A diversion will be in operation from next week to allow for essential Selkirk Flood Protection Scheme works.

The route via Level Crossing Road should be used while a section of Dunsdale Haugh is closed for 20 weeks, starting on Tuesday, May 3.

The closure will allow a flood protection wall to be constructed between the Shaw Burn and Dunsdale Haugh. A new culvert will also be installed under the road.

The existing road network in the Riverside area has been upgraded with new sections of link road constructed in an effort to minimise disruption to residents and businesses. This will allow traffic to use the local diversion route via Level Crossing Road, with further routes into Riverside Road for local access only.

The £31.4million Selkirk Flood Protection Scheme, which will protect almost 600 properties against a major flood, is due to be completed by the end of this year.

Scottish Borders Council executive member for roads and infrastructure, councillor Gordon Edgar, said: “It is also worth adding that the businesses in the Dunsdale Haugh area remain open for business throughout the road closure.

“Selkirk Flood Protection Scheme is now less than a year from completion and will offer long-term protection to large areas of the town. The effectiveness of the Scheme has already been proven during the recent winter storms.”

Work on Selkirk Community Recycling Centre – which was closed to allow the diversion route to pass through its old site – is progressing well with the facility due to be opened in late June. Until then, Selkirk residents can use SBC’s six remaining recycling centres.

We’re a long way from the holiday season now, and if you’re missing that special Christmas feeling then this week’s DVD release could give you a shot of the festive spirit. We’re looking at the holiday comedy-horror movie Krampus.

The film kicks off with a pretty familiar scene as a dysfunctional family come together for the festive period.

In the middle of it all is young Max who quickly becomes disillusioned with the celebrations. It’s a development which has devastating effects.

By rejecting the spirit of Christmas Max unleashes the malevolent force of Krampus, an ancient evil bent on punishing non-believers. He’s a sort of psychotic Santa complete with horns, bad teeth and a gang of violent helpers.

After an intense snowstorm leaves the family stranded and without power it isn’t long until they are under siege in their own home. Monstrous creatures begin to attack and the family are forced to fight for each other to survive.

While the cast all give solid performances it’s the demonic Krampus and his team which remain the most memorable characters. From a child-eating clown to vicious gingerbread men, they’re a pretty unusual bunch and they don’t pull any punches.

Krampus is a 15 film for good reason and although the violence often sits uneasily with the lighter elements of the movie, the scares are handled well. The suspense builds and then releases in several well-crafted set-pieces.

There’s no doubt that this is a comedy-horror with an accent on the chilling as the family are picked apart by the demonic Krampus and his terrifying team.

By the end there is a 
return to the festive warmth more commonly found in Christmas movies but the film retains an eerie edge.

Director Michael Dougherty treads a fine-line between scary and silly in this throwback to classic frighteners like Gremlins.

While it’s not as good as that hit, Krampus is still enjoyable enough to leave an impression.

SELECT’s Toolbox Talks programme, which comprises practical and popular events for dissemination of the latest technological information to the widest possible number of electro-technical trade professionals is set to get under way as venues and dates are announced for 2016.

SELECT, the trade body for Scotland’s electro-technical sector whose member companies account for over 90% of all electrical installation work carried out in Scotland, will launch the popular toolbox tour for 2016 in the Tweed Horizons Business Centre in Newton St Boswells on Monday, 9th of May.

A second date at the Cairndale Hotel, in Dumfries, on Wednesday, 1st of June has been added to cater for the demand for Toolbox Talks in the South of Scotland.

Since their inception in 2013, support for the Toolbox Talks has been ever-increasing, with demand for places at the Talks - all delivered by SELECT’s expert technical team, and with contributions from experts in other relevant fields - now running into the hundreds. Participants include both SELECT member in the electrical contracting industry and other interested parties.

Alan Wilson, SELECT’s Head of Communications and Members Services, said: “We have been astounded by the apparent interest in the Toolbox Talks events programme which is now entering its fourth year.

“What I find most satisfying is that audiences are invariably a mix of skilled contractors wanting to keep up with their craft, and those in related fields looking to stay up to date with the best of the contracting industry.”

Topics covered at the Toolbox Talks this year include: Safe Isolation and Periodic Inspection and Testing, under BS 7671, and the completion of Electrical Installation Condition Reports.

Dave Forrester, SELECT’s Head of Technical Services, said: “The events are structured to provide detailed technical information and guidance which we hope our members will find useful.”

Members also had the opportunity to meet the various sponsors for the Toolbox Talks - including Aico, SJIB, Hager, M2, Megger, SECTT, Thin Red Line Products, Wiska and Wylex.

A motorist was clocked speeding at 99mph while on bail after being charged with causing the death of a teenager by dangerous driving, Selkirk Sheriff Court was told.

Ryan Moor, 26, of Wilton Dean, Hawick, was banned from the road for four months and fined £500 for almost hitting 100mph on the A68 near Carfraemill on a stretch of road with a 60mph limit.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said Moor had previous road traffic convictions and described his attitude towards driving as “quite frankly deplorable”.

The offence happened two months after Moor had appeared in court on petition charged with causing the death of 18-year-old Dale Whillans, of Hawick, following a crash on the A698 road on Easter Monday last year.

Defence lawyer Fiona Hamilton accepted that the offence on the A68 on November 15 involved a very high speed, but she urged Sheriff Kevin Drummond not to impose a disqualification.

She said that Moor had been attending an appointment and was running a little late, putting the offence down to a “concentration issue”.

Ms Hamilton explained that Moor needed his licence for his £800-a-week job and had had no convictions since 2013.

The death by dangerous driving charge is currently going through the courts, and Ms Hamilton said her client maintained his innocence, insisting that it was an accident caused by someone else.

However, Sheriff Drummond told Moor that, despite being only 26, he already had a significant record for road traffic offending including two periods of disqualification.

He added: “The fact of the matter is that you were driving at just under 100mph on a public road at 3pm in a 60mph limit.

“You already have a record and also you were on bail on petition from a serious road traffic matter, and I cannot ignore that fact.”

