A parent has launched a scathing attack on the council for “inequalities” in the models of the Curriculum for Excellence in Borders high schools.

Chris Mowat, from Kelso, said his son is facing less choices at Kelso High School than equivalent S4 pupils at Earlston.

Mr Mowat told The Southern: “I feel it is very unequal to have different choices and opportunities afforded to children depending on what catchment area they live in.

“There has been no move to make it an equal playing field in all the secondary schools in the Borders, and it simply isn’t fair.”

Mr Mowat said in Kelso a 3+3 model has been implemented, meaning pupils study a large number of subjects across a broad area for three years, before selecting six subjects to study for a National 4/5 in S4 and then up to six subjects in S5 and S6.

However, he said that Earlston are using a 2+2+2 model, with pupils getting a broad general education for two years, then selecting eight subjects at S3 to study for two years for their National 4/5s, before again selecting up to six subjects in S5 and S6.

Mr Mowat, a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, said this afforded pupils a greater choice of Higher subjects to study in their last two years of school, crucial in gaining entry to university.

He added that he believed that “parent pressure” had prompted the school to run this model.

Mr Mowat said parents who were aware of the different models in use were worried about it, as well as a number of teachers.

He added that the council had “fobbed off” parents by saying that all schools would be brought into line with the 3+3, six-subject model, when this had “clearly not happened”.

Mr Mowat was keen to point out that he did not believe that Earlston or any other local school using the 2+2+2 model with eight subjects at S3/4 should be forced to change, rather that it was the preferred model and the other schools should move to that system.

He added that the 3+3 model led to a “rapid narrowing down of choices” for pupils.

Mr Mowat said: “While I, and many other parents that I have spoken to, believe that the senior phase model adopted by most SBC high schools is far from ideal, it is crucial that pupils are not disadvantaged by inconsistencies of delivery through our region that are not being addressed quickly enough.”

In response to the issues which Mr Mowat has raised, and which he himself failed to get a response from SBC on, a council spokesperson said: “All nine schools are working towards six choices, but we have allowed flexibility due to differing circumstances in each of the schools in terms of the timescale.

“We still have one school working towards six choices, but all others have made the transition.”

PEEBLES lawyer Brenda Mitchell, of specialists, Cycle Law Scotland, is celebrating progress on stricter liability in accidents involving cyclists.

The campaign founder last month welcomed charity Scottish Cycling, with its 12,000 members and 150 clubs, to the campaign, saying: “Receiving the support of Scottish Cycling is a huge boost.”

The Cycle Law Scotland campaign wants stricter liability so that the motorist would be presumed liable in a civil law claim against them for injury, damage or loss if involved in a collision with a cyclist or pedestrian. It would still be open to the motorist to allege fault on the part of the vulnerable road user. The same would apply to cyclists involved in collisions with pedestrians.

Last week, the campaign celebrated nearly 5,300 signatures to an online petition for a Members Bill on the issue.

And a Scottish Government debate on stricter liability at the end of last month became, at one hour 20 minutes, the longest members’ debate ever held at Holyrood.

Cyclist and Borders MSP John Lamont told colleagues then: “In virtually every collision between a car and vulnerable road user, it will be the pedestrian or the cyclist who is injured. It is therefore reasonable to place a greater burden of proof on the motorist.

“I fail to see how anyone who accepts that cyclists have an equal right to be on our roads cannot support the introduction of legal safeguards that address the imbalance.”

Campaigner Mitchell said latest Transport Scotland figures showed road deaths being reduced, but the number of cyclists injured is rising.

She added: “By introducing stricter liability laws, in line with our European neighbours, there’s a strong possibility we will eventually see this worrying trend reverse.”

Scottish Cycling’s chief executive Craig Burn said the charity backed stricter liability “as part of a package of measures needed to improve road safety for all.”

He added: “We must all take an increased share of responsibility for ourselves on the roads, whatever vehicle we use.”

