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Templeton looks to Vale for pain relief

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Gala Fairydean Rovers suffered greatly when falling to Preston Athletic in a Lowland League Cup match last Saturday, this defeat hurt and it hurt a lot.

This weekend however, the Netherdale outfit get the opportunity to ease some of the pain when they take on old rivals Vale of Leithen at home in another Lowland League Cup clash.

Talking of matters Gala assistant manager Bryan Templeton told TheSouthern: “The Preston result was a sore one alright.

“We didn’t start well and then things started to get even worse.

“The players just didn’t react and our performance was very disappointing.”

“We will just have to dust ourselves down and look back and try and work out what went wrong. Playing the Vale is a good game to come back to and get things sorted out.

“Doing well in the League Cup is very important to us and we are wanting to progress into the semi-finals so we will be looking for a win on Saturday.”

Gala are hoping to have central defender Fraser Forrest, who has missed out in their last two games, back in the squad.

Vale manager Chic McAleavey commented: “We had our first game for a while last Saturday against Selkirk and although we were a bit rusty, we pulled off a good win and could well have won by a lot more.

“In beating Selkirk we got our first points in the League Cup as it was our opening game and we will be looking to get more points on board in getting a win over Gala.

“The last time we played Gala we won 2-1.

“Gala were the better side in the first half but we came out on top in the second half and deserved to win.

“I think it is a bonus for Gala when they play on the astro turf but we can still do a job against them.”

Vale have a doubt with Eddie Mearns, who is on the injured list.

In another Lowland League Cup clash, Selkirk entertain Preston Athletic at Yarrow Park.

Having fallen to Burntisland Shipyard the week previous, Hawick Royal Albert get an early chance to gain revenge as they face the Fifers for the second time in seven days.

Albert Park being the venue this time around.

Hawick are without the suspended Sean Loughlin.

Kelso United tackle Duns at Woodside Park, while Peebles Rovers are at home to Eyemouth United.


Jail for carer who stole from elderly

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A home carer who stole £4,900 from a dementia-suffering couple in their 90s has been jailed for 160 days.

Kirsty Ritchie took two debit cards from a house at Abbotsford Place, Galashiels, on April 2 and used them on numerous occasions between April 2 and July 2 to obtain the money from a cash point in the town’s Gala Park. The offence came to light when the daughter of the elderly couple – aged 91 and 92 – noticed unauthorised transactions.

Ritchie also obtained goods worth £4,451 by fraud from Amazon.co.uk between April 23 and June 27, by pretending she was the true holder of a debit card owned by a 41-year-old woman.

Solicitor Heather Stewart, representing Ritchie, claimed a custodial sentence would have a “detrimental effect” on her client’s young child, and urged Sheriff Peter Paterson to consider an alternative sentence.

“It is clearly a very serious offence and she is under no illusions about that,” said Ms Stewart, “but there are mitigating factors. She was under great pressure from an abusive partner at the time.”

The lawyer added that Ritchie, who has been working as a chambermaid, was keen to make repayment and felt she could do so in a month.

“She is assessed at low risk of reoffending and at low risk to others,” said Ms Stewart.

But at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday, Sheriff Paterson told Ritchie, 28, of Gala Park Court, Galashiels, he considered there was no alternative to custody for what he described as “extremely serious” offences.

He referred to the “magnitude of breach of trust”, adding: “I take account of the effect imprisonment will have on your daughter, but feel there is no alternative to custody.”

Missed chances for Milntown men

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LANGHOLM looked like holding on for victory at Milntown last Saturday, but Linlithgow grabbed a try with three minutes remaining and the conversion put them in front.

Play was rather scrappy and littered with penalties, but after 23 minutes the visitors secured a good try from winger Ty Watson after feeding wide.

Niall Cubbon missed three penalties, but also had two successful kicks just before the interval to give Langholm a 6-5 lead at the break.

After the restart, Matt Dickson kicked a penalty for Linlithgow and Cubbon made suitable reply for Langholm. The hosts went further ahead when a break from their own 22 led to winger Richard Mackay racing in to score. Cubbon missed the difficult conversion leaving the score at 14-8.

After a period of attacks, winger Ross Plenderleith scored the late try for Linlithgow, which was converted by Dickson.

Leck names squad

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WITH the first Scotland Club XV match of 2014 now only 25 days away, head coach Phil Leck has refined his squad for the two matches v Ireland (on Friday, February 7) and France (on Friday, March 7).