A motorist caused chaos by overtaking a line of cars at a speed of up to 75mph before losing control and crashing into a house and a gas mains while driving a vehicle with a space-saver tyre fitted, Jedburgh Sheriff Court has been told.

Joao Monteiro, who was uninsured and had no licence, had just bought the Subaru Impreza knowing it had a temporary wheel which was only capable of speeds up to 50mph and should only be used for short distances.

The 23-year-old call centre worker was driving the car from Hawick in the Borders to Bathgate in West Lothian when it swerved off the road after his overtaking manoeuvre on the A7 road at Lindean.

An elderly man walking his dog was injured while leaping to safety, houses had to be evacuated over fears of a gas leak and the A7 road was closed for several hours while engineers carried out repairs.

Monteiro, of Bognor Regis in West Sussex, was branded irresponsible as he was banned from the road for two years and fined £800 after admitting a charge of dangerous driving on Wednesday, March 2.

The court was told the Subaru careered off the road, smashed through two fences, narrowly avoided a 70-year-old dog walker, struck the side of a cottage and hit a gas mains before coming to rest beside a tree.

Depute fiscal Tessa Bradley explained: “The locus was the Selkirk to Galashiels road at Lindean. The road was reasonably straight and the conditions good.

“It was daylight and the traffic was moderate.

Witness Kyle Craughwell was in the front passenger seat of the car driven by the accused. The accused’s girlfriend was driving another car in front, and there was an Audi car in front of her.

“The accused went onto the opposite carriageway and overtook the two cars in front of him, but as it passed the Audi, it lost control.

“The Subaru came back onto the northbound lane before it went through a fence and across a footpath at which point a Mr Cornwall, a 70-year-old gentleman, was walking his dog.

“He managed to dive to one side to avoid being hit. The Subaru went through another fence and into the garden of Lindean Smithy House and there was a slight blow to the building. It hit another fence and a mains gas meter before coming to rest beside a tree.

“The people in the area were aware of the potential of a mains gas leak.

“The cottages all had to be evacuated due to the gas leak and the road was closed and cordoned off. Gas engineers had to make safe the gas leak.

“The accused and Mr Craughwell sustained cuts to their head.

“The accused provided a breath test which was negative for alcohol.”

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme explained that Monteiro and his partner were travelling to her parents’ home in Bathgate, having just bought the car in Hawick for £2,500.

Monteiro is said to work as an administrative assistant in a call centre, earning £300 a week.

He had failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest, but he then handed himself in to police.

Sheriff Kevin Drummond told him: “Taking into account the condition of this vehicle, which you knew about, the speed at which it was driven, the location you were entering, the danger to the public and the consequences in hitting a house and severing a gas connection, it shows a high degree of irresponsibility.

“This is bearing in mind you had no licence or insurance.”

Monteiro will need to sit an advanced driving test to re gain a licence after his two-year disqualification period is up. He was admonished on the charge of failing to appear in court.

An exhibition and free related events including talks and art demonstrations will take place in Selkirk from April 30 to May 8.

‘REFLECTIONS : glass : water : art : science’ showcases contemporary artwork by a variety of artists inspired by the creative interaction of reflective material within the designed landscape of The Haining House and loch in Selkirk.

The exhibition is part of the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design 2016, the Festival of Architecture and the Borders Science Festival. It is supported by the Selkirk Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), Creative Scotland and other partners.

A series of related events will take place throughout the exhibition period including a glass blowing experience at Lindean Mill Glass and Craft Scotland-funded Meet your Maker demonstrations of lampworking and glass engraving.

Police Scotland consults with the public every year on what their priorities are for policing in their community.

In the past this has always been by hard copy consultation questionnaires which were distributed by police officers within the community they work, but this year the process is widening and becoming more flexible. Consultation is moving online to a digital format, which will be open all year.

The aim of the consultation is for the public to tell Police Scotland what is important in their community.

Views across Scotland will be taken on board at a national and local level. We want you to help us focus on the priorities that will help communities most. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to local policing and all the needs and wants of individual communities will be considered.

The online consultation is open all year through the Police Scotland webite (www.scotland.police.uk).

Earlston is setting for an action-packed day on Sunday as round eight of the Kings of the 7s rolls into the picturesque setting at the Haugh.

Earlston 7s have become one of the most popular sporting events in the Border calendar and are a great advert for the game on both a sporting and social level.

On show will be fiercely competitive sporting contests played at a breathtaking pace with skill and scoring in abundance.

The hosts are joined by all the main contenders for the Kings of the 7s crown, and also by junior sides Hawick Quins, Duns and St Boswells, who will all be eager to test themselves against the best club sevens players in the country and relish the chance to cause an upset.

Melrose will be looking to lift the Earlston cup for an unprecedented sixth year in a row but will face stiff competition from city sides Watsonians and Edinburgh Accies, along with current tournament leaders Jedforest.

Acknowledging the support of Live At The Bar as main sponsor, sevens convenor Richard Aitchison also paid tribute to the volunteers at the club who help ensure the successful running of the tournament, as well as the Borders Rugby Referees Society for officiating once again, and to all the club’s sponsors. Action starts at 1pm and the first-round draw is as follows: Keslo v Hawick, Edinburgh Accies v Selkirk, Lasswade v Duns, Jedforest v Berwick, Melrose v Hawick Quins, Gala v St Boswells, Earlston v Peebles, Watsonians v Edinburgh University.

St Boswells RFC are pictured in celebratory mood after winning BT East League 1 last Saturday, defeating Forresters RFC 58-0.

St Boswells – the Saints – have now won 51 continuous league matches spanning three seasons, winning BT East Leagues 2 and 3. The Saints now go marching on to National League 3.

They were previously on a run of 59 matches, unbeaten in all competitions, but the winning run came to an end in the BT Shield semi- final against Carrick RFC, who went on to win the Shield Final by defeating Highland RFC.