“It will be about everything, the whole of life!” said 72-year-old Doug Scott, CBE, about his upcoming talk in the Borders.

Doug, of Hesket Newmarket, Cumbria, and Paul “Tut” Braithwaite are perhaps best known for being first to climb the south west face of Everest (without oxygen).

The pair are the Royal Scottish Geographical speakers at Heriot-Watt University in Galashiels on Tuesday evening (November 26).

Doug told The Southern: “‘Big Walls and High Mountains’ will be about our early days and influences, then we’ll go on to talk about how we became climbing partners and the climbs in Russia, East Africa, Everest (Sir Chris Bonington’s 1975 ‘Everest the Hard Way’ expedition), Baffin Island’s Mount Asgard, Mount Kenya – we climbed a new route up the east face, it’s become a classic route, even my dentist went to do it.”

From Nottingham and, at that time, a 33-year-old schoolteacher, Doug, along with credited routefinder Tut, were part of the Bonington team to reach the top of Everest on September 24, 1975, via the challenging south west route.

“There had been previous attempts. It was a big thing in the 70s,” Doug told us.

The climbers then spent the night in a bivouac 300 feet from the top.

“If you can survive in a bivvy without oxygen, nor a sleeping bag, and not get frostbite up there, it makes you wonder what you can do and how you might do it,” said Doug.

Why do you love climbing, we asked.

He said: “I get grumpy when I don’t.

“It lifts the spirits every time, so I come back to do everything that has to be done with more enthusiasm and more objectivity,”said Doug.

Early inspirations were found rather closer to home.

He said: “I started climbing trees when I was very young. It was a natural transfer from trees to rock when I was 12 in Derbyshire.

“My parents were very good – there were no restrictions.”

What makes a good climber? “You have got to really enjoy it. It’s great to be out there and do these new routes and see yourself written up in guide books and magazines, but you have got to enjoy it at the time and revel in the excitement of looking round the next corner and solving all the problems that confront you, revelling in uncertainty, which is what our ancestors have done since they walked out of Africa.

“It’s in everyone’s blood: that’s why more people come to our talks who are non-climbers than climbers.”

The three climbing achievements he’s most proud of? “Everest; the first ascent of Kangchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountainl; and the Ogre.”

Doug broke both legs in a fall during the Ogre expedition in the Karakoram range, Pakistan. It took Chris Bonington, the “selfless support” of Clive Rowland and Mo Anthoine and Balti hillmen eight days to get him to help.

Three other achievements he’s proud of in his life? His quarter-acre organic garden; helping rear five “good” children and his charity, Community Action Nepal, which runs over 40 community projects.

The talk starts at 7.30pm. Tickets (£8) are available on the door or ring 01738 455050.

Garlic. The Marmite bulb veg. Personally, I love it. I have been hooked on garlic since my late teens when I loaded fluffy mash with it, stirred in peanuts and grated cheese, and served it with baked beans.

Hardly Cordon Bleu, but when you’re trying to live on about £15 a week it hits the spot.

The weekly budget may have grown, and so have the culinary skills (thank goodness, Mr E mutters in the background), but my love of garlic hasn’t waned.

My late Mum used to grow it and I have taken on the mantle, planting it out and lifting the succulent bulbs at the end of the year.

This year has seen a bumper crop, so much so that I have had to enlist child labour (the Young Master and Young Mistress) to get it lifted.

There’s nothing like fresh garlic, straight from the garden, trimmed and given a wash under the tap. No papery, dry skin and hard flesh, just juicy, pungent cloves. And no waste – no residue in the garlic press to scrape out and chuck.

Here at Shoogly Towers, we have another bumper crop of garlic – wild garlic. Every spring, in common with many other folk who have a shady border or a bit of woodland, we are over-run with wild garlic. Every child/dog/faithful old retainer who comes in the house when it’s growing in spring smells just like that mash of my teenage years. Mmmmmm.

