside Park this afternoon.

The 18-year-old flyer was cheered on by a record crowd at the venue which was blessed with brilliant weather over the whole day.

Parker, who has signed for Hawick RFC following two seasons with Gala Wanderers, has provided Hawick coach Billy Edgar with his first ever Jed Sprint winner.

An 800 metre professional record attempt by top Borders amateur runner Guy Learmonth also had the Riverside crowd on it’s feet but the hot sticky conditions hampered the distance athletes and the record, which was set on a tartan track, remains in tact.

Full report and pictures in Thursday’s Southern Reporter.

A 47-year-old Kelso man has died following a collision between his motorcycle and a tractor in Cumbria on Sunday.

The man, who has not yet been named, was airlifted to hospital in Middlesbrough following the crash on the A683 at the Fat Lamb Hotel, Ravenstonedale, near Kirkby Stephen.

He later died as a result of his injuries.

A second motorcyclist who also collided with the tractor, a 45-year-old Berwick man, was taken to hospital in Carlisle with minor injuries.

The tractor driver escaped injury.

St. Boswells were defeated away to Edinburgh South in East Division One.

Gala made it nine wins in a row in Division Two, with a comfortable win over Dunnikier. Kelso were edged out by nine runs against Murrayfield DAFS in Division Three, whilst Selkirk remain top of the table in Division Five, defeating Livingston 2nds by 96 runs.

In Division Seven, Hawick got back to winning ways away to Old Contemptibles and Melrose were beaten by league leaders Tranent.

A SELKIRK man who used to run a chip shop in the town but later became brothel-keeper in Edinburgh has been jailed for five years.

Robert Munro, 61, (pictured) was convicted after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh of money-laundering, living on the earnings of prostitution, as well as keeping a brothel – all aggravated by a connection with serious organised crime.

A co-accused, Margaret Paterson, 60, was also jailed for five years. A third accused Ian Goalen who pleaded guilty to living on the earnings of prostitution was sentenced to a Community Payback Order of 150 hours.

The Scotland-wide sex operation was based at premises in Grosvenor Street, in Edinburgh and the offences dated from 2001 until police moved in during 2011.

Munro and Paterson laundered over £1.2million and the Crown Office has started confiscation proceedings.

After sentencing, Lindsey Miller, the head of the Crown’s Serious Organised Crime Division, said the conviction demonstrated their commitment to bring to justice those who exploited others and who sought to benefit from crime.

Miller added: “Margaret Paterson and Robert Munro exploited vulnerable women for their own profit, running a large network of prostitutes across Scotland and laundering the proceeds of their criminal activities.”

Munro ran a chip shop on Selkirk High Street and for many years was a member of the local pipe band.

Paterson and Munro operated under a variety of names including Scottish Playmates, Kittens, Berkeley Ladies, Aberdeen Escorts and Edinburgh Escorts.

A memorial service for Borders rugby stalwart Derek Brown will take place in Melrose Parish Church at 12 noon on Friday.

A former SRU president, 1998-99, Brown died at his home in Melrose last Friday at the age of 80.

Just as his father Bob before him, Derek was widely recognised for years of dedicated service to Melrose rugby club both on and off the pitch. He was described as an absolute gentleman with a fine sense of humour and always good company. Jim Telfer, who was Scotland coach in the 1999 championship winning year, described Derek as a “tireless forward” who was renowned for his prowess in the lineout.

“His main asset was his indefatigable spirit. He was a typical Border forward,” Telfer added.

Educated at Melrose Grammar School and Galashiels Academy, Derek played in the back-row for Melrose, the South, Scottish Districts and the Barbarians. He also travelled as a reserve for Scotland without being called upon.

When he completed his playing days, Derek was a member of the Melrose club committee for more than 30 years. He followed in his father’s footsteps as club secretary for 12 years and then became club president.

Farms along the coast in Berwickshire and in Lauder have been targeted by thieves, police have revealed today.

The incidents happened at various locations over the weekend and officers are seeking information, with thousands of pounds worth of property stolen.

Several items of property including a generator, garden strimmers and a petrol chainsaw were taken during these thefts.

In addition, a Ford Focus car and diesel fuel was also taken.

Officers are now urging anyone who remembers seeing suspicious activity in or around Borders farmland over the weekend to contact police immediately.

Farmers and rural workers are reminded to take the appropriate security measures to ensure their home or business is not an easy target for criminals.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Farms and rural properties are often considered attractive propositions for would-be thieves, given their remote locations in many instances.

“However, by making sure that your land is properly secured will deter criminal activity.

“Outbuildings and vehicles should always be locked securely when unattended and where possible, alarms and CCTV cameras should be considered.

“Ensuring items of value are stored out of sight will also help protect your property and storage containers for fuel should also be placed in areas that are not easily visible to other members of the public.

“Anyone looking for more information on crime prevention can contact their local policing team.”

Police are appealing for information after a buzzard was found dead near Heriot.

The discovery was made on Sunday, June 30 by a member of public next to a forestry plantation at Carcant Hill.

The bird of prey was in a badly decomposed state but forensix analysis has shown it had been shot with a shotgun pellet.

While tests have been unable to confirm if this injury resulted in the buzzard’s death, police are keen to hear from anyone who can assist with their enquiries.

PC Hannah Medley, Wildlife Crime Liaison Officer for Police Scotland, said: “This buzzard has been deliberately shot at some point, which is a crime.

“What we cannot establish at this time is where the bird was shot, or whether the injury caused its death and so anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact police immediately.”

Anyone with any information should contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers in confidence and complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

MOORFOOT Runner Jacob Adkin (17) finished a highly commendable eighth while running for Scotland in the World Mountain Running Association International Youth Cup.

Competing in what is effectively the Under 18 European Championships, held in Gap, France, Adkin matched his sister Scout’s finishing position in the same event in 2009.

Up against athletes from the traditionally strong mountain running countries such as Turkey, Italy, England, France, Poland, Bulgaria and Russia, as well as the 30 centigrade morning heat, Jacob completed the 5.3km course (335m climb) over two minutes ahead of his two Scotland team-mates in 26th and 27th and only just failed to catch the second of the England runners on the run to the line.

The three strong Scotland team finished sixth overall, one point shy of Russia.

Innerleithen and District Community Council is looking for new members to fill six vacant seats.

Nominations open tomorrow and if more than six names are put forward a ballot of local electors will take place.

Returning officer councillor Gavin Logan said: “Innerleithen and District Community Council has been part of so many successful projects in the area - they really are a credit to the community they serve.

“New members always bring new ideas and ways of working with them and they keep groups, like community councils, invigorated.

“I urge local residents to put their names forward to join the community council and contribute to the ongoing success of this organisation.”

Nomination forms are available from.scotborders.gov.uk/communitycouncilelections, or from Ruth Kerr, Innerleithen CC secretary, at 2 Waverley Mills.

Completed forms should be placed in the ballot box in Innerleithen Post Office by midday on Thursday, August 8.

Depending on the number of valid forms received, the new community council members will be announced on Thursday, August 15.

The community council area covers from Blake Muir in the south to Leithen Hopes in the north.