St Boswells and their supporters acknowledged the success on the club’s Facebook page, with the club hoping to make it four promotions out of four next season, and fans’ comments such as ‘Well done lads, a massive achievement.’

Duns driver Euan Thorburn will be going flat out for a podium finish in Pirelli Carlisle Rally this weekend.

The Cumbria-based rally is the third round of the 2016 MSA British Rally Championship and crews will grapple with the gravel as they take on the challenging, high-speed and infamous Kielder Forest.

The opening two rounds have seen two different winners take the spoils, with World Championship star Elfyn Evans taking the laurels on the Mid Wales Stages and the highly talented Josh Moffett claiming the top spot on the legendary Circuit of Ireland last time out.

Euan Thorburn in the sole Peugeot 208 T16 will be hunting for a podium position. he will, once again, be co-driver by Paul Beaton from Inverness.

Also challenging for the top three places will be CA1 Sport driver David Bogie from Dumfries, co-driven by Hawick’s Kevin Rae. They will be boosted by their podium success last time in the Skoda Fabia R5.

Duns co-driver Richard Simmonds is once again on the notes for Kinross driver Blair Brown in their Fiesta R2T and they are hoping to secure further points in the DMACK Junior British Rally Championship. Richard said: “We are looking forward to putting the disappointment of the Circuit of Ireland behind us. With the return of the leading crews from the Mid Wales Stages we will have to be on the top of our game to get a much needed result.”

Your view counts and is valued – that’s the message behind Police Scotland’s new online public survey which takes just 15 minutes to complete and will help shape policing priorities throughout the country.

It allows communities to tell us what’s important to them and what they want local officers to prioritise – and to do so at a time which is convenient. The process is open to everyone and runs all year round, around the clock.

We have listened to feedback from the public over the last year and used it to re-design and re-launch our consultation process for local policing priorities. The process has evolved with support from key partners and stakeholders, including the set of questions used.

Why not have your say and influence what local police officers prioritise in your community, complete the survey and get your voice heard. Just click on www.scotland.police.uk/yourviewcounts and your responses to the consultation process will be continuously monitored, with quarterly progress reports published on the Police Scotland website.

Chief Constable Phil Gormley helped to launch the survey earlier this month and said: “Over the last year we have listened to partners and communities who gave us feedback that they wanted better opportunities to tell us what is important to them.

“The new process is about accessibility and flexibility. The benefit of an online system is that you can take part at a time which is convenient for you. If you don’t have personal access to a computer, you can use community facilities with free internet access in one of the hundreds of locations across the country.

“Police Scotland wants to gather and understand views which reflect the needs of communities.

“Local policing is at the heart of what we do and that’s why we’re committed to listening to the public – we want to provide a high standard of service which delivers effective policing, tailored to meeting local needs across the country.”

I wholeheartedly back Mr Gormley’s views. The new electronic, online consultation process is a fantastic new development and allows us to reach more members of our communities than ever before.

It is especially useful in areas such as the Borders which cover vast geographic areas, and I would encourage everyone to use the survey to influence local policing here in this region.

With just under a week to go until polls open for the 2016 Scottish Election, candidates have chapped doors the length and breadth of the country.

And for First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the campaign trail brought her to the Berwickshire and East Lothian coast this week.

The SNP leader started Monday, April 26 with a signing- not documents, but a cider barrel!

Ms Sturgeon was on an early morning visit to the Thistly Cross, the cider-makers based near Dunbar, where she tasted their wares and opened a cidery.

Then it was onward down the coast to Eyemouth and St Abbs in the company of SNP candidate Paul Wheelhouse.

In St Abbs, the First Minister met up with campaigners working to bring an independent lifeboat to the village, posing for photographs in her own charity hoodie.

She later tweeted: “A fantastic visit to @stabbslifeboat - a wonderful story of community spirit and perseverance.

In an interview with ITV Border later that day, Ms Sturgeon stressed that what she described as the “fantastic success” of the Borders Railway project did not mean further work could not be looked into.

“Yes it has been a fantastic success because we did detailed feasibility work, planning work, along the way to make sure that development was founded on the best possible evidence,” she said.

“It has proven to be a success. There are many more people using the railway than we expected. So now we would like to see it extended to Hawick and on to Carlisle but of course we’ve got to do the feasibility work on that.”

Edinburgh has been voted the UK’s top tourist spot for 2016.

A survey of 10,000 holiday-goers has revealed the 50 towns and cities Brits are swarming to this summer.

Edinburgh emerged the winner, beating London to the top spot in the table – with 15% of those surveyed saying they’ll be visiting the Scottish capital this summer.

Home to the likes of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the city attracts over 2.15m domestic visitors per year according to recent government figures.

Its airport, meanwhile, is the UK’s sixth busiest, facilitating over 30,000 passengers a day.

In total, Scotland contributed to over 10% of the list, compiled by Pegasus Marine Finance - with Highlands hotspot Inverness joining Edinburgh in the top 10.

Scotland’s second city, Glasgow, was named the UK’s 21st most popular staycation destination - while Loch Lomond tourist spots Aberfoyle and Inverary also made the longlist.

Across the border, 1 in 10 participants said that they would be visiting London this summer - asserting its own dominance on the UK’s tourism industry – while Bournemouth, Manchester and Whitby made up the top five.

The North of England is particularly well-represented in the table - with Newcastle (17th), Durham (30th), Barnard Castle (33rd), South Shields (34th) and Northumberland’s Alnwick (42nd) and Berwick (43rd) all featuring in the top 50.

The Lake District also fared well, thanks to the growing allure of Kendal, Keswick and Penrith.

Five Welsh hotspots also made the list – Cardiff, Abergavenny, Newport, Harlech and Aberystwyth – while Belfast and Bushmills, home of the Giant’s Causeway, represented Northern Ireland.

The Pegasus Marine survey follows a report by The Telegraph, which found that more Brits are enjoying staycations than ever before.

According to data from Visit England, the number of overseas holidays booked by Brits is 16% lower than it was prior to the recession – while staycations increased by 12% between 2008 and 2013.