Our whole acreage (well, erm, garden of one acre, that is) is covered with it, and it’s a welcome carpet of green after a dreich winter, sprinkled with white blooms as the spring progresses.

And I am not alone in my love of garlic. The Isle of Wight has its own festival. No, not that Isle of Wight Festival, recently revived and where the likes of Bob Dylan, The Who and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah band played. No flares please, we’re foodies.

Yes, the Isle of Wight has its own Garlic Festival, which attracts around 20,000 garlic-lovers to wall-to-wall cookery demos featuring – yes, you guessed it – garlic, as well as the more usual festival fayre. No, that’s not sex, drugs ‘n’ rock ‘n’ roll. That’s Glastonbury.

Yes, there are bands, and a beer tent, and craft stalls. And lots of garlic. And at under £9 for the day (yes, it only lasts a day. Even a garlic-lover like me could see that a three-day fandango might be pushing it a bit), it’s a lot cheaper than the ‘proper’ Isle of Wight Festival which attracts around 60,000 music-lovers, lasts four days and costs almost £200. Bargain.

I can’t quite see anyone saying, as they probably did after the original grandaddy of all festivals, Woodstock: “Yeah man, Garlic Fest 2013, I was there”.

And I can’t see festival-goers making a list of the usual essentials – baby wipes, sun cream, tent, loo roll – and adding, at the bottom, Extra Strong Mints.

I once came home from Glastonbury (in the days I had money) on a plane (very un-Glasto). In the clothes I had worn for four days. The ones I had been sitting round the campfire in.

I can only apologise to anyone who might be reading this and who was on that same flight to Edinburgh Airport.

But at least my breath didn’t reek.

A parents group set up to protest planned cuts to education services is already more than 100 members strong after just a few days.

And a Facebook page set up by the campaigners on Monday had attracted 111 members in less than 24 hours.

Online petitions have also been organised by the group, calling itself simply, Scottish Borders Parents Regarding School Cuts.

The petition is in response to proposals by Scottish Borders Council to shave £11million off its education budget over the next five years.

Hundreds of school staff across the Borders were briefed last month about the start of the first Education and Lifelong Learning and Integrated Children’s Services Transformation Programme.

There are currently no specific proposals for budget or service reductions, but seven key areas are being reviewed.

However, the parents group is “deeply concerned” over what it sees as a lack of communication from the council.

Speaking from a statement drawn up by all the parents involved, group spokesman Craig McBeth said everyone was well aware of the tough financial challenges facing the council.

“However, it is deeply concerning the lack of communication, let alone consultation, that has taken place with parents, and indeed future parents, within the Borders,” said Mr 
McBeth. “The changes proposed are generational, and will impact on current and future school children in the Borders, disadvantaging them relative to other local authority areas in the country at present.

“The changes proposed include a reduction in teaching hours by 2.5 hours – this is different to other local authority areas.

“This is a fundamental change in the importance we place upon the education of our children.”

Mr McBeth said there were also worries about already stretched workloads being increased, with the added concern that this could see children with problems slipping through the cracks.

He continued: “We all accept cuts are happening, but some things should be sacred and that includes the length, breadth, depth and quality of education and the protection of those who need it most.

“Politics aside, this represents a generational change that would be set to impact the current and future parents and children of the Scottish Borders, one that we can assume will not be reversed once in place.”

Councillor Sandy Aitchison, executive member for education, pleaded for the council to be given time to carry out the reviews.

“There will be an engagement process so that any proposals will be fully put to parents - we’re not hiding anything,” he said.

“But we need to be allowed to look at these reviews and their implications. We could rightly be accused if we just turned up at parents meetings without all the necessary information.”

Principals and representatives of the 11 Borders common ridings and festivals gathered at Tower Mill at the Heart of Hawick on Monday for the official launch of Return to the Ridings, part of Homecoming Scotland 2014.

