The Conservatives have announced Peebles businessman Keith Cockburn as its candidate for the Tweeddale West by-election.

Mr Cockburn will contest the seat vacated by fellow Tory Nathaniel Buckingham, who decided to step down earlier this month due to family and work commitments.

Mr Cockburn said: “I believe I have what it takes to represent all the residents of Tweeddale West and to be an effective councillor for our area. I am ready for the challenge and if elected I would work tirelessly to ensure our communities get the best possible deal.”

The father-of-three is the managing director of Caledonian Colour Printers in his home town.

Tweeddale’s Conservative MP David Mundell added: “Keith has all the skills and experience to provide Peebles, West Linton and the communities of Upper Tweed with a strong voice and make sure that local concerns are heard and acted upon.”

The by-election is to take place in either September or October, according to the Conservatives.

CONFIDENCE in the future growth of the housing market has prompted Selkirk-based firm Oregon Timber Frame Ltd to build a new factory.

The leading timber frame manufacturer and erector is in the process of building the 20,000 sq ft factory adjacent to its present facility in Dunsdale Road.

Peter Wade, operations director said: “We’ve decided to build a new factory at our Selkirk headquarters to allow us to increase the efficiency of our production layout and also create space for future growth.”

The company believes that the housing market is set to grow in the years ahead due to the continuing shortfall in housing after many years of restricted building supply.

In addition, increasingly tough building standards are making insulated timber frame panels the ‘go to’ choice for many house builders.

This is an area Oregon specialises in, and the new factory will give the company more space for fabrication, so it can respond to the anticipated increase in demand.

In recent months Oregon recruited an additional 10 employees increasing the workforce to 83.

In addition to the Selkirk headquarters, the firm, which celebrates its 15th birthday this year, also has a factory in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire.

The honour, pride and emotion of being responsible for the Blue Banner of St Ronan was clear for all to see at Friday’s Cleikum Ceremonies.

Aaron Somerville, last year’s Standard Bearer, had to fight back the tears as he returned the banner to chairman Keith Belleville, “untarnished and unsullied”.

He then bravely battled through his speech, wishing Lyle Caine all the best for his year ahead, and thanking all those who had made his own year so memorable.

Lyle later admitted that he, too, was starting to well up when Aaron stood before a packed Memorial Hall.

It underlines the importance of the ceremony, and Games Week as a whole, to the community, who turned out in force to watch Lyle take hold of the banner and parade it from the war memorial to St Ronan’s Well.

Speaking to The Southern shortly after the conclusion of the ceremony at the well, Lyle said: “It has been unbelievable. You have an image of how it is going to be, but when the ceremony started in the hall it was something else.

“When you are sitting waiting to go on you just want to get it done, but once I started speaking I settled down and I was alright.”

Commenting on the emotional speech by Aaron, Lyle said: “I couldn’t look at him. When he started I could hear it in his voice and it got me going a bit. I took a few deep breaths and looked at the floor. It just goes to show how much it means when you have had it for a year and then you have to hand it over to someone else.”

Lyle admitted that the now traditional round of golf between the flag party on the Friday afternoon had also helped relax him and settle some nerves.

During the ceremonies in the hall, where the programmes doubled as fans, dux boy Kieran Frost was installed as St Ronan and the croziers and staves were bussed by Hannah MacDonald, assisted by dux girl Emily McNeill.

Following the Colour Bussin’ by Zoe Taylor, Standard Bearer’s Lass and the presentation of medals to the monks and sash girls, the flag party and guests assembled outside for the service at the war memorial.

The already large audience from the hall was swelled by more members of the public as they watched Lyle stand atop the garden and proudly display the banner in the late evening sunshine.

Led by the band, the procession moved onto the High Street, where hundreds of residents had gathered to welcome their new Standard Bearer and his Lass.

Cheers rang out as Lyle and Zoe and their followers made their way up to St Ronan’s Well, where the traditional ceremonies continued.

A large audience, young and old, gathered around to witness the Standard Bearer drink water from the well from the hands of ‘St Ronan’.

The evening’s events concluded with the torchlit procession and masonic ceremony, and the march to the homes of the dux boy and girl.

Lyle said: “Just walking along the High Street with everyone there and them all cheering was great.

