Borders MP Michael Moore is to meet with Borders Police Commander Chief Superintendent Jeanette MacDiarmid ahead of a review of stations in Scotland.

The Police Scotland consultation will look at the opening hours of public desks, with many fearing a reduction, and even station closures, as the single force faces an increasingly challenging financial climate.

Mr Moore said: “Access to local police stations is very important for people here in the Borders so I am very concerned that this review could see opening times reduced and even office closures in the area.

“I am meeting with our local police divisional commander very soon and I will be urging her to ensure that Borderers do not see a reduced service at local police offices as a result of this review.”

There are a few places left on the first botany course at the Devil’s Beef Tub near Moffat this weekend.

Owners, conservation charity Borders Forest Trust (BFT), hope the £40 ‘Botany in the Beeftub’ at Corehead Farm will help participants identify flowering plants, mosses and grasses, and to understand upland plant communities.

On Saturday students will learn about the background of Corehead Farm, plant communities and structures, before working in pairs to identify, record and photograph or draw and learn four to six plants at a time on the Beef Tub.

On Sunday participants will go to Tweed Hope woodland to again learn the plants and find out about the plant community there.

The course will be led by ecologist Stuart Adair who has been surveying the farm’s flora before more tree planting.

Corehead volunteer and course facilitator Peter Dreghorn said: “The course will be for anyone with an interest in this area. Enjoyment of observation of the native plants gaining an understanding of what is growing at Corehead are also main objectives.”

Ancrum-based BFT bought the 1,580-acre farm in 2009 after an 18-month campaign to raise the £700,000 needed. Volunteers have since planted 226,000 trees, dug several ponds and established two large orchards.

To book contact Philip Roe, Corehead site manager, by email: philip@bordersforesttrust.org or on 07713 566295 or Peter Dreghorn on 07810 505323.

Victoria Park, home of Vale of Leithen FC, will provide the setting for the historical St Ronan’s Games on Saturday, writes John Slorance.

Instituted in 1827, the Innerleithen event is the oldest organised sports meeting in Scotland and top event on the card is the eight-heat 110 metres handicap.

Back marker is former New Year Sprint winner Leigh Marshall (3m) from Hawick, while Craig Gillan (TLJT), who dead-heated for third place with Marshall in the Jed-Forest Sprint last weekend, runs from 4.5m. Both are liable to be there or thereabouts in getting into the winning frame this time around. Innerleithen hopes are pinned on Sean Grant (9.5m).

James Park TLJT (10m), Ryan Elliot Hawick (6.5m), Kerr Gerrard Selkirk (9.5m), Euan Pettigrew Kelso (9m), Amy Clancy Peebles (17.5m) and Robbie Shirra-Gibb St Boswells (7.5m) are among the many Border runners set to be in action.

In the 1600m handicap, Alastair Laurie of Selkirk bids for his fourth win of the season from 335m. Other senior, junior and youth races make up the rest of the St Ronan’s bill.

It was with a certain amount of relief that Borders athlete Chris O’Hare crossed the finish line in first place at the British Athletics Championships last Saturday.

And a great deal of delight when he received the call on Tuesday informing him that he had been chosen to represent Great Britain at the 2013 IAAF World Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Moscow.

O’Hare captured the gold medal in the 1,500m run at the championships, held in Birmingham last weekend, crossing the finish line in a time of 3.51.36 minutes.

However, the 22-year-old from West Linton thought he had done enough to earn selection for either the European Championships or Olympic Games last year – but gained an invite to neither.

His exclusion left him with multiple points to prove – and on Saturday he did just that.

“It’s been quite a difficult year when all is said and done,” said O’Hare, who is studying at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma. “I feel I have been on the bad side of the selection policies for quite a while and finally I am on the good side. It’s great to be able to tell people I have finally been selected for something. It’s now my time to shine.”

O’Hare’s race on Saturday was one of the best examples of the steady improvement of British middle-distance running since its glory days during the 1980s – and O’Hare is confident he and his compatriots can build on the foundations already laid.

“We have a really good group of guys and we will all be striving to rejuvenate British distance running. Everyone thinks the African runners are just too good, but they are there to be beaten along with everyone else. I just can’t wait to get to Russia and mix it up with them,” he added.

With less than a month to go until the World Championships, O’Hare is back to the grind before joining the rest of Team GB to fly out to the training camp in Barcelona prior to the event in Russia, which takes place from August 10-18. Most of his family are flying out to lend their support in Moscow, although younger sister Olivia, a top-class distance runner herself, is having to return to Tulsa where she also studies. Both O’Hares are aiming to be part of the Glasgow 2014 Scottish team.