Following the success of last year’s Homecoming Scotland, Hawick, West Linton, Selkirk, Peebles, Melrose, Galashiels, Jedburgh, Duns, Kelso, Lauder and Coldstream will celebrate their historic festivals by collaborating with Homecoming Scotland and Scottish Borders Council (SBC) to increase the promotion of next year’s events.

2014 is of particular significance for Hawick, as it commemorates the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Hornshole. Only a year after Hawick lost most of its able-bodied men at Flodden in 1513, the youth of the town defeated a large English raiding party and captured their standard – symbolised throughout the years at Hawick Common Riding.

Frank Scott, Hawick Common Riding secretary, said: “2014 is a hugely-important year for the town and there will be a lot for visitors to see.

“On May 5 well over 1,500 children from Hawick will take part in a march from Hornshole to the centre of Hawick for the unveiling of a new 3m-high bronze statue commemorating the ‘Big Return’ from Hornshole.”

Fountainhall resident Dawn Brown says she is ready to risk arrest in order to block rail construction vehicles from cleaning salt off the A7.

Self-employed Mrs Brown, 54, claims police have warned her she could be arrested if she repeats her actions of last week, when she stood in front of a BAM Nuttall construction vehicle, preventing it from cleaning the A7 at Fountainhall of dirt left by those working on the new Borders rail link.

“Council gritters are out between 6.45am and 7.15am. Then BAM’s washers and road sweepers leave about 7.45am and when cleaning away dirt, they’re also cleaning off salt that’s only just been laid,” Mrs Brown said.

“Taxpayers’ money is being wasted and it’s dangerous in freezing conditions to cover roads in water.

“That’s why last Thursday I stood in front of a washing vehicle. I apologised to the driver, but it seems you can’t get anything done without publicity.

“But police said if I did it again I could be arrested for breach of the peace.”

Scottish Borders Council says BAM Nuttall is legally obliged to ensure roads are kept clean during operations.

“The council and BAM are co-ordinating salting and sweeping operations during winter months to ensure the effectiveness of salt spreading is not compromised,” said a spokesman.

And Network Rail says it is working towards a solution to keep roads clear without impacting gritting operations.

Local councillor Sandy Aitchison appreciates problems exist: “But we don’t want anything to slow this job. We want it finished.”

But Mrs Brown retorted: “Is it going to take a school bus crashing before something is done? That’s why I am prepared to do it again, even if it means being arrested.”

Borders General Hospital’s special care baby unit has received a £500 boost – thanks to a raffle held at a Supporting Women in Business event in Kelso.

It was organised by Sheryl Macaulay, a director with Borders accountants Douglas Home & Co.

Guest speaker Nicky Gray provided advice for those who attended and local businesswomen showcased their products, giving them an opportunity to broaden their client base. Douglas Home & Co. decided to include a charity raffle, asking all local retailers who attended the event to donate prizes, raising £250 on the night – and the firm matched that sum.

Sheryl, left, and colleague Lesley Mark, right, handed over a £500 cheque to Diane Matthews of NHS Borders’ fundraising department.

THE Campaign for Borders Rail is holding its AGM on November 27, when there will be renewed calls for the Borders Railway to be extended 17 miles from its planned terminus at Tweedbank through Melrose and St Boswells to Hawick.

A year after Scottish transport minister Keith Brown gave the green light for the reinstatement of the Waverley line, campaigners will argue that Hawick suffered more than any other town in the Borders from the loss of its railway in 1969 and needs a return of trains to reverse decades of economic difficulties and population decline.

Speaking ahead of the AGM and public meeting in Hawick, CBR chair Simon Walton, said: “The Borders Railway project will give the region a tremendous boost, but for the Borders’ economy to realise its full potential the line needs to extend to Hawick, and then on to Carlisle. We want the Scottish Government, together with Scottish Borders Council and local authorities from Carlisle and Cumbria to commission a new and broad-based feasibility study, properly taking account of both the strategic and local benefits that reinstatement would bring.”