Jonathan Le Roux, co-founder and director of Pegasus Marine Finance, said: “Staycations are clearly a very popular way to holiday currently, and why not?

“Britain is beautiful and in my opinion is hard to beat when the rain’s not falling.

“Whether you’re visiting towns and villages of historical value or enjoying our varied coastline, the UK offers amazing diversity”

Is your hometown featured? Here’s the UK’s top 50:

1. Edinburgh

2. London

3. Bournemouth

4. Manchester

5. Whitby

6. Hastings

7. Blackpool

8. Inverness

9. Stratford-upon-Avon

10. York

11. Skegness

12. Great Yarmouth

13. Portsmouth

14. Nottingham

15. Brighton

16. Liverpool

17. Newcastle

18. Kendal

19. Scarborough

20. Cambridge

21. Glasgow

22. Watford

23. Keswick

24. Leeds

25. Chester

26. Isle of Man

27. Oxford

28. Alton

29. Aberfoyle

30. Durham

31. Cardiff

32. Morecambe

33. Barnard Castle

34. South Shields

35. Christchurch

36. Abergavenny

37. Salford

38. Ely

39. Belfast

40. Stroud

41. Harlech

42. Alnwick

43. Berwick

44. Newport

45. Amesbury

46. Penrith

47. Aberystwyth

48. Whitehaven

49. Bushmills

50. Inveraray

Borders pubs, clubs and hotels are being invited to take part in Best Bar None Scotland 2016 by the Safer Communities Team at Scottish Borders Council (SBC).

The scheme is an opportunity for the local licensing trade to take part in an accredited award scheme and demonstrate their commitment to operating safe, secure and customer focused venues. It also provides recognition of their efforts in managing a good venue.

It is available throughout the Borders to pubs, bars, clubs or hotels that can demonstrate a commitment to a safer and more secure environment for the public. There are three levels of award – bronze, silver and gold – which are awarded following an independent inspection of each participating venue.

Licensed proprietors who take part in the scheme can access a number of benefits. These include formal recognition of their good management practice, use of the Best Bar None brand in advertising and promotional materials, media interest and the opportunity to be acknowledged nationally as a Best Bar None venue. They also receive an accreditation plaque which can be used to enhance their reputation both locally and nationally, which brings with it the recognition of their premises as a quality venue which is serious about customer care and safety and that the town they trade in is a safe environment.

The Black Bull Hotel in Duns received a silver award in 2015.

Proprietor Pamela Turner said;

“As a small business within the Borders we are delighted to be involved in the Best Bar None Awards. We are proud of our achievement and have gained excellent knowledge and practice through being involved in the Best Bar None Awards”

Scottish Borders winners in 2015 were The Queens Head Hotel, Kelso; Waggon Inn, Kelso; The Cobbles Inn, Kelso; Innerleithen Union Club, Innerleithen; Oblo, Eyemouth; The Horse & Hound, Bonchester Bridge; The Fishermans Arms, Birgham; The Liddesdale Hotel, Newcastleton; The White Swan, Kelso; Hunter’s Hall, Galashiels; Rutherfords Micro Pub, Kelso; The Allanton Inn, Allanton; The Black Bull Hotel, Duns.

Councillor Donald Moffat, SBC’s Executive Member for Community Safety added:

“In addition to the benefits this scheme brings to licensed proprietors, it offers members of the public greater confidence and reassurance that award holders place a high value on maintaining a properly licensed, well managed venue where customers can relax and feel safe knowing that responsible drinking is encouraged.”

PC Nick Walker from the Scottish Borders Safer Communities Team and local Best Bar None lead, added:

“Best Bar None is great opportunity for premises and partner agencies in the Scottish Borders to work together in order to maintain safe and welcoming licensed venues. The process is very straightforward and Police Scotland and Council licensing staff are available to assist participants at all stages.”

The closing date for this year’s applications is 13th July. Application forms are available from the Council website: www.scotborders.gov.uk/bestbarnone or from the Safer Communities Team on 01835 823204.

Anyone interested in taking part in the scheme is also invited to an information and launch event at the Council Chamber Galashiels at from 2pm-3:30pm on Wednesday 4th May 2016 where they will have an opportunity to meet existing Best Bar None award members and find out more about the scheme. Contact the Safer Communities Team for more information.

Allocation of the awards will be announced at a ceremony due to take place in February next year.

A Berwickshire audience wanted to hear Scottish Parliament election hopefuls’ views on a second independence referendum, wind farms, austerity and educational attainment.

Duns Parish Church was the venue for an election hustings meeting, chaired by Rev Stephen Blakey, and alongside the four candidates contesting the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency – Barrie Cunning (Labour), Jim Hume (Lib Dem), John Lamont (Conservative) and Paul Wheelhouse (SNP) – a further four South of Scotland List MSP candidates also attended the Duns event, Sarah Beattie Smith (Green Party), Beverley Gauld (Clydesdale & South Scotland Independent), Dan Foley (RISE) and Cheryl Scott (Solidarity).

Each of the eight candidates was given two minutes at the start of the hustings to make an appeal to voters, and each was given one minute at the end to sum up what they stand for. In between, as well as perhaps the more predictable topics of independence, austerity and education, there were also some curve balls thrown in by audience members such as the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act 2012, which means it would be an offence to chant certain songs in Scottish football grounds but would not necessarily result in arrest in a Scottish league game being played in Berwick in England.

Opening the speeches, Mr Wheelhouse told the audience that the contest for the Ettrick, Roxburgh, Berwickshire seat was “a clear choice between myself, looking after the vulnerable, or the alternative choice the Conservatives”, a view not necessarily shared by the others standing for the constituency.

Constituency candidates focused on issues they expected to be in the minds of Berwickshire folk when they cast their votes on May 5 – the reopening of Reston Station and a local rail service, improved broadband and education.

Mr Wheelhouse was also keen to see a re-drawing of the EU funding map to give the south of Scotland a greater chance of EU grant funding.