WITH the weather and common ridings keeping the numbers low, it was left to quality rather than quantity at the fifth Borders Pool League Tour event.

Hosted by the Reivers Bar in Galashiels, the shock of the quarter-finals was Tour leader Ian McCombe going down tamely to Gary Patterson. Darren McGurk showed some good form when knocking out Ally Mooney and Kieran Riddell pushed Scott Bowers all the way before going down by the odd frame, leaving new favourite Scott Simpson to cruise through against Jason Bowers.

The semis proved equally exciting with Simpson edging Patterson via a last-frame clearance, while Bowers just got the better of McGurk.

Tactics and excellent potting was the order of the day in the final. Again the match went to the last frame where Bowers went in off the black to hand the title to Simpson.

The Scottish Senior Tour descended on the Reivers on Sunday and a long day saw local kingpin Scott Bowers turn in a brilliant performance to reach the final where he went down 5-3 to top internationalist Derek Ahern (Aberdeen).

Bowers won all four matches in his group before beating Andy Kelly (Dumfries) and Scottish captain Dave Styles in the knock-outs.

The final proved to be a step too far and after being 3-2 up he succumbed to brilliant safety play.

Bowers said: “I played my best pool for a while, despite being the underdog in most of the games. To beat almost half the international squad was mind blowing.”

DETERMINED Hamish Brandon produced a stunning show in the sunshine at Oulton Park to keep the pressure on at the top of the Mini Challenge championships.

Brandon, from Hawick, proved he had the talent to make the jump from the Scottish Mini Cooper Cup by taking Cooper driver-of-the-day spoils last time out on the Indy circuit at Brands Hatch – a meeting that included three podiums and his first win in the Mini Challenge.

But he wanted to show that the result was no one-off, and achieved that in style with two superb second places at Oulton last weekend.

Brandon turned in an excellent qualifying run, putting him second on the grid by less than a 10th of a second to championship leader Shane Stoney, and seven-tenths ahead of their nearest challenger. He then piled on the pressure in the first 20-minute race, taking the fastest lap and went on to clinch a battling second place in heatwave conditions.

The reverse grid format of race two meant that the Teri started fifth. He was down in seventh at one point in the race, but kept calm and a string of hot laps and passing moves got him up to second by the end.

Brandon told TheSouthern: “I am delighted. They were both tough races and I had to work very hard for these results.

“The Excelr8 guys did an excellent job on the set-up on the car to cope with the incredible heat.

“It was 38 degrees out there at one point.

“I also got the lap record to add to the one I got at Brands. That is a great double for me, particularly as this year I’m on a big learning curve with most of the circuits.

“It was important to me to show that I could build on Brands and I think Pandamonium Racing, running under the Excelr8 banner, has really opened people’s eyes. I am very pleased with this, but I now have to build on it again.”

Last weekend’s results mean Brandon moved up to second in the title race and he is now looking forward to another good weekend at Castle Combe on August 3.

GALA won their ninth East Division Two game in a row against Dunnikier, taking a huge step towards promotion with Marchmont being defeated by Heriots 2nds.

In what was a makeshift Gala side, opening bowlers Kris Mein and Scott Paterson bowled tightly, with Paterson getting the early breakthrough.

Change bowlers Dinesh Tharanga and Graeme Ormiston bowled exceptionally well, taking eight wickets between them, including five wickets for Ormiston.

Tharanga removed Saafraz Mohammed for 29, after he struck two huge sixes, and opener Sajid Saeed for 20 with a well-taken catch by Craig Thomson.

Josh Irvine took the final wicket to restrict the visitors to 146 all out.

With skipper Stevie Halls missing, Ormiston and Tharanga opened the batting and put on 54 for the first wicket before the latter was caught for 23.

Irvine joined Ormiston at the crease and both reached half-centuries, putting on an unbeaten 93 run partnership to see the Braw Lads home.

HAWICK got back to winning ways away to Old Contemptibles on Saturday in Division Seven with a tighter than expected two-wicket win.

The home side won the toss, choosing to bat first. Hawick’s opening bowlers, Lee Stewart and Neil Storey, started well, the latter finding the first breakthrough with a catch behind to wicketkeeper Allan Moffat.

Runs were hard to come by for OCCC, as Storey took his second wicket with another catch behind.