Starting at 6.30pm, official business will be followed at 7pm by a series of short presentations from speakers representing business, tourism, political and campaigning interests, with a particular focus on bringing the railway back to Hawick, plus a q&a session.

Borders primary schools have one last chance to sign up to a national war memorial competition being run by the Royal British legion Scotland, that will see pupils turn detective to uncover real life stories of local soldiers and their families from the First World War and beyond.

The competition is open to P6 & P7 pupils. To register, teachers should visit www.rblscotland.com/schools and fill in the entry form by the deadline of December 1. One winning school will be chosen from the regional finalists to win a trip to London to tour and sleep on board Second World War battleship, HMS Belfast.

Borders MP Michael Moore has hit back at criticism over his decision to vote against recent proposals from Labour to scrap the controversial ‘bedroom tax’, writes Mark Entwistle.

The tax is a cut to housing benefit for 660,000 families in the UK classed as having a spare bedroom.

But there has been widespread anger after records from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority showed that 177 Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs have amassed claims of up to £25,000 each for accommodation – a total of £3.2million between them in 2012-13.

Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk MP Mr Moore claimed more than £11,000 – he was also one of 31 Lib Dem MPs who voted down Labour’s call to scrap the tax.

Lanton resident, James Stewart, contacted The Southern to express what he said was his disgust at the expenses claimed by those Westminster MPs who voted against Labour’s proposal.

And Mr Stewart called on Mr Moore to explain how he justifies cutting what he said amounted to £16 a week from the poorest and most vulnerable members of society, and then claim up to £450 a week for his own “spare bedroom”.

Asked for a reaction, Mr Moore says that in his previous role as Scottish Secretary, he was very aware of the challenges and difficulties of the bedroom tax.

“In addition to dealing directly with affected constituents over the past year, I have proactively and regularly engaged with the four local housing associations and the council’s senior officials to understand the impact of the changes and seek to mitigate them,” he told The Southern.

“The result of that work inside government came earlier in the summer when an additional £5million was awarded to rural local authorities to allocate to those in difficulty, alongside an additional £20million for bids from local authority across the country.

“That money is helping people locally, but is not the end of the process – I will be meeting officials again to assess the latest situation and follow up on that work.”

Asked why he had not supported Labour’s motion, Mr Moore said it would not have changed the law as Opposition Day debate motions are not there for that purpose in reality.

“I have put my energy into understanding and mitigating the changes, as I have explained, which I believe is a more effective approach to tackling the problems of the ‘bedroom tax’,” he added.

Two Fountainhall residents have taken the lead to ensure their community is prepared for winter.

Dawn Brown and Charlotte Hendry (resource coordinator), pictured, arranged for a team of people to knock on every door in the village, offering information and encouraging people to sign up to a community resilience plan.

During the visits they learned who had what skills in the village – for example someone has a chainsaw licence (useful in bad weather to remove fallen trees). The women said: “The key to making the project work was getting the whole village involved, with a large percentage of the community now signed up. The council has provided our team with their resilient equipment, and we are receiving first aid training, plus two small sandbag stores for the community.”

For details on setting up a resilience plan for your community, visit http://www.scotborders.gov.uk/resilientcommunities

New Horizons Borders has been awarded £3,920 from the ‘see me’ Local Grants Scheme 2013.

New Horizons Borders was awarded the cash for the creation of a publication to raise awareness of the stigma associated with mental ill-health and share personal stories from within the community. The book will be available through libraries, health centres, community centres, leisure centres and via mental health services.

After half-a-century in uniform and with service charity Poppyscotland, Galashiels ex-soldier Jim Macfarlane has marched into retirement.

As this year’s Scottish Poppy Appeal got under way, staff at Poppyscotland bid farewell to Jim, 65, and a holder of the BEM, after 21 years’ service to the charity.