Jim Hume wants to see local public services fit for the future. John Lamont believes investment in jobs is needed so people have the choice of staying in the Borders. And Barrie Cunning “want to do everything I can to make the Borders better”.

Scottish independence and social justice were high on the agendas of both the RISE candidate Dan Foley and Socialist candidate Cheryl Scott. For the Greens, Sarah Beattie Smith is looking for social and environmental justice, and believes the Scottish Parliament has achieved great things but could be much bolder.

Clydesdale and South Scotland Independent Beverley Gauld is focused on family values, civil rights, and marriage.

Other hustings events have been taking place in the constituency over recent days and a BBC Scotland radio debate will come from Selkirk’s Victoria Hall on Thursday, April 28, when audience members will put a series of questions to the constituency candidates.

How should the new Scottish Government go about reversing the austerity measures the country has been enduring since the economy went into freefall in 2008?

Green candidate Sarah Beattie Smith said: “We are told austerity is necessary because we have a huge amount of debt but it’s just pitting the poor against the poorest.

“There is 60% of council cuts still to come.

“It’s an absolute disgrace. We want to change the 
tax system and use the powers we have got and the powers that are coming, scrapping council tax so there is much more money coming in through local income tax.”

Labour’s Barrie Cunning said: “We would use powers to raise taxes by one per cent. We have seen jobs going from this area and need to reverse that.”

The additional powers coming to the Scottish Parliament were also emphasised by the Lib Dem candidate Jim Hume: “More powers to the Scottish Parliament should mean that rather than taking all the praise for everything that goes right and blaming others for what goes wrong we get into more grown-up politics.

“Forty per cent of Scots and 50% of the rural population are in fuel poverty and the Lib Dems have a warm home plan.”

The RISE party has a plan to inject £4.5 billion into the Scottish economy, replacing council tax with a Scottish service tax, and a guaranteed living wage of £10 an hour, for everyone, not just those over the age of 25.

The Conservative party’s John Lamont said we can’t spend what we don’t have while trying to clear the debt at the same time.

“This Government (UK) is taking thousands of families out of poverty. Over 2000 more people in the 
Borders are in work since 2005 and that’s thanks to the economic policy of this Government.

“40,000 fewer children live in a non working household. We are getting people back into work.”

Paul Wheelhouse pointed the finger of austerity clearly at the Conservative and Lib Dem coalition partners between 2010 and 2015 saying: “It was a Lib Dem treasury minister who set in motion the cuts we have today.”

He went on to highlight the Private Finance Investment and Public Private Partnership debt of £300 million for the three new high schools which takes out £6 million a year from the council’s education budget.

The prospect of a second independence referendum was high on the agenda for the Duns audience, the eight strong panel of election candidates split down the middle about independence.

Three of the four constituency candidates - Lamont, Hume and Cunning - are all firmly in the no camp, but Paul Wheelhouse had support from three of the South of Scotland list candidatesfor Scottish independence, Solidarity candidate Cherly Scott proclaiming “It was stolen from us”. The independent candidate Beverley Gauld wants to see an independent Scotland in the future but declared himself “happy with devo max for now and happy with the status quo meantime”.

For John Lamont, the constant threat of a second referendum hanging over the country is a “betrayal”.

“It was once in a generation and here we are again,” said Mr Lamont. “It a betrayal of that promise.”

“If Scotland had voted the other way, and given the price of oil, if I had sat here saying we want a second vote I would have been shouted down so why does the other side get the right to unpick the decision?”

Agreeing with Mr Lamont, Labour candidate Barrie Cunning added: “We had a vote for independence and the result has to be respected.”

Likewise Jim Hume said: “I’m for staying in the UK and Europe. I believe in a world without barriers but I’m very much for devolution, not just to Holyrood but out to the Borders. The council can’t set their own Council Tax, police decisions are taken centrally and our courts have been closed.”

For Paul Wheelhouse, independence should be a matter for the Scottish people, adding: “I passionately believe that independence is best for the future of our country. The timing will be for the people of Scotland to decide.”

A member of the audience challenged independence supporters about Scotland’s £12 billion debt, pointing out: 
“we would have been facing £12 billion of cuts. What do you think would have happened to the people dependent on welfare?”

Responding, Mr Wheelhouse argued that it’s reasonable to assume that Scotland would not follow the same path as the UK Government, but would follow it’s own agenda in dealing with the debt.

The Greens Sarah Beattie Smith agreed saying: “The £12 billion debt assumes that with independence nothing else would change, but if we were independent we would be able to change our economy.”

The RISE candidate, Dan Foley said: “I have a different vision to the SNP and a much more radical tax policy.” And Solidarity candidate Cheryl Scott denied Scotland had a £12 billion debt, saying: “There is no deficit, it’s a wording created deficit. London gets what London wants.”

Wind farms are a frequently-discussed topic in Berwickshire, and an audience member wanted to know whether candidates were “for or against wind farms in this constituency”?

Kicking off the discussion, Lib Dem candidate Jim Hume said: “We are for renewable energy, but this area has done more than its fair share. 52% of energy is used for heating homes, and our focus should be more on heat loss prevention rather than different ways of how to produce energy.

A mixed supply of energy sources would be Conservative John Lamont’s choice. “Our energy supply should be as mixed and well balanced as possible,” he said.

“It should be mixed with other forms, not just the Scottish Government’s obsession with wind. The Borders has more than its fair share.

“When you have an application and it’s rejected by the community and the local council and then it’s overturned by the Scottish Government – 56% got overturned – that’s not respecting local views.

“There is support for wind farms but there are clearly concerns.”

SNP candidate Paul Wheelhouse supports the Scottish Government’s wind energy policy “in the right place”.

“I would say the debate should be what kind of wind farms we have and who owns them,” added Mr Wheelhouse. “When a community owns it, the revenue flows to the community for social use, harbour improvements, new roads etc.

“We could do more to help communities take it into their own hands.”

The majority of the list candidates admitted to knowing little about the wind farm situation in Berwickshire, but Sarah Beattie Smith of the Green party said: “The scale we have seen across the south of Scotland isn’t always appropriate where they are.