Moffat took a third catch behind off the bowling of Gary Alexander. Alexander took his second wicket to leave the home side toiling four wickets down at a very slow run rate.

However, the hosts started their recovery, putting on 101 for the fifth wicket before Storey had Raza caught for 39.

Mohanan passed 50, but was soon removed by Ronan Alexander as the home side finished 156 for eight from their 40 overs.

The visitors got off to a slow start, with Declan Solley and Euan Hair falling in quick succession.

But Gary Alexander and Moffat steadied the ship before the latter was caught for 23.

A batting collapse saw four Hawick batsmen fall, scoring just 26 runs between them, but at the other end Gary Alexander kept promotion-chasing Hawick in the game with a solid 35.

In what was a tense finish, tailenders Craig MacDougall and Stuart Hair got the travelling outfit over the line with eight balls to spare.

The following day a young Hawick side were defeated by Manderston by six wickets in the Border Sunday League, but were awarded league points for the home side fielding ineligible players.

The Teries batted first with Euan Hair and Declan Solley getting off to a fast start, before the latter fell for eight, to lay the foundations for Hawick’s innings.

Hair and Allan Moffat were the pick of the batsmen, finishing with 43 and 58 to their name as the Teries closed on 186 for nine from their 40 overs.

Doug Bryant, Ryan Johnston, Greg Baillie and Paul Rayner took a wicket a piece.

However, Hawick had no answer to Hayden Martin who guided Manderston home with an unbeaten 73 for the Berwickshire outfit.

Langholm remain at the top of Division Two of the Eden Valley League after an easy win at the Castleholm.

Gamblesby only managed to make 69 against the experienced home bowling attack, while the Langholm openers reached 70 without loss in 11 overs.

Winning the toss, the visitors opted to bat, but Graham Park (4 for 12), Steven Johnstone (3 for 13) and Duncan Elliott (3 for 14) made short work of their innings.

Langholm openers Elliott (41) and Ewan Wilson (24) were still at the wicket when passing Gamblesby’s total, making it eight games without defeat.

Kelso’s hopes of promotion from Division Three look to be over after a narrow defeat to Murrayfield DAFS 2nds on Saturday.

Murrayfield made 171 all out at Shedden Park, but the hosts could only manage 162, including 54 from Jason Gibson.

Selkirk look destined for Division Four after comfortably beating Livingston. The Souters reached 155 all out, Darren Fenton hitting 47, before the home side crumbled to 59 all out.

In Division Seven, Melrose lost their eighth match as they were skittled out for 50 in a heavy defeat to unbeaten Tranent.

Sunny weather has greeted the start of Kelso Civic Week. And organisers say the biggest crowd in recent years attended the celebrations’ family day in Shedden Park on Sunday.

Kelso Laddies’ Association secretary Richie Allan said: “It was a great success, the weather really brought people out. The week, altogether, has been very good so far.

“Kelso Laddie Calum Thomson is attracting a good following and we are hoping for the fine weather to continue.”

Tuesday evening’s rideout to Stichill, Hume and Ednam saw the Kelso principals dancing the reel at Ednam and the cavalcade take a welcome stop at Hume.

Two pedestrians heard a woman screaming and contacted police, who found her in the street bleeding and bruised.

Drunken Steven King had shared a litre bottle of vodka with his partner prior to the offence at his Overhaugh Street home in Galashiels on Friday.

The 44-year-old appeared from custody at Selkirk Sheriff Court, pictured, on Monday and admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards his partner, struggling and fighting with her.

Prosecutor Tessa Bradley told how the couple had resumed their relationship in recent weeks after a period of separation.

She said they began drinking at 11am and throughout the day consumed a litre bottle of vodka.

When the woman became upset over a recent bereavement, King tried to console her.

Ms Bradley went on: “She wanted to be left alone, but he persisted and kept trying to cuddle her, telling her to calm down. There was a physical altercation, in the course of which she sustained a bang to the head.

“Two people walking nearby could hear a female screaming, as if pleading for help, and were sufficiently concerned to call the police.”

Officers found the woman in Overhaugh Street with a scratch to her arm, cut to her head, blood on her face and a bruise to the neck.

“An ambulance was called and she was treated in the back,” explained Ms Bradley.

The woman told police there had been a tussle between the couple, adding: “He is just a bully”.

Defence solicitor Ed Hulme said: “The relationship becomes volatile when alcohol has been consumed.

“An argument escalated because they wanted to watch different things on the TV,” he added.