RBS Premiership defending champions Ayr have the biggest presence in the squad now with eight players, followed by Gala, who have five representing the Netherdale side.

Forwards: Alex Allan (Edinburgh Accies/Edinburgh Rugby), George Hunter (Ayr/Glasgow Warriors), Fergus Scott (Ayr/Glasgow Warriors), George Turner (Heriot’s/Edinburgh Rugby), Lindsey Gibson (Hawick), Ewan McQuillin (Gala/Edinburgh Rugby), Nick Cox (Ayr), Murray Douglas (Heriot’s), Callum Templeton (Ayr), Russell Nimmo (Heriot’s), Andy Redmayne (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks), Andrew Nagle (Melrose), Will Bordill (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors), Adam Ashe (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors) and Gary Graham (Gala).

Backs: Greg Cottrell (Hawick), Peter Jericevich (Ayr), George Graham (Gala), Finn Russell (Ayr/Glasgow Warriors), Richard Mill (Melrose), Nyle Godsmark (ex Selkirk/Edinburgh Accies), Grant Somerville (Gala), Jack Steele (Glasgow Hawks/Glasgow Warriors), Dean Kelbrick (Ayr), Chris Auld (Gala/Edinburgh Rugby), Craig Gossman (Ayr) and Fraser Thomson (Melrose).

Edinburgh infusion helps put limitations on Leeds

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The scoreline was certainly a tad more palatable to Gala supporters than the numerical imbalance back in October when the Maroons surrendered 86 points.

All of which suggests that the decision to fortify the Netherdale side with an infusion of Edinburgh players was the right one and one that should be a pointer to future involvement in the British and Irish Cup.

But if you talk to many of the Gala fans you get the impression that amateur club sides against fully professional outfits simply does not work.

Their formula would be along the lines of Irish sides in the B&I Cup, modelling the likes of Munster A and Ulster Ravens. Were that to be adopted in Scotland then Edinburgh and Glasgow could enter A teams which could involve amateur club players.

Gala’s coach George Graham, however, insists that it is good for his players to face tougher tests.

He told The Southern: “It’s very important for our players to play at a higher level. And I think a lot of them benefitted from that today.”

But Graham was quick to acknowledge the benefit of having a clutch of Edinburgh players in his side. The presence of the pros meant that the Gala players were able to compete against a Leeds side intent on smashing their way to victory through powerful forward play. Against this, back-from-injury prop Ewan McQuillan, fellow front row Rory Sutherland, flankers Steve Cairns and Gary Graham showed up well in the pack, while behind the scrum Gregor Mein at stand-off continues to look a good prospect and Craig Dods at full back coped well.

Gala’s defence, particularly in the first half when Leeds enjoyed 95 percent territorial advantage, limited Leeds to a 8-0 half-time lead from a driven line-out try by flanker Jarad Williams and a penalty from stand-off Glyn Hughes.

With Harry Leanard and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne coming off the bench for the second half Gala looked lively, but it was Leeds who powered their way to further scores with a penalty try before using brute force for a touchdown by flanker Chris Walker, Hughes converting both.

Gala had their moment of glory with a penalty try converted by Leonard after Leeds collapsed a driving maul, but the visitors collected their bonus point with a late try by replacement Craig Hampson and the conversion by Hughes.

Mighty Quins hold off last-ditch attack by local rivals Linden

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Linden returned to league duty on Saturday and made the short journey to Wilton Lodge Park to play local rivals Hawick Harlequins.

Dominating territory and causing the Linden scrum all kinds of problems saw Quins gaining an early advantage, with Scott Peffers slotting two penalties.

After 30 minutes, Linden had conceded a further two penalties and Peffers kicked the Quins to a 12-0 lead.

Worse to follow for Linden when stand-off Kirk Ford was yellow carded. Down to 14 men, however, the visitors finally got into the game and after a good break by Stuart Williams they were awarded a penalty which Shaun Fairbairn slotted to make the half-time score 12-3 to the Quins.

Keeping up the momentum in the second half, Linden managed to pin the hosts in their own half and, on 50 minutes, scored a try when Stuart Williams sidestepped the home defence and crashed over to the right of the posts.

Kirk Ford converted and Linden were back in the game.Straight from the restart, though, they coughed up another penalty and again Peffers kicked the points to increase the lead.

Disaster struck again when Linden winger Sean Potts suffered a serious injury and the match was halted so that he could be attended to.