Jim, who lives in Galashiels with his wife Elizabeth, was in the Scots Guards for 30 years, spending the majority of his service in the 1st Battalion and reaching the rank of regimental sergeant major.

He was commissioned as a captain in 1984 and subsequently took up a post as recruiting officer at Edinburgh Castle, where he was also arena master for the Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo from 1986 to 1992.

Jim then joined Poppyscotland and his role as grants co-ordinator saw him involved in the implementation and delivery of support to help veterans and their families in need.

These included one-off and annual grants to help meet urgent financial need, funding to help support the work of specialist organisations and respite breaks to give families and couples much-needed opportunities to recuperate.

Jim was also responsible for running the charity’s successful mobility scheme, whereby he would source second-hand electric-powered vehicles, organise their refurbishment and then allocate them to veterans with mobility issues.

Speaking about his time at Poppyscotland, Jim said the role had been rewarding, particularly when he was able to intervene and help people.

“My highlight would be every time we’ve assisted an ex-serviceman and woman return to a normal life, thanks to the ever-generous Scottish public,” he said.

Jim has also been a familiar face at the annual Garden of Remembrance ceremony in Edinburgh and as parade marshal at Royal British Legion Scotland conferences.

YES Tweedbank is holding a coffee morning on November 30 in the community centre from 10am-noon so Borderers can find out how independence could affect them.

YES Tweedbank co-ordinator Andrew Aitken said: “Through a relaxed atmosphere, we hope to provide the opportunity for people in Tweedbank and the surrounding area to find out more about the issues concerning the referendum and Scottish Independence.”

A Borders MSP has said council staff acting as the first point of contact for police matters would be a ‘second rate service’.

John Lamont made the comment in response to the council’s suggestion to the area’s police commander that staff working in contact centres where police counters are to close could deal with residents trying to get assistance.

Police counters are set to close in Selkirk, Melrose, Lauder, Coldstream and Eyemouth.

A council spokesman said: “Scottish Borders Council thinks there is an opportunity to look at the possibilities for the public reporting of matters that need police assistance through council contact centres and other partner public outlets.

“To this end, a working paper is being prepared in close co-operation with the police services that will look at possible options.”

With no council contact centres in either Lauder or Melrose, it is not yet clear what service, if any, could be provided in these towns.

Mr Lamont said: “This move really does show that the SNP are at sixes and sevens when it comes to this issue.

“While the SNP have backed the closure of our police counters at Holyrood, this shows the SNP-led administration at the council is willing to acknowledge that they are a service worth saving.”

He added: “Most Borderers have realised from the off that this is a bad idea, and any attempt to create a second rate service in another location will not be sufficient.”

The Conservative MSP said: “The reason Police Scotland suggested these proposals was to save money, so if this move ends up costing the council money it will either negate the savings made or result in a cut for other council services.”

But, Conservative councillor Michelle Ballantyne has welcomed the suggestion.

She said: “I think it is an excellent idea in principle, because some people find it very difficult when they can’t speak face -to-face with someone and find going through the phone line system very difficult too.”

However, Mrs Ballantyne added: “If you get very distressed people turning up at contact centres the staff will have to be prepared to deal with that and be able to get a response from the police.

“We need to make absolutely sure staff have adequate training, knowledge, and contact numbers for the police.”

Chief Supt McDiarmid said: “Police Scotland welcome the proposals offered by Scottish Borders Council and look forward to further engagement with a view to coming to an acceptable solution which is acceptable to both partners, whilst ultimately benefiting communities.”

Langholm-based Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group has reported a 130 per cent increase in turnover to £566.7m and increased operating profit of £58.5m, up 184 per cent.

Like for like sales in the underlying business, which incorporates the Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Ponden Home brands, increased by 1.2 per cent, with online sales up 57.5 per cent. The business also opened 56 stores and created 920 jobs.