Mr Hulme said his client had moved to Galashiels four months ago to work on the new railway line.

Sheriff Jamie Gilmour sentenced King to a three-month community payback order, with 60 hours of unpaid work.

A 28-year-old man made a private appearance at Jedburgh Sheriff Court last Thursday, charged with rape in Hawick on July 9.

Emilian Krol, from Reading in Berkshire, was remanded in custody by Sheriff Derrick McIntyre, pending a further appearance tomorrow (Friday).

Krol, who also faces a second allegation of threatening and abusive behaviour, made no plea or declaration.

SENTENCE DEFERRED

A 49-year-old who repeatedly chased another man in Galashiels had sentence deferred until August 12 for reports.

Edward Tams was due to stand trial by jury, but pleaded guilty to an amended charge.

Tams, formerly of Galashiels and now living in Drumlanrig Court, Hawick, appeared on indictment and admitted having a Stanley knife at Stirling Street, Galashiels, on November 21. He also pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, repeatedly chasing a man.

DENIED CAR FIRE CONSPIRACY

Two men who deny planning to set fire to a car will stand trial by jury on September 9.

Nineteen-year-old Neil Brown, of Annfield Gardens, Galashiels, and Glen Douglas, 21, of Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk, are alleged to have conspired to set fire to a vehicle at Croft Road, Lauder, on September 18. Brown also denies stealing a set of car keys, taking away a car without the owner’s consent at Woodstock Avenue, Galashiels, and driving without insurance.

A further first hearing was set for August 19.

‘LOST TRACK OF TIME’

A 16-year-old has been remanded in custody for reports after breaching a bail curfew.

Jordan Simpson, who was on three bail orders at the time, was told by Sheriff Jamie Gilmour he had shown “little regard for court orders”.

Simpson, of Weensland Road, Hawick, admitted breaching a bail curfew at Kenilworth Avenue in the town on July 13.

Ed Hulme, defending, said his client suffered from ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and had “lost track of time”, adding: “He knows he is on thin ice, but this was not as malicious breach.”

Simpson will be sentenced at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on August 9.

DRUNK JED MAN BREACHED BAIL

When police were flagged down about a drunken man urinating near a children’s play park, he was found to be in breach of bail.

George Anderson was remanded in custody for sentencing at Jedburgh Sheriff Court next Friday (July 26).

The 44-year-old, of Bountrees, Jedburgh, pleaded guilty to breaching bail at Canongate, Jedburgh, on Friday.

“Police on mobile patrol were flagged down by a member of the public, to say that a man was extremely drunk and was urinating near the children’s play park,” explained prosecutor Tessa Bradley.

“They found him next to a fence post, clearly drunk and unsteady on his feet. A check was carried out and he was found in breach of a bail curfew,” she added.

Defending, Ed Hulme conceded his client had a lengthy record for dishonesty, adding: “The good weather and the local festival saw him drink more than normal, and he lost track of time.”

REMANDED IN CUSTODY

A 51-year-old man charged with breaching bail was remanded in custody for trial.

Krysztof Niemec, of Fisher Avenue, Hawick, denies breaching a bail condition at a house at Laidlaw Terrace, Hawick, on July 13. He will stand trial on August 20, with an intermediate hearing on Wednesday.

TEENAGER MADE THREATS

A drunken teenager who breached an ASBO (antisocial behaviour order) was fined £300.

McRae Fairbairn, of Grovehill, Kelso, admitted threatening others at Bowmont Street in the town on Monday.

Fairbairn was seen remonstrating with a group of males during the early hours of the morning.

As he approached them, he was heard shouting, “F*****g come on then”, before adding, “I don’t give a f**k about the police”.

Tessa Bradley, prosecuting, told the court: “It was clear he was under the influence of alcohol and officers told him to calm down.”

Checks revealed he was on an ASBO, and he was arrested and taken to Kelso police station where he made no reply to caution.

Fairbairn’s lawyer, Ed Hulme, said his client had recently turned 18 and had been out celebrating his birthday.

The solicitor went on: “He had too much to drink and says that the three males had been trying to wind him up.”

Sheriff Jamie Gilmour warned Fairbairn: “If this sort of behaviour carries on, you will end up in a young offenders’ institution.”

Trial date for Kelso man

A Kelso man was remanded in custody after he denied breaching a bail condition.

Stuart Carruthers, 41, of Roxburgh Street, is alleged to have failed to comply with a bail condition at The Mount and South Street, both Duns, on Saturday/Sunday.