After consultation with the referee the teams agreed to restart the match on the next pitch but, despite throwing everything they had at the Quins tryline, Linden were held off by their hosts to the final whistle.

Chaos caused by break-up

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Eric Falconer’s letter of last week highlights the selective, naive views of many pro-independence campaigners that their assertions are right and anyone who disagrees is scaremongering and wrong.

The assertion that an independent Scotland would not be expelled from the EU because the chaos from the unravelling of the 40-year old EU union would be a nightmare (is this scaremongering?) is surely an even stronger endorsement that the 300-year-old Union within the UK should be retained. This nuts and bolts Union is far more complex and critical than the arms-length EU union and the chaos resulting from its break-up would be many times that of an EU exit.

Mr Falconer fails to mention this, either because he knows splitting the UK is absolute folly or he believes that an independent Scottish Government would be able to deal with the ensuing chaos effectively (but other EU states are incapable). This in itself is an insult to the other member states of the EU, implying they cannot resolve any issues coming from an EU exit of an independent Scotland.

I would also like to take exception to Mr Falconer’s comments on Scotland’s energy resources and the adverse impact on EU energy security if an independent Scotland was forced out of the EU.

Oil and gas is a global commodity traded on a global market, with the price set by OPEC and has nothing whatsoever to do with the EU. Norway is not a member of the EU and trades on the global market just like other producing country, as would an independent Scotland outside the EU.

UK oil and gas production is now less than six per cent of Eurasian production and has declined to the extent that it no longer even meets UK domestic demand, so offers no security of supply to the remainder of the EU.

Renewable energy supplies are in their infancy and the Scottish (very optimistic) target is to meet domestic requirements by 2020 – again no security of supply for the EU. Germany is more advanced in renewables and France favours nuclear power, so even if Scotland meets the 2020 target and can export then, I suspect much of the rest of Europe will be on the same footing.

Finally, I am at a loss with the comments on direct flights from Scotland. There are already many direct flights from Edinburgh and Glasgow to the key European centres. Given Scotland’s position on the northern tip of Europe, I do not see how this would be significantly bettered with independence.

Malcolm Donald

Cavers

Hawick

Entries open for Borders triathlon series

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Entires have opened for the 2014 Borders Triathlon series, which begins in Galashiels in April and ends in Eyemouth in September.

The Borders Sport and Leisure Trust series, one of the biggest of its type in Scotland, also includes events Selkirk, Peebles, Hawick and Kelso and Eyemouth

Ewan Jackson, chief executive of Borders Sport and Leisure Trust, said: “We are looking forward to an action packed series. Last year’s events attracted virtually capacity attendances so we are keen to encourage athletes to register for this year’s series as son as they can to be sure not to miss out on a place.”

In addition to the main triathlon events complementary ‘come and try’ tasters will also be held in five of the towns.

Galashiels Triathlon: Sunday April 20 (Come and Try on April 19)

Selkirk Triathlon: Sunday May 4

Peebles Triathlon: Sunday June 8 (includes Come and Try)

Hawick Triathlon: Sunday June 29 (includes Come and Try)

Kelso Triathlon: Sunday August 10 (includes Come and Try)

Eyemouth Triathlon: Sunday September 21 (includes Come and Try on September 20)

Borders Sport & Leisure Trust is also hosting two duathlons, at Tweedbank on Sunday May 11, and Peebles on Sunday August 24.

Full details of all the events, including entry information, can be found at {www.bslt.org.uk| Borders Sport & Leisure Trust website.|click to enter}


Over 200 tickets issued at BGH

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NHS Borders has confirmed that there are no plans to introduce a “no-return” period in Borders General Hospital’s short-stay car parks.

The implementation of such a regulation had been rumoured on the Facebook page set up by staff after the introduction of parking restrictions.

Staff have used the lack of a “no-return” period to avoid fines for staying longer than four hours in short-stay parks by moving their vehicles within the park before their time limit is up.

This week the health board also revealed that more than 200 parking-charge notices have been issued since the end of November.

An NHS Borders spokeswoman said: “Two hundred and fourteen parking-charge notices have been issued to incorrectly-parked vehicles that exceed the four-hour parking limit in the designated shortstay parking area.

“Seventy appeals have been received, with 30 of these being upheld. A total of 23 parking-charge notices have been cancelled through the system.”

She added: “Feedback from patients attending the BGH has been overwhelmingly positive about the changes to car-parking arrangements.”