“We need small scale community wind farms. One of the great ironies of how we have done it is that the big six energy companies own them.

“SSE made billions of pounds in profit yet people who are in fuel poverty are looking out of their homes at these wind farms.

“We need a change in who owns our energy system.”

Bedrule

SWI

Members enjoyed a fun “games night” at their April meeting. Competition – pretty candle – 1, Sharon Mackenzie; 2, Teela Ferguson; 3, Molly Marshall. The next meeting is on May 18 at 7pm when members will hear about Adele’s photographic trip to China.

CADDONFOOT

Classes

Caddonfoot Hall was the scene for children and adult dance classes when the Wednesday free taster session took place – contact Fiona on 07542 504820 or email her at fiona @bpdance .co.uk for full details. Last Thursday’s exercise class for the over-50s proved popular – and a similar event wilol be held today (Thursday).

Soldier bear

The story of Wojtek, the soldier bear, came to Caddonfoot Hall, as author Aileen Orr told almost 80 listeners of how Polish soldiers in the Second World War bartered with an Iranian boy to purchase a small brown bear for the price of a can of bully beef. Wojtek became not only a mascot for the regiment, but was a focus for the emotions of the soldiers far from home and facing an uncertain future in post-war Europe. As they headed to Italy to fight their way up through the country against German forces, Wojtek, now an adult bear, carried artillery shells up to the front lines. After the war, Wojtek and the survivors, arrived in Scotland where many of the soldiers stayed on. Eventually, Wojtek was presented to Edinburgh Zoo where he again became a centre of attraction until he died, aged 21, in 1962. Aileen brought along a model of a statue of the bear which stands in Edinburgh’s Princess Street gardens.

Comedy night

The comedy night last Saturday was a big success, raising funds for the parent and toddlers group.

Parish church

Pilgrimages were the themes of the Reverend Elspeth Harley’s talks at the morning service on Sunday. She spoke of her visits to Holy Island and Iona, and the Bible readings were delivered by her and Hamish Tennant. Bible study continues on Wednesday evenings in the Trinity Church office at Galashiels. The Book of Ruth is the main feature.

DENHOLM

Minto SWI

Alan Brydon treated members to a fascinating description of the area surrounding Midshiels, reaching back to Neolithic times with a field with burial mounds and a standing stone (like an iceberg with probably as much buried below as the 8ft showing above). Farmed for centuries, some of the archaeological remains have long since gone, but one dry summer it was possible to spot the track of the water channel from the pond above the old railway down through the fields to the mill wheel. Hawick miller John White lived at Midshiels for about 25 years in the 19th century and his eldest daughter married Andrew Haddon who later took over Honeyburn. The house itself has five staircases. A field with a one-mile perimeter was used by Harry Bell to train three Scottish Grand National winners. Sheila Marshall showed the Linus quilts she made from members’ knitted squares at Christmas. Competition – Scottish brooch – 1, Jill Fox; 2, Janice Palmer; 3, Pat Jardine; 4, Ann Joyce. Jo Hanson made a cake for the tea break. The next meeting, on May 11, is the visitors’ evening, featuring a talk on floral art.

Flower show

Denholm Flower Show is sponsoring a Growers’ Information Exchange Night on May 4 at 7pm in the Lesser Village Hall. This is an evening of information exchange – come along and ask questions or contribute experience in growing vegetables and fruit. Everyone is welcome and admission is free.

earlston

Wednesday Club

The latest meeting was opened by hostess Mrs S. McKay, introducing Elise Ross who gave a talk and slide show on her trip to Israel. Mrs Ross and her husband lived and worked in Israel some time ago, and they wanted to see the changes. Competition – 1, Mrs W. Moffat; 2, Mrs J. Wilson; 3, Mrs R. Murray. The next meeting is on May 4 and will be the Queen’s birthday celebration. Competition – “Something With A Royal Theme”.

Parish church

The May 1 service at 10.15am will be conducted by the Reverend Julie Woods. The congregational board meets in the church hall lounge on May 2 at 7.30pm.

Auld Earlston

Auld Earlston, the local heritage group, is holding a fundraising coffee morning on May 7 at Hanover Close, 10am-noon. Auld Earlston’s AGM is on May 3 at 7pm in the Church Hall, High Street.

eckford

SWI

It was visitors’ night and Gail Chandler welcomed ladies from Morebattle, Heiton and Minto. Hamish Reid, a guide from Abbotsford, gave a photograph-illustrated talk about the life of Sir Walter Scott and recent alterations to the house. Sir Walter, at his peak, was earning the equivalent of £140,000 a year from two part-time jobs as a lawyer and a million a year from books. The competition for shortbread was won by Margaret Linton, Christine Tucker and Carol Wilson-Green. The winning coasters were brought by Gail Chandler, Hilary Lewis and Margaret Jeary. There was a raffle and sales table. This was followed by supper.

ettrickbridge

SWI

At the April meeting, guest demonstrator Marjory Inglis presented imaginative, yet not difficult, ways to decorate cupcakes, interjected with great humour. The next meeting is in Kirkhope Hall on May 11 when the speaker is David Hunter, of Borders Exploration Group.

galashiels

Burns club

The following office bearers were elected at the annual general meeting of Galashiels Burns Club held in the Royal British Legion Club last Tuesday – president , Robert Fairburn; vice-president, Alastair Christie; secretary , Keith Cowan; assistant secretary, David Sanderson; treasurer, Douglas Watt. The club’s next annual supper will be held in the Volunteer Hall on Friday, January 27, 2017.

Trinity church

Minister Elspeth Harley, back from holiday, took worship on Sunday, with Dorothy Howden leading music and playing a piano solo while the collection was being taken. Elspeth spoke about her holiday in Seahouses and going to Holy Island on a pilgrimage. She hopes to plan a pilgrimage to Iona in the summer of 2017 and if anyone is interested in going, they should speak to her. Ann Blackie read the lessons. The annual Masonic Divine Service was held in the church in the afternoon. There is to be an unscheduled congregational board meeting on May 1 after the morning service. Communion will be held on May 8 at 11.15am.