He will strand trial at Duns Sheriff Court on August 14, with an intermediate hearing on July 31.

RELEASED ON BAIL

A Hawick man faces trial on October 16, with an intermediate hearing on September 18.

Bruce Turnbull, 33, of Ruberslaw Road, was released on bail after he appeared from custody and pleaded not guilty to breaching bail by allegedly attempting to contact a woman at McLagan Drive, Hawick, on July 13.

EIGHT MINUTES PAST DEADLINE

A Galashiels man who breached a bail curfew by eight minutes will be sentenced on September 2.

Glen Noble, 26, of High Buckholmside, appeared from custody and admitted breaching a 7pm-7am curfew in Church Square, Galashiels, at 7.08pm on Friday, July 12.

ASSAULT ALLEGATION

A 22-year-old man charged with assaulting a woman at a caravan park will stand trial at Duns Sheriff Court on November 20.

Liam Russell, of Dalhousie Avenue West, Bonnyrigg, appeared from custody and denied pouring a can of liquid over a woman at Pease Bay Caravan Park on Friday. He also pleaded not guilty to breaching a bail condition and possession of cannabis.

An intermediate hearing was set for October 23.

HOMES in the Kelso area have been targeted by thieves in recent weeks due to the warm weather, writes Jason Holland.

The opportunists are preying on homeowners who leave their property unlocked to take advantage of the sun.

A raider made off with two televisions from a farmhouse on June 17.

The homeowner had left the house for only a matter of minutes to drive down to a local shop – but during this time the thief managed to make off with the goods in a white van.

The householder returned to see the van drive off, but later police checks on the registration plates revealed they were fake.

The victim said: “It was very scary, I did not expect it at all.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson told The Southern that enquiries were ongoing into the incident.

The spokesperson added: “We would like to remind people to stay vigilant and to ensure their windows and doors are kept secure, particularly on days when the good weather means they are more likely to leave them unlocked.

“Members of the public with any information on opportunistic thefts should call Police Scotland on 101.”

Abbotsford House was subject to a fire alert last Friday – just over a week after The Queen officially reopened it.

However, fire crews soon discovered the alarm had been set off by dust.

A spokesperson on behalf of Abbotsford said: “The fire service did attend an automated call-out at 9am on July 12.

“This was triggered by dust from a vacuum cleaner when our cleaners were working in the private wing of the house, which is still undergoing refurbishment. Due to the 
important nature of 
Abbotsford and its collections, the fire and security systems at the house are very sensitive, however we will be giving 
additional training to our cleaning staff to try to prevent any future unnecessary call-outs.”

The home of Sir Walter Scott was reopened on July 3 following a £12million refurbishment, with around 500 guests in attendance, including Her Majesty The Queen.

Police are appealing for information after a buzzard was found dead near Heriot in suspicious circumstances, writes Kenny Paterson.

It is the second of the species to be killed in the last four months in the Borders, and the third bird of prey executed in the Heriot area in the last four years.

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

The bird was in a badly decomposed state but forensic 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 on 0800 555 111.

Back in March, a dead buzzard was found next to a forestry plantation at St Mary’s Loch in the Yarrow Valley.

It was discovered by a dog walker close to the loch’s weir at Bowerhope on March 6.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman at the time said the bird had experienced a “cruel, slow and painful death”.

Although figures are not yet available for 2012, during the whole of 2011 only three birds of prey were killed in the Borders.

The latest find will be a concern to police after the new single force set up an enlarged wildlife unit.

Assistant chief constable Malcolm Graham – who hails from Chirnside – is responsible for the team, and told The Southern back in March: “Wildlife crime is different across the country, from people stealing freshwater pearls to poaching and raptor kills.

“There are people who have different ideas, but generally we find members of the public very willing to help with our ­inquiries.”

A buzzard was killed in January 2011 in the Heriot area while police and RSPB officers swooped on the Raeshaw estate in June 2009 after a Red Kite was poisoned.

A father of four from Kelso with a ‘zest for life’ was tragically killed whilst riding his motorcycle in Cumbria on Sunday.

Almost simultaneously, another motorcyclist suffered injuries which later cost him his life following a crash on the A699 between Selkirk and St Boswells.

Michael Bates, 47, was riding on the A683 at the Fat Lamb Hotel, near Kirkby Stephen, at 4.35pm when he and a fellow rider from Berwick collided with a tractor.

Mr Bates was airlifted to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, but died as a result of his injuries.