A total of 90 permits have been issued to car-sharing staff for use in the 73 associated spaces created in the short-stay car park in December.

Kelso drive a hard victory

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AFTER five successive defeats, Kelso, at last, won a game when playing host to neighbours Jed-Forest in a Border Cup tie on Saturday.

The homesters dominated both scrum and lineout, and took the lead after 14 minutes when they drove Jed back and scrum half Andy Tait nipped in to touch down. Matty Douglas converted, as he did with a penalty soon after.

There followed a passage of possession and pressure for Jed, but resolute Kelso defence held them out.

The Tweedsiders lost Richard Minto and Terry Skeet to injury at the same time. As they reorganised, they conceded a penalty at the next scrum. Chris Laidlaw converted and, with the next play, put Jed in a scoring position in the Kelso 22. Alan Frame was driven over from the lineout and Laidlaw converted to level.

The second half started with an exchange of penalties between Douglas and Laidlaw. Kelso had another good drive up the touchline, only to be called back for an accidental offside. From the ensuing scrum, Kelso shunted the Jed pack towards the line and number 8, Michael Robertson, drove over for a try. Douglas failed to convert, but he was more successful with his next kick, the conversion of Kelso’s third try which came from their most potent weapon – the driven lineout.

With 15 minutes to go, it appeared that Kelso were home and hosed, but they had not taken into account the Riverside men’s fighting spirit. Laidlaw slotted a penalty before replacement winger Declan Wallace won the race to a hack through after centre Monty Mitchell had chipped the ball beyond the Kelso defence.

Kelso had to defend heroically and were grateful to Matt Douglas and Murray Hastie for long clearance kicks. Jed were not quite buried and hammered away at the home line as the game went into injury time. The hosts held on to win the game and the Kenneth Ballantyne Memorial Cup for the first time.

Agony for Souters as Hawick edge last-gasp win

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HAVING been 19-0 ahead after 30 minutes of this RBS Border Regional Cup tie, Selkirk were reeled in by Hawick after the break to lose in the most heart-breaking of ways.

Selkirk made a strong start with fly-half Gavin Craig cutting through the home defence for a try close to the posts which Josh Welsh converted.

A run by Fraser Harkness, one of many throughout the game, sent Welsh over in the corner for Selkirk’s second try before the full back touched down one of his own, with the former making the conversion. Just before the interval the Teries hit back through a try out wide from Neil Renwick to make the half-time score Hawick 5 Selkirk 19.

Hawick seized the initiative after the restart with a series of drives deep into Selkirk territory. In a foretaste of what was to follow, the visitors were penalised in front of their own posts for not releasing, and Renwick stepped up to cut the deficit.

Virtually all the play for the next 25 minutes was confined to the Souters’ 22 as the Greens pack hammered away and, despite battling to protect their line, the visitors’ defences were eventually breached by Bruce McNeil and Shawn Muir in the 66th and 71st minutes.

With both tries remaining unconverted, Selkirk were left hanging on by the narrowest of margins. A yellow card was then shown by the referee to Ross Nixon for ‘sealing off’ at a ruck, and soon afterwards another award to the home side saw Renwick successfully land the penalty kick to put the Greens ahead for the first time in the match, with just over a minute left on the clock.

By now the home crowd were shouting for the final whistle, but enough time remained for one more moment of high drama – an injury-time penalty attempt by Banks coming agonisingly close to snatching a win for the visitors before bouncing back off the crossbar.

No surprises as Melrose secure Border Cup title

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Melrose clinched their first piece of silverware of the season on Saturday and will now go through to join Gala in the RBS National Cup quarter-final stages.

The game itself hardly set the heather alight, but for the Greenyards outfit it was very much a case of going out and getting the job done. And that’s exactly what they did, scoring four tries in the first half and leaving their visitors with an uphill struggle.

Speaking after the game, Melrose try scorer Richard Mill said: “We didn’t play at all well today. The truth of the matter was we were scrappy, but they made it scrappy for us.”

Credit to Peebles, however. The visitors came out fighting in the second half and managed to match their hosts try for try in the 40-minute period, with some valiant defending and skilful turnovers giving their supporters something to cheer about.

“Peebles are a good side and they put us under a lot of pressure in the second half,” added Mill. “We have to look forward now though and there are some very exciting times to come for us as a club.”