CHANGES by ITV Border to allow separate broadcasts in England and Scotland have been welcomed by Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale.

Transmission alterations currently being carried out on Freeview will allow separate broadcasts to two “sub-regions” – ITV Border England and ITV Border Scotland. This will enable new services to begin broadcasting in January.

Ms Grahame said: “I have been in regular contact with ITV Border this year, particularly with regard to programmes about the referendum not being shown in my constituency, so I am pleased now that the station will be providing a dedicated news programme for the area.

“I believe Ofcom (communications regulator) also wants 90 minutes of other weekly regional programming, which I think will appeal to many of the constituents who have raised issues with me about the lack of relevancy to the Borders since ITV merged its local service with Tyne Tees.”

As part of the preparations, engineering work is taking place to allow the separate programming. Freeview viewers using the Selkirk or Caldbeck Scotland transmitter groups may need to retune.

THE question we deal with this week is: ‘I currently pay VAT when I raise a sales invoice, but it can be a couple of months before I receive payment. Is there anyway around this?’

There are several different VAT schemes run by HMRC and I would suggest the Cash Accounting Scheme may be of use to you. With this calculation method you do not pay VAT on sales invoices until you have received the customers payment.

However this also means that you cannot claim VAT on your purchase invoices until they have been paid by you, so you should consider whether this is practical for your business.

This method is open to any business with a taxable turnover of less than £1.35 million. You can remain in the scheme until your taxable turnover reaches £1.6 million.

You do not need to apply to HMRC to begin using this scheme, however you cannot use it if you are not up to date on your VAT returns and payments, or if you have been convicted of a VAT offence or charged a penalty for VAT evasion in the last year.

You may join the Cash Accounting scheme at the beginning of any VAT period or the day your VAT registration starts. From that point you must record the output and input VAT from the receipts and payments you make, being careful that you don’t “double count” the figures, so they are not duplicated on your VAT return.

For example if you have already recorded a sales invoice under the standard VAT system, you should not record this when you receive the payment under Cash Accounting.

If you decide Cash Accounting is not for you, you may leave the scheme at the end of any VAT accounting period, but must then account for any outstanding invoices on your next VAT return.

For more advice, contact Gail Kristiansen on gail.kristiansen@renniewelch.co.uk or 01573 224931.

Two significant steps were taken this week towards the creation of a much needed new secondary school for Kelso.

On Wednesday the preferred contractor for the £15million scheme was announced and the council also revealed that an agreement over the purchase of the necessary land is nearing completion.

An SBC spokesperson said: “Provisional terms of sale have almost been agreed between the seller and the council and both parties are seeking to complete the transaction by March 31, 2014.”

Earlier this month council papers revealed that £1.85m has been moved into the capital financial plan for 2013/14 towards the cost of the land.

It was also announced on Wednesday that Morrison Construction have been appointed the preferred contractor for the high school building works.

The firm, the Scottish arm of Galliford Try plc, will also build a new high school in Midlothian.

Galliford Try chief executive Greg Fitzgerald said: “We are delighted to secure these significant projects which reflect our reputation and strong market presence within this sector.”

In addition to being appointed preferred contractors, the facilities management section of the firm has been selected as the preferred bidder to provide ongoing maintenance at the school over 25 years.

An SBC spokesperson said: “We are delighted that Morrison Construction has been appointed the preferred contractor to develop the new Kelso High School.

“The new school will ensure that pupils and staff of Kelso High will benefit from modern, fit for purpose facilities and the community will benefit from investment in the local area.”

The appointments were made by hub South East Scotland, a joint partnership between public and private sector organisations aimed at developing and delivering local service.

It was involved with the creation of the new health centre for Lauder, which was officially opened this week.

It will also be involved in the construction of the Scottish Ambulance Service station at Borders General Hospital and the planned Roxburgh Street Health Centre in Galashiels.