The Jethart Callant’s Festival is now well underway and set to pick up the pace ahead of it’s main day in just over two weeks time.

It arrives at Souden’ Kirk at 2.15pm and Camptown at 4.30pm before returning to Jedburgh Market Place at 6.15pm.

A shindig in the town hall follows at 8.30pm.

On Sunday, a family day at Lothian Park starts at 12.45pm and includes children’s sports, a duck race and a teddy bears’ picnic.

Tuesday night’s Jethart’s Got Talent contest in the town hall starts at 7pm. Entry is £1 on the door.

The festival’s third rideout, to Crailing and Nisbet, is next Wednesday, July 4, leaving Back Bongate at 6pm.

The horses arrive at Nisbet 7.30pm and return to Market Place at 10pm.

Redeswire follows on Saturday, July 7. with the horses leaving Back Bongate at 10am and arriving at Carter Bar for 12.30pm. This year’s address will be given by Roy Mack, an ex-Melrosian and former PE teacher. The cavalcade leaves Redesire at 1.20pm arriving at Dolhpinston Moor for races at 3.15pm, leaving again 4.30pm. It returns to Market Place at 6pm. A Redeswire dinner follows that evening in the Town Hall at 7pm.

The next day, the new leading rein rideout leaves the Pleasance at 12pm stopping for refreshments at Riverside Park at 1pm and returning to Market Place at 2pm. The Kirkin’ of the Callant follos that evening in Jedburgh Old and Trinity Parish Church at 6.30pm, with the parade there leaving the Grammar School at 6pm.

The following Monday’s Queen’s ride to Fulton Peel Tower follows a similar route as Mary Queen of Scots when she visited the wounded Bothwell at Hermitage Castle in October, 1566. Riders leave Back Bongate 6.30pm. Arrives Fulton Peel Tower 7.35pm. Leaves 8pm. Cavalcade meets band at castle back in Jedburgh at 9.10pm. Market Place 9.25pm. While the riders are out of town the Jedforest Instrumental Band and Jedburgh Royal British Legion Pipe Band will play a joint concert in the bandstand at Murray’s Green from 7.15 - 8.30pm.

On Tuesday, July 10 there’s an afternoon social in the Royal British Legion between 2pm and 4pm.

In a change to previous years the normal Tuesday evening rideout to Lanton will take place as part of Wednesday’s Ancrum ride. Horses leave Back Bongate at 4.30pm arriving at Lanton at 5.40pm. It leaves there 5.55pm arriving at Ancrum at 6.40pm. Here the Callant will lay a wreath at the war memorial before dancinga reel with Ancrum Primary School children. The horses leave Ancrum at 6.40pm arriving back at Market Place at 9.30pm.

The investiture ceremony and callant’s walk take place on Thursday evening from 7.15pm in the Market Place, with the Callant’s Reel performed on the platform place after the walk around the town.

The celebrations on Festival Friday begin at 8.30am when the cavalcade assembles at Back Bongate. Preceded by the band, it arrives at the platform in Abbey Place at 8.45am where the Lady Provost pins a rosette to the Jethart Flag borne by the Callant. 9am - Cavalcade proceeds by Jed Road, Kenmore Toll, Oxnam Road, Blair Avenue, Lothian Road, Lochend, Howden to Ferniehirst Castle. Here the Recitation of Walter Laidlaw’s “Reprisal” will be given at 10.10am by Jedburgh Grammar School pupil Kobe Ross. An address by a representative of the Kerr family will follow before one verse of Jethart’s Here and one verse of Brave Lads o’ Jethart. At 10.35am the cavalcade proceeds to Douglas Camp, Lintalee. It arrives at the Capon Tree at 11.10am where the president of the Callant’s Club pins a sprig from the tree to the Callant’s sash. The cavalcade continues to King of the Wood, Inchbonny. 11.