Hawick

Rotary

President Mairhi Trickett welcomed four members of Edinburgh Rotary Club to last week’s meeting. Speaker Rory Bannerman was introduced by his father, Sandy, and he delivered a talk on discipline in sport and the part played by sport tribunals. He is a member of a team of 16 professional people from whom the tribunal is selected. Rugby matters come under the SRU and misdeamours such as foul play etc. are made by paper report from referees and officials, or personal hearings. The Six Nations representatives meet periodically at Twickenham to try and standardise proceedings, but different interpretations can arise from France and Italy compared to the home unions. Rory said football hearings are held at Hampden Park, giving examples of the various problems which can arise. Tribunals do not always have the benefit of video evidence to assist them. Interesting questions resulted from the talk.

Innerleithen

Service

The service on May 1 will be at 10.30am.

jedburgh

St John’s

Today (Thursday) and each Thursday Holy Communion is celebrated at 10am, Bible study following at 10.45am. On May 1, the 9am and 10.30am services will be led by Steve Mclachlan and Paul Beck. Volunteers are being sought for help cutting the churchyard grass. To join the rota, contact Alan Thompson on 01835 824136. Volunteers are also required to help with the shop and lunches at Kenmore Halls for Christian Aid Week. The Wednesday is St John’s particular day. Congregation member Margaret Robinson

was a recipient for receiving Maundy Money from the Queen. Four members of St John’s Pastoral Care Group have attended a day course

at the Diocesan Centre in Edinburgh on “Safe-guarding Vulnerable People”.

KELSO

Fair

Kelso Youth Project spring fair on April 30, starting 10.30am at The Planet (next door to the ice rink), will offer hundreds of bargains, featuring plant, book, DVD, CD and jewellery stalls. Entry by donation. Donations for the fair can be dropped off the previous day (4-6pm) and from 9.30pm onwards on the day. For further information, ring/text Ian on 07958 277766 or email ianrendallreid@cheviotyouth.co.uk.

Quilters

Abbey Quilters will meet on May 10 at 7pm in Abbey Row Centre to discuss exhibition items, as well as showing different ideas for small gifts or projects. Members should remember their exhibition entry form, mug and name badge. For further information,, contact Rineke Sangster on 01573 229414.

Bridge club

April 20 – Celtic Spring Pairs – N/S – 1, Maureen Weightman & Helen Long; 2, Alex Jeffrey & Vanessa Wilson; 3, Dominic & Diana Alkin; E/W – 1, Sheena McPherson & Sheila Urquhart; 2, David Harris-Burland & Ruth Mackay; 3 (equal), Mary & Nigel Lindsay, Mary & Jim Stone. April 21 – Teams of Four – 1, Rena Stewart & Maureen Weightman, Ken Ross & Jean McLaren; 2, John Urquhart & Tricia Reynolds, David Harris-Burland & Sheila Urquhart; 3, Michael Horwood & Alison Ireland, Lynda Douglas & Vanessa Wilson; 4, Nancy Porter & Jock Dun, Keith Ackerman & Jim Stone.

Thursday Group

The last talk of the 2015-16 season was given by Matilda Mitchell, tracing the increasing skills and complexity leading up to the Lindisfarne Gospels. Some beautiful

images illustrated her talk. This week, at the final meeting, Isabel Gordon will look back at the past season and forwards to 2016-17 – 2pm, Abbey Row Centre.

Concert

Roxburgh Singers will present a concert in aid of TD1 Radio in St Andrew’s Church at 7.30pm on May 22. Soloists are Fiona Wilkie, Steve Phillips and James Letham, with orchestra and choir being conducted by Marion Dodd. Tickets (£10)available at the door – accompanied children free.

Charity evening

Restaurateur and food writer Carina Contini will tonight (Thursday) host a charity evening with Countryside Kitchens & Interiors to celebrate the launch of its new showroom in the Corn Exchange building.

LAUDER

Historical society

David Mclean gave a presentation on “Roads & Travel in Berwickshire – 1750-1900”. He said poorly looked after tracks or paths were the only means of travelling from one Berwickshire village to another until the coming of the agricultural and industrial revolutions. Something had to be done to ensure trading could take place more easily, so the Turnpike Trust was formed. This meant that roads were made and maintained by charging a toll to users. Toll houses were built at strategic points to cover the junction of more than one road (each toll road was about 10 miles long) and barriers were put in place, with a side gate for pedestrians to use because they were not normally charged. David gave examples of prices and how some people managed to avoid paying the full amount. Claims were made by users if potholes caused damage to their cart etc. With the coming of the railways, the toll roads were no longer used as much for commercial transport and soon it was not viable to continue with this scheme. There are still toll houses in the Borders, some of which have been extended for use as family homes and David showed these on screen.

SWI

Betty Russell, from Denny, a prizewinner for her craftwork at the Royal Highland Show, impressed members with presentations of pictures, handbags and artwork using a variety of materials old and new. Competitions – jar of

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raspberry jam – 1, Christine Riddell; 2, Liz Dalgliesh; 3, Sheila Hardie; wall plate – 1, Mary White; 2, Betty Wood; 3, Christine Brandeschi. Christine Riddell and helpers provided supper, Betty Russell judged the competitions, while Sheila Hardie and Annette Holton organised the raffle. The next meeting is the AGM on May 10 at 7.30pm in Lauder Primary School. Competition – photo frame; suggestions for syllabus; entertainment – Peter Pepper, magician. There is also a bring and buy stall. The rural’s summer trip to Alnwick Castle Gardens is on July 10 – names to Annette Holton (722 374) a.s.a.p.

MELROSE

Rotary

At their meeting last Thursday, Rotarians responded to the recent earthquake in Ecuador by sending £590 to Shelterbox to fund the dispatch of a Shelterbox to the stricken region. A Shelterbox provides tented accommodation for up to 12 people, together with means of cooking, water filtration, tools, mosquito nets and educational supplies for children.