“My brother was Standard Bearer a few years ago, but I never really thought it would happen to me, and when I was asked I was shocked at first, but it didn’t take too long to decide to do it.

“It has definitely been worth it,” he added.

Standard Bearer’s Lass Zoe added: “It has been amazing. I’ve loved it.”

Zoe was also impressed with the way fiance Lyle had handled everything.

“He has done really well,” she said.

The guest speaker at Innerleithen’s Cleikum Ceremonies on Friday night emphasised the importance of committees working together.

Former Peebles Cornet Allan Beveridge took the opportunity of his speech during the Memorial Hall ceremonies to highlight the need for small towns to assist each other to ensure that the Border festivals can continue long into the future.

Introducing Mr Beveridge, chairman Keith Belleville said: “This is a tribute for all the help and support that we here in Innerleithen get from Peebles.”

Mr Beveridge responded: “I am very honoured to be asked to be guest speaker, and I believe I am only the fourth Peebles man to be honoured in this way.”

Mr Beveridge spoke about the links between Peebles and Innerleithen, so often seen as great rivals, highlighting many names associated with both towns. He listed a number of Peebles residents who had gone on to become principals in Innerleithen, including this year’s Standard Bearer’s Lass Zoe Taylor.

Mr Beveridge, a former Peebles Rugby Club president, also ran off a list of names of players from Innerleithen who are plying their trade at The Gytes, helping to get the club promoted.

“A lot of people talk about the rivalry, but it does not really exist. It is banter between friends,” he said.

Mr Beveridge has been joint secretary of Peebles’ Beltane Festival for almost 40 years, and he praised the committee at Innerleithen for all the help and support they have provided over the years.

Commenting on the importance of all the Border festivals, Mr Beveridge said: “Each festival is unique and each town has its own traditions to follow.

“We have a duty of care to maintain and uphold the traditions passed down by our predecessors.”

However, he emphasised the need for “new blood and new ideas” within committees across the Borders, to ensure festivals can continue.

“New people are coming to live in our midst, and a lot of these new people are not aware of the history and traditions of our festivals, but a lot of these people who come into our towns do a lot more than those born and brought up there,” he said.

Mr Beveridge added that festival committees should actively encourage these people to join them.

He concluded: “I hope our two committees can continue to have good relations and help each other out whenever possible.

“I think we can and should be doing more for each other.

“I hope the Beltane and Games remain for a long time to come.”

Speaking during a brief lull in the festivities on Friday evening, Mr Belleville said that the week had been a great success.

“It has all gone really well. We have had a fantastic week and everything has run really smoothly.

“People say that the weather makes it, but I think it is the people that make it, although the weather has been fantastic.”

Commenting on the ceremony, and Aaron Somerville’s emotional return of the Blue Banner, Mr Belleville said: “It means such a lot for these lads to represent the town, and the Cleikum Ceremonies are emotionally charged anyway, all packed into 60 or 80 minutes.

“Aaron has been a fantastic Standard Bearer and he deserved the applause that he got.”

Mr Belleville added: “Lyle has taken over and he is a really unassuming lad, but he is doing a great job – he probably doesn’t realise how good a job – and he is going to be another great Standard Bearer.”

The chairman also praised the young people involved in the Cleikum Ceremonies.

“We ask quite a lot of them, and they don’t get a lot of rehearsal time, but they did so well.”

Mr Belleville said that he was pleased with the “excellent turnout” both in the Memorial Hall and in the High Street to watch the procession to St Ronan’s Well.

Large attendances were something of a feature of the week, with around 400 children taking part in the flower parade, and more than 300 people at the ball. The entry for the fancy dress was also strong this year, and more than 80 people attended the senior citizens’ social.

The 10 days of events concluded on Saturday night with the annual torchlit procession and burning of the De’il on Caerlee Hill.

Due to safety concerns following the extended period of dry weather, the decision was taken for all but ‘St Ronan’s’ torch to be doused in the town before the procession continued up the hill.

The assembled crowd then enjoyed a spectacular fireworks display.

Looking back on the whole week, Mr Belleville said: “Everything went really well. There was good crowds, and everybody seemed to have a good time. The flower parade was well attended, and the sports attracted one of the biggest crowds I’ve seen for a long time.”

SUCCESS in the pool continued for Borders swimmers last night when 13-year-old Kirsty Armstrong bagged a bronze medal at the British Age Group Championships in Sheffield.

The Kelso ASC and Borders Elite Swim Team (BEST) member qualified as fifth fastest for the 100m butterfly final yesterday morning as well as notching a personal best performance when coming fifth in the 200m individual medley.

In last night’s final she clocked 1.03.58 - a Scottish Age Group Record while her split at the 50m mark, 29.87 was also a Scottish National Age Group Record.

Kirsty is one of three BEST swimmers at the meet with fellow Kelso ASC members Lucy Hope and Ryan Brown also performing over the next week.

Langlee Support Centre has received a cheque for £2,230 from Judith Pate and Sam McKinnon.

This money was raised through a memorial sponsored walk – Greig’s Gathering – for Judith’s son and Sam’s brother, Greig McKinnon, who died last year aged 11 years. Greig attended the support centre from the age of three until he moved to Stanmore House School in Lanark, which has been given the same amount of cash, in March 2009.

The UK Parliament has risen for the summer which means I can now look forward to spending six weeks back home in the Borders.

During this time I will be doing a fortnight of community advice surgeries, as well as visiting local businesses, catching up with local groups, attending rural shows, and the final common ridings and ride-outs.

SURGERIES

As I mentioned, I am currently holding my community advice surgeries during which I am visiting around 50 villages and communities across the Borders.

These surgeries are an important opportunity for me to hear the concerns of my constituents and discuss how I can support them in my role as MP.

Please feel free to attend one of these surgeries if you would like to.

There’s no need to make an appointment, but please call 01896 663650 or visit www.michaelmoore.org.uk<http://www.michaelmoore.org.uk/>

Apprenticeships

It was good to hear last week that, during the past month, the number of people in the Borders claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance fell by 29.

However, there is still much more to be done to help people into work and create jobs, so as local MP I will be working with Borders businesses over the summer to promote jobs and apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships are a vital way of helping people get the skills and experience they need to break into the job market and I will be visiting three different businesses over the summer to highlight the fantastic work they are doing with apprentices.

Biomass

As the Westminster Government works to make Britain greener and reduce our dependency on fossil fuels, I was pleased to hear last week that further details have been released on the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme.

The RHI offers householders incentives to install low- carbon alternatives to traditional heating systems by offering money for the clean green heat produced.

I know a number of individuals and companies in the Border have been keen to install renewable heating systems and I am glad that they can now get on with these investments.

Last week I met one of these businesses in Jedburgh and was pleased to be able to see first-hand the opportunities provided by the scheme.

We also discussed various practical challenges faced by businesses on this and other energy issues, and I will make sure I bring them to Energy Secretary Ed Davey’s attention during the next few weeks.

More than £8.5million has been spent by NHS Borders in the past three years on health staff cover.

The amount spent on locum cover alone almost doubled during that time, reaching £1.2million in 2012/13.

Last year more than £220,000 was spent on agency nurses, while the cost of bank staff was £1.7million.

John Lamont MSP has criticised the SNP Government for cutting the number of nurses in recent years, citing this as being behind the rising costs.

He said: “This huge increase in spending on locum staff reveals the true extent of the under-staffing crisis in our NHS.

“While it is encouraging to see a slight drop in spending on agency nurses, to almost double the amount spent on locum nurses and doctors in just two years is clearly unacceptable.”

Mr Lamont added: “With money being tighter than ever it is shocking that they are willing to allow this sort of spend to occur.”

An NHS Borders spokeswoman said: “For some medical specialties in the past two years there have been significant challenges due to maternity leave, sickness absence and vacancies for specialties.”

She added that the health board was increasing the number of permanent medical posts.

A fire which was started between Innerleithen and Heriot on Sunday is being treated as suspicious.

A crew from Innerleithen tackled the blaze at around 7.40pm near the B709 road with one high pressure hose reel. A Fire Service spokeswoman said it was believed to have been deliberately ignited.

Composer Michael Nyman, who scored the soundtrack to the film The Piano, will write the second of three songs inspired by the Hawick Missal.

The announcement, in Jedburgh’s Old & Trinity Parish Church last Saturday evening, followed the premiere of the first new song inspired by the medieval fragment of sacred chant, rediscovered in Hawick Heritage Hub’s archives in 2009 after being lost for 450 years.

The new piece of music, called ‘Et Clamabant’, was written by Irish composer Sean Doherty, the winner of a ‘Hawick Fragments Project’ competition.

Mr Doherty, a native of Derry in Northern Ireland, said he was “overwhelmed” to hear his “21st century take” on the choral melody sung in the Jedburgh kirk, and then within the town’s historic 12th century abbey.

“The piece of plainsong that I chose from the Hawick Missal fragment, ‘Et Clamabant’ (it means ‘And they cried out’), was a joy to work with,” he said. “I immediately saw it on the first page, and I thought I can make a piece from that. The atmosphere here is so wonderful.”

The second new composition by Michael Nyman, who is renowned for his minimalist music, will be premiered on Saturday, September 14, at 7pm in Kelso’s Old Parish Church, followed by a performance in the ruins of Kelso Abbey.

The public toilets in the Knowes car park in Kelso were attacked by vandals early this week and the doors damaged.

Police have appealed for witnesses. The incident occurred between 2pm on Monday and 9.45am the next day.

Mobile phone users in Walkerburn and Innerleithen have vowed to fight for compensation from EE after being left without a signal for nine days.

The problem stemmed from a technical fault at the local mast, according to the mobile network operator, who has since apologised.

But among those to suffer as a result of the communications black out was Joy Jardine of Tweed Valley Holiday Lets, who lost two bookingsworth almost £1,000 due to the problems.

The Innerleithen-based businesswoman said: “Having network coverage is vital for my business and I can’t understand why it has taken nine days to resolve this issue. I will be seeking compensation from Orange as well as a refund on my bill.”

Innerleithen resident Christine Horsburgh added: “I contacted EE numerous times over the nine days, and received a very poor service from them.

“They tried at first to tell me it was my phone which was faulty before finally admitting there was a problem with the mast. When I asked how long it would be until it was fixed they said they had no idea.”

Tweeddale East councillor Gavin Logan backed the calls for compensation, adding: “People have had their social life affected and many businesses will have been adversely disadvantaged.

“Operators have to realise the consequences of these outages and make sure that something is done to make sure that people’s lives are not disrupted.”

Two Teviotdale communities will be changed if land is gouged away to allow transportation of 17 wind turbines up to 121.5 metres in height.

That is the claim of residents after Northampton-based Infinis submitted drawings with last month’s Windy Edge proposal to widen the A6088 road by clearing an area of embankment alongside in Bonchester Bridge and removing street furniture and utilities at the Chesters Crossroads.

But there are claims that owners of land that would be affected have yet to be approached, and there is concern for those living alongside the A6088, such as artist Hugh Roberts who lives with wife Lindsay at Cheviot House at the Chesters Crossroads.

He said: “The turbines will be coming via Carter Bar and the swept path analysis shows they will be coming round the bend within metres of our home.

“It will affect two houses we have in the vicinity as well as our neighbours.

“These are old houses without deep foundations and we are concerned about the vibrations’ affect on the houses and what state the road will be left in.

“We had a meeting with the developer and they said if we have worries then we should look into it and get a survey done. We are all a bit uneasy about the whole situation.

“Both Chesters and Bonchester Bridge are going to be completely changed by this – I can’t see how that can be avoided.”

Philip Kerr of the Chesters Wind Farm Action Group, told us: “This would affect the environment and look of the village of Bonchester Bridge.

“This will lead to a massive disruption.

“Developers should consider something like this before an application is submitted. They should speak to the council and landowners.”

But Ben Ridder, project developer for Infinis, says widening the road would only be needed if the largest rotors and tower sections are used for the turbines.

“The actual extent of modifications required will most likely be less than this,” added Mr Ridder.

“In the event that modifications will be necessary on private land, these will not take place without the full agreement of the landowner.

“Any damage to the road surface resulting from construction traffic is then required to be repaired by the company (Infinis).

“Research available on the vibrations likely to be generated by turbine delivery vehicles indicates that this is below the threshold that would result in any damage to buildings.”

A week ahead of their trip to Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Canada, Riddell Fiddles will get some practice in at Melrose Square tomorrow.

The concert, with the Back Row Band, starts at 1.30pm. It is free, but donations are welcome.

A more localised television news service will return in 2015, but a new 90-minute current affairs show will not have to focus on the Borders.

That is the decision of regulator Ofcom, who published the result of their consultation on Tuesday.

From January 2015, ITV Border will return to its original area, covering the Borders, Dumfries and Galloway and Cumbria, with the evening news programme Lookaround reinstated.

However, Ofcom has decided that ITV also has to provide 90 minutes a week of additional current affairs programming for viewers on the Scottish side of the border. This could be provided by a retransmission of the Scotland Tonight show, produced by STV.

An option to bring back Lookaround and broadcast an additional 30 minutes of current affairs from within the Border region was rejected by Ofcom.

This option had been backed by local politicians Michael Moore, David Mundell, John Lamont and Paul Wheelhouse, in addition to ITV themselves.

The broadcaster argued the public would be more interested in a 30-minute local current affairs show than a national programme.

It is understood that ITV bosses will decide the best way to provide the current affairs requirement in the next few weeks.

A report which shows child poverty costs the Borders £32million has been described by Conservative MP David Mundell as “deeply distressing”.

The findings of the Child Poverty Group paper categorises almost 3,000 kids as being impoverished in the Scottish Borders Council region.

Within the two UK parliament constituencies, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk had 2,600 children living in poverty at an annual cost of £28million, while in the Tweeddale section of Mr Mundell’s seat, there are 337 destitute youngsters at a price to society of £4million.

Mr Mundell said politicians of all parties need to do more to tackle the problem.

He told The Southern: “It is unacceptable for children to be living in poverty in 21st century Britain and that is why the UK Government is committed to eliminating child poverty by 2020.

“Here in Tweeddale that means working with the Scottish Government and Scottish Borders Council to make sure that children and families are getting the support they are entitled to.

“I also believe we need to do more locally to find community-based solutions which help break the cycle of poverty and ensure that schools, community groups and local charities have the opportunity to get involved and provide additional support wherever possible.”

Alison Garnham, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, added: “It’s right that we should do so in our local communities too.

“Every council is required by law to have a local child poverty strategy, and the good news is that reducing child poverty benefits everyone by cutting the costs to local authority services and boosting the local economy through improved skills and qualifications for school leavers.

“We are publishing a report to help guide authorities on the challenges they face and the actions they can take to protect families in their area against poverty and many residents will be shocked to hear that so many local children are living in poverty.

“We hope that local campaigners will be able to use our report to encourage their local councillors to do more to end child poverty in their area.”

Glasgow had the highest poverty costs in Scotland of £395million per year, while Shetland and Orkney both had the lowest at £4million.

Plans for the future Galashiels railway station platform have been submitted to the council.

Drawings of the proposed platform include details of the waiting shelters, seats, cycle racks and lights.

Tweedbank Community Council has lodged plans to ­create 10 allotments on land near Essenside Drive.

A wooden shed is also proposed for the site.

The area, owned by Scottish Borders Council, will be leased for the nominal rent of £1. This was agreed by the council’s executive in June.

AN AIR Cadet who rounded off his year of royal duties by meeting the Queen has said having the role of Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet has been a ‘great honour’.

Connor Flockhart from 2180 Squadron Galashiels has met the likes of Princess Anne, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Wessex during his time assisting the Lord Lieutenant.

However, meeting the Queen at Abbotsford has been his highlight.

Connor, 19, who works for Panton McLeod, said: “It was very humbling to meet the Queen after a year in my role. I have met many royals over the past few months, but Her Majesty was by far the icing on the cake for my time as a Lord Lieutenant Cadet.

“Unfortunately I never got to speak to her too much, but from the time I did spend with her she was very warm and welcoming and seemed to be very interested in what was happening on the day.”

The council has one of the worst records for processing new housing and council tax benefit claims in Scotland, new figures have shown.

In 2012/13 it took staff on average 33 days to process new claims for both, significantly above the Scottish local authority average of 25.