Peebles captain Dale Clancy commented: “We knew at half-time that the game was getting away from us so we just decided to try and get something out of it. The game opened up a bit more as Melrose were trying to get a few more tries which suited us better.”

It took the hosts only seven minutes to get points on the board. After continuous pressure in the Peebles 22 from the kick-off, Mill collected the ball from a scrum five to run in between the posts. Joe Helps converted.

Play switched to the opposite end for a spell with Melrose racking up the penalty count and the Tweeddale outfit showing eagerness to score tries by sending the resulting kicks to the corner.

Peebles were reduced to 14 men after 25 minutes when prop Andrew Brown was sinbinned for repeated infringements, and Melrose made the extra man count almost immediately with tries from Ruaridh Knott and Joe Helps who also converted the former.

The bonus point was in the bag just before the break when Andrew Nagle crossed the whitewash, Helps converting. Half-time score: Melrose 26 Peebles 0.

With the job more or less done, Melrose took their foot of the gas slightly as the second half got under way, just as Peebles stepped up a gear. A sustained period of pressure from the visitors in the Melrose half resulted in a try for Ross Brown.

Such was the intensity of the Peebles defence, it took Melrose until the closing 10 minutes before they scored again.

This time Andrew Skeen touching down with Mill converting to seal the win.

Primary kids set for passport launch

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PRIMARY schoolchildren from across the region will have a chance to demonstrate their athletic prowess in front of two Commonwealth Games sportswomen tomorrow.

Borders Sport & Leisure is launching its Commonwealth Games Passport Programme at the Queens Leisure Centre in Galashiels when 36 children from schools across the Borders will showcase a number of the Commonwealth sports that will be offered as part of the passport scheme.

Inspirational Borders sportswomen Samantha Kinghorn (wheelchair racer) and Jo Pettitt (netball), who have both been selected to participate in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, will also be in attendance.

Border Sport & Leisure marketing manager Emily McGowan told The Southern: “The scheme has been devised to encourage primary-aged children in the area to enter into the spirit of the Commonwealth Games and participate in sporting sessions outwith school hours.

“This year’s Games being held in Glasgow gives everyone involved in sport even more reason to get behind them and our main hope with the scheme is to get kids trying, and enjoying, new sports.”

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Experienced travel agent Michael Needham has set a course on building his own business after moving back to his home town of Peebles.

Michael’s home-based business, Scottish Borders Travel Village, gives him the flexibility to meet people at their convenience, maintaining the ‘ethos of personal service’ that he feels is evident in the town’s high street businesses.

Michael, 39, is experienced in a wide range of holiday options, and specialises in cruises and far flung destinations.

Community is at the heart of Michael’s business and he will be hosting regular travel events in order to share knowledge and give people an insight into interesting holiday options.

The first of these takes place on Thursday, January 30 at the Tontine Hotel at 11am, when representatives of Fred Olsen will talk about cruises from Scottish ports.

Michael said: “I have always enjoyed cruising, and there is a myth that you have got to be at least 70 to enjoy a cruise, but that is just not true, and a lot of the cruise lines are becoming more family orientated.”

He added: “Personal experience is very important, and a lot of travel agents’ ‘cruise experts’ will have only been for a few lunches on board ships when they have been in a port, but I’ve been lucky to have done 12 cruises and can pass on my hints and tips.

“Hopefully this will be the start of a series of similar events, with others possible on Africa and China.”

Michael’s love of travel started when he was young, before a round-the-world trip really sparked his interest in getting involved in the industry over five years ago.

Discussing setting up his own business, Michael said: “I tried something similar with the Co-op in Glasgow, but I felt the community wasn’t there for it, but when I moved back to Peebles I felt everything was right and I have got good backing from The Travel Village.

“I’m self-employed, but their support has been great.

For more information, or to book a free place at the Tontine event, contact Michael on michael@thetravelvillagegroup.com or call 01721 728063.

Tweed ban could spread

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A salmon protection group is calling on Scotland’s fisheries to follow the River Tweed’s example and operate a ‘catch and release policy’ this spring.

The Association of Salmon Fishery Boards (ASFB), which represents Scotland’s 41 district salmon fishery boards, including the River Tweed Commission (RTC), is urging anglers not to kill any salmon by net or rod until at least mid-May.

The body, which has a statutory responsibility to protect and improve salmon and sea trout fisheries, fears some stocks this year may not be sustainable.