His family released a statement through Cumbria Police earlier this week. It read: “It is with great sadness that Michael has so tragically been taken from us.

“A keen motorcyclist for several years with a zest for life, Michael, who loved both home and work life, will be sorely missed by his wife Jacqueline, sons Tom and Mick, and daughters Jo and Sophie.”

The second motorcyclist, a 45-year-old man, was taken to hospital in Carlisle, where he was treated for minor injuries. The 20-year-old tractor driver was treated at the scene by paramedics.

John Southern, 60, from Blyth in Northumberland, was also airlifted to hospital after the Triumph Tiger he was riding crashed on bends near the Lindean junction at 4.30pm on Sunday.

Mr Southern, who was riding with a large group of other motorcyclist, collided with a Seat Leon car carrying three people. They suffered minor injuries and were taken to the BGH for treatment. Mr Southern, who was flown to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, passed away during Sunday night.

The road was closed for crash investigation work to be carried out and for a fuel spill to be cleaned up.

Issuing general motoring advice, Roads Policing Inspector Tracey Robinson said: “Our officers have been patrolling Scotland’s roads focusing on educating everyone about the vulnerability of certain groups of road users.

“It is disappointing that a number of motorists are still not heeding our advice. All road users must be aware of their surroundings at all times. This is particularly important when carrying out manoeuvres at junctions, roundabouts and whilst reversing.

“In particular, be aware of cyclists and motorcyclists who sometimes travel in groups. When one passes be aware that another could be travelling behind.

“It is imperative that motorists not only look but also see other road users.”

Local members of the Yes Scotland campaign will take to the streets of Galashiels on Saturday to argue their case for next year’s independence referendum.

The group will be in the town’s Channel Street from 10am to noon to discuss issues connected with the vote with members of the public.

The former chairman of Scottish Borders Council’s planning committee says he will not appeal against his three-month ban from the group.

Hawick councillor Ron Smith was handed the punishment at a hearing of the Standards Commission for Scotland after he was deemed to have failed to have declared an interest in a sandwich bar application in the town in July 2012.

The former geography teacher has since said he will stand down from the committee altogether, but maintains he was harshly treated.

He told The Southern: “The hearing rules allow me to appeal but I do not intend to do so.

“Having said that, I continue to believe I acted within the spirit of the Code of Conduct and its wording allows for different interpretations.”

Mr Smith spoke at length against the Buccleuch Street application – which was refused in a 6-5 vote – during the meeting last year.

He described the bid as a danger to road safety due to the fear that pupils from the nearby high school would gather in the area.

A year on, the Standards Commission ruled that, as the Kirk Session of nearby Teviot Church – where Mr Smith is registered as an elder and treasurer – had objected to the sandwich bar, he should have declared his interest.

Yet, Mr Smith says he did not take part in a Kirk Session discussion which agreed to oppose the application.

And he believes an objective test which exempts those on a committee whose non-financial interest is “remote or insignificant” absolved him of fault.

“However, the panel decided that since I had registered my interest as an elder on the Kirk Session, I was bound by whatever the session did, and must therefore have an ‘interest’ in the outcome of the case to which it had objected,” added Mr Smith, the former Hawick provost.

Council leader David Parker was critical of Mr Smith’s ban. He said: “I accept but am naturally disappointed with the Standards Commission decision – I believe this stemmed from a genuine difference in interpreting the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.”

An SBC spokesman said a replacement for Councillor Smith has yet to be appointed, with the next planning meeting scheduled for August 5.

TWO speed cameras cut off from their mountings in theBorders have re-appeared, at the bottom of a Northumbrian reservoir.

The cameras were discovered last month in Catcleugh Reservoir, which lies alongside the A68 just four miles south of the Carter Bar.

The dry spell had resulted in a substantial drop in the water level, exposing the dumped cameras, which lay in an overspill area close to the road.

They were discovered by Northumbrian Water staff on June 16.

Officers from Northumbria Police and Police Scotland attended and the cameras were identified as being those taken from north of the border.

Officers from the Scottish side of the border are leading the enquiry into their removal and dumping.

In March, the cameras at Huntford and Camptown, the first two on the Scottish side of the Carter Bar, were attacked.

They brought the total number of cameras on the A68 removed to six.

A month earlier the camera at Longnewton Sawmill, between Jedburgh and St Boswells, was removed.

The first attack of its kind occurred in October last year, when cameras at Birkenside, near Earlston, and at Headshaw, near Oxton, were cut off. One on Newtown St Boswells bypass was removed in December 2012.