Parish church

The service at Melrose was one of new beginnings in that there were three christenings – the children being Jacob Michael Moore, Megan Jennifer Paterson and her sister, Lauren Rose Paterson. April 28 – kirk session, 7.30pm; Trimontium lecture II, 7.30pm; food bank ongoing; May 1– united service at Melrose 11am, followed by buffet lunch at The Greenyards (notify the office if you have not done so already).

Trimontium

How do you try to convince the archaeological establishment that Burnswark Hill in Dumfriesshire was the scene of a real siege in Roman times, and not just a Roman army firing range? Answer – by showing them the scientific evidence from the ordnance found on the ground, the sling bullets configured like acorns, or lemons, and loaded with lead or, smallest of all, grapeshot with identical holes in each one to whistle alarmingly as they tumbled through the air and descended on the enemy. Dr John Reid was in his element with his presentation last Thursday as he showed the results of last year’s excavation on the site. Members had come from as far as Largs in the west and Hitchin, Hertfordshire, in the south. This story will run and run (including to Galashiels on April 28 at the archaeological conference). Kay Callander had time to launch the fundraising call for the museum extension, the secretary to invite volunteers to come forward for museum duty (training given) and Provost William Windram, chairman for the evening, to indicate that Dr Bruhn’s talk on April 28 would be on the topic of the on-site, constantly-found glass bangles. What was their significance?

Concert

Roxburgh Singers will present a concert in aid of TD1 Radio in Melrose Parish Church at 7.30pm on May 21. Soloists are Fiona Wilkie, Steve Phillips and James Letham, with orchestra and choir being conducted by Marion Dodd. Tickets (£10) available at the door – accompanied children free.

Morebattle

Badminton

Morebattle Badminton Club held its annual dinner in the Templehall Hotel on Monday night. Mary Pringle proposed a vote of thanks to the hotel staff for the meal and also thanked Marie France Taylor for organising the badminton during the year.

Open night

There will be an archive open night on May 2 at 7.30pm in the institute where all can come along and receive a glass a wine while reliving memories of the past and viewing the photograph archive.

Newtown

Seniors’ club

The next meeting of Newtown and Eildon Seniors’ Afternoon Club will be held in the Community Wing on May 3 (2pm).

SWI

President Elaine Thornton-Nicol welcomed Linda Riddell who demonstrated various flower-arranging techniques and gave members a hands-on opportunity to make their own arrangement to take home. Lorna Dickson thanked Linda for an interesting evening and donating the flowers. Competition – dressed egg – 1, Margaret Luke; 2, Mary Redburn; 3, Janette Corcoran. Seven members enjoyed the hospitality of Blainslie SWI last Wednesday evening. The next meeting will be an outing for supper on May 5.

SOUTHDEAN

Lambing

The 2016 lambing service organised by Hobkirk and Southdean and Ruberslaw congregations will take place at Falside Farm, Southdean, on May 1 at 3pm.

st boswells

SWI

Demonstrator at the April meeting was Gail Watson who has a florist’s shop in Kelso. She did several arrangements and kept everyone amused with her stories. Maisie Hope proposed the vote of thanks. Competitions – small jug of spring flowers – 1, Susan Gray; 2, Rose Cameron; 3, Elma Blacklock; pretty vase – 1, Pauline Looker; 2, Jean Grieve; 3, Fran Martin. Several members wished to learn how to play whist before the annual whist drive on May 27, so met on April 22 to learn. The next meeting is on May 10 when members will be able to create a piece of jewellery or book mark, tutor being Lesley Rosher from Beadelicious in Kelso. This will be held in the village hall at 7.30pm.

Traquair

Service

The next service in Traquair Kirk will be on Sunday, May 8, at 10am.

Walkerburn

Service

The next service in Walkerburn Public Hall will be on Sunday, May 15. It begins at 10am.

YETHOLM

Sinfonia

Yetholm Sinfonia will perform on April 30 at 7.30pm in Coldstream Community Centre. Tickets from Hector Innes or at the door on the night.

Magic show

Wauchope Hall presents Morgan and West on April 30 at 7pm. The time-travelling magicians’ show, Parlour Tricks, is fun for all ages. Tickets from the village shop or Susan Stewart.

Coffee morning

Floral Gateway is grateful to all who attended and helped at its coffee morning last Saturday when £214.50 was realised.

Festival

A festival meeting will be held on May 2 at 7.30pm in the Youth Hall.

Installation Night

Installation Night will be held on May 6 at 7pm in Wauchope Hall. Locals are urged to attend and support this year’s principals. There will also be a presentation to Sheila Jeffrey, recently-retired postmistress.

Coffee time

Coffee in Church restarts weekly on May 4 at 10.30am in Yetholm Church.

Ten Borders schools have been recognised for their efforts to encourage pupils to actively travel to school.

Scottish Borders Council’s Active School Travel Awards saw pupils from nine primaries presented with a shield for having the highest percentage of pupils who walk, cycle, scooter or ‘park and stride’ to school in their area.

The nine high schools also competed for the Secondary School Active Travel champion award.

The winners were decided using data from the National School Travel Hands Up survey, which sees every nursery and school in Scotland surveyed on their travel mode to school, with the results collated by Sustrans on behalf of the Scottish Government.

This year’s winners were: Hawick High (secondary school winner); Coldstream Primary (Berwickshire cluster winner); Eyemouth Primary (Eyemouth cluster); Glendinning Primary (Galashiels cluster); Newcastleton Primary (Hawick cluster); Ancrum Primary (Jedburgh cluster); Broomlands Primary (Kelso cluster); Walkerburn Primary (Peebles cluster); St Boswells Primary (Earlston cluster)and Knowepark Primary (Selkirk cluster).

The awards were presented by education executive member, Councillor Sandy Aitchison, who said: “There have been some innovative ideas by pupils to promote active travel in their area. These awards are a great way to encourage pupils, teachers and parents to think about how they can help us to achieve this aim.”