RTC clerk Nick Yonge said: “RTC fully endorses ASFB’s position,” adding RTC started its conservation scheme in 1998, banning the killing of any rod-caught spring salmon until the end of June and paying compensation to the river’s two net fisheries not to kill salmon until mid-June.

Mr Yonge said: “There simply are not sufficient breeding fish, from these early running stocks, to kill.

“The practice of ‘catch and release’ by anglers maintains employment and keeps the fishery open, while still conserving the fish.

“In some years, if it were not for the conservation scheme, our spring salmon stocks would not be self-sustaining.”

There were no plans to overturn the policy, although RTC keeps it under review in case stock levels change, he said.

Meanwhile, he disputed online agents FishTweed’s estimate that 14,000 salmon were caught last year, saying RTC’s official count is expected at the end of February.

In his end-of-year report on FishTweed’s website, Iain Wilson wrote: “This season was difficult to say the least, with some beats having reasonable catch returns with figures close to or above their five-year average, whereas other beats had very poor returns and struggled to get into three figures.

“The lower river fared best with the long, cold spring and low water/temperatures as this suited these beats and they did very well through the spring and into the summer.

“The middle river from Kelso to Melrose struggled pretty much all season, due to the cold spring and lack of water for most of the season.

“When the rain came at the end of October, the fish ran straight through these beats and headed up into the upper river.

“The upper river had a very good ‘back end’ with some of these beats having a record season, due to the fish arriving in good numbers following various rises in water levels throughout October and November.”

Last year’s rod and net salmon catch was 14,556.

Yesterday, First Minister Alex Salmond announced an independent review of wild fisheries management at the official opening of the 2014 salmon fishing season on the River Tay.


Top cleric in turbine plea

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Top Church of England cleric, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, is in danger of being dragged into a row over plans for a Borders wind farm.

It stems from preliminary proposals to site a large-scale wind farm south of Chesters, near Hawick.

Two land ownerships are involved, one consisting of farmland and the other, which makes up the bulk of the site, in Dykeraw Forest, which is owned by the church.

The developer involved, renewable energy giant, RES, will now apply to the Scottish Government, given the scale of the project, which is up to 37 turbines, measuring up to 150m high to blade tip.

A mast at Highlee Hill has been collecting wind speed data and RES wants a scoping opinion from the Government on information needed in its environmental statement. Philip Kerr, vice-chair of Southdean Community Council, has already contacted the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office at Lambeth Palace over local concerns, but is still awaiting a reply.

“What Southdean Community Council is interested in, is not only speaking to the developer, but also to the church commissioners, to ask them about the effects the development would have on our community,” he said.

“If the community wants to get involved, that’s one thing. But, when you look at scale of what is proposed, ‘incredulity’ is the word that comes to mind.

“If they were to try and ram something of that nature through, it wouldn’t seem a particularly church-like thing to do.”

However, a Church Commissioners spokesperson said they recognised such proposals can be “sensitive” matters, and must be balanced with an eye to the common good.

“We therefore support community engagement within the national planning process.

“We will consider the outcome of the planning process, which is democratic and representative, and takes proper account of the impact of building turbines in this location.”

Focus on going to the dogs in Galashiels

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On January 29 at the Focus Centre in Galashiels, along with the Dogs Trust, I am sponsoring free micro-chipping of your canine, if you come along between 9am and noon.

There will also be a free vet check – for dogs that is, not owners – and I will also be ready to take up any issues you may have, non-dog related. If that doesn’t entice you, there will be tea, coffee, biscuits – both the people and the dog varieties.

Annual Report

If you live in the constituency of Midlothian South and Tweeddale, you should have received my annual report which, of course, this year focused on the referendum.

This is a big year for Scotland, whatever your views. Many have sent in responses and if you bear with me I will reply, but it’ll take a little time due to the volume.

Some of you asked for a response, but forgot to give your address, so if you are unsure, check with my Edinburgh office.

Surgeries

A reminder that Tesco surgeries are up and running again, having stopped during school holidays.

These are between 11am-noon on the second Saturday in the month in Peebles, third Saturday for Galashiels and fourth is Penicuik.

Appointments can also be made for a Monday in Galashiels, and I also hold a surgery on the first Friday of the month in Newtongrange and then Gorebridge libraries. It may even be more convenient to arrange to see me at parliament. All these details are on my Facebook and website.

Sometimes when the roads are treacherous I have to cancel, but I endeavour to let as many know as soon as practicable. I am now very reluctant to drive on icy roads, having learned my lesson a few years back when I had a close encounter with a roundabout on black ice.

At least when the trains start running that might be avoided – unless we have the wrong kind of ice on the track!

Garden Bird Watch

As a fully-fledged member of the RSPB, can I encourage you to take part in Garden Bird Watch which, at the last count, identified the decline of the house sparrow.

Many have migrated to a neighbour’s holly tree and feast on the delights hanging from my trees, giving haute cuisine a whole new meaning, but I know some of you have much more glamorous feathered friends.

Log onto the RSPB website and you’ll see what you can do to monitor our bird population.

I recall visiting a constituent’s house in Penicuik to be distracted by a flock of ravenous visiting wax-wings stripping the rowan trees of their berries for all they were worth – and she had never noticed them. I know she’s on the look-out now.

Yes, even politicians have their uses.

Clegg gives Moore new business role

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Local MP Michael Moore has been appointed by the Deputy Prime Minister to be his Adviser on European Business.

The unpaid role will see Mr Moore working with businesses across the UK to understand the key trade, investment and regulatory issues affecting their dealings in the European Union.

Mr Moore will carry out a review of the issues and report to Nick Clegg by the summer.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Moore said: “Britain’s engagement with the rest of Europe is fundamental to our future economic well-being. At this crucial moment in the development of the UK’s relationship with the EU, I am delighted to take on this challenging role to engage with business.”

In a statement, Mr Clegg said Mr Moore’s experience made him the right MP for the job.

He said: “As someone with a background in European policy issues, a strong track record in engaging business when he served in the Cabinet and, importantly, a private sector career before entering politics, I have no doubt that Michael will be a valuable part of the Government’s efforts to create a stronger economy at the same time as we re-examine and underline the importance of the UK’s economic ties with the rest of Europe.”

Disney adventure for Borders dancers after they gather in Paris

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Twenty-four dancers from the Lynella School of Highland Dancing have returned from Disneyland Paris where they took part in the International Highland Gathering.

The girls, who travelled with their families, from dance groups based in Eyemouth and Ednam, performed choreographed routines for park visitors – thanks to their efforts and the time given by teachers Susan Grainger and Sharon Sim.

After a morning of workshops with the Disney professional dancers, the girls entertained the weekend crowds when they joined about 100 other Highland dancers from around the world in a parade through the Disney Park.

A Scottish Highland Dancing competition took up most of the Sunday they were there –all the Lynella entrants won special Mickey Mouse medals.

The young Borderers and their families worked hard to raise funds to help pay for the trip and are grateful to everyone who donated or helped in other ways.

MSP concerned about council’s police spending

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Borders MSP John Lamont has said that councils’ influence on local policing has been lost following the creation of a single force.

Mr Lamont said that there is now no guarantee that the money given to Police Scotland by councils and private firms, over £9.3m in 2013/14, will be spent in the area that the money came from.

Figures from Police Scotland have shown that Scottish Borders Council will fund the equivalent of four full time equivalent police officers this financial year - £160,211.

However Mr Lamont has said that the City of Edinburgh Council’s decision to withdraw their funding could see others follow suit.

Mr Lamont said: “The money provided by councils and private firms helps to employ hundreds of officers throughout Scotland, but this funding is now coming under threat.

“Under the new single police force there is no guarantee that the money being spent will lead to better policing in the area the money came from.

“That is why Edinburgh council have withdrawn millions of pounds in funding, and it will not be long before others join them.

“Scottish Borders Council currently employs the equivalent of four officers region, but they now have no guarantee that they will be deployed in our region.”

Mr Lamont added: “Without this guarantee it will undoubtedly lead to questions over whether we should continue to provide funding.

“We need the best policing force possible for the region, but this money could be spent in other areas where we could guarantee a benefit to Borders residents.

“Police Scotland need to start providing assurances that the money we are giving them will go towards fighting crime in our region.

“If not, we risk seeing other councils withdraw their funding and frontline policing will take a huge hit.”

However, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for community safety said that agreements are in place between the council and Police Scotland.

Councillor Donald Moffat, said: “Scottish Borders Council has service level agreements in place with Police Scotland regarding the deployment of funded officers, and is satisfied that these officers are undertaking duties in compliance with these and are deployed within the Scottish Borders.

“These officers undertake specialist duties to ensure that the Borders remains one of the safest places to live, work or visit within Scotland.”

The new single police force was formed in April 2013, with the Borders now part of the Lothians and Scottish Borders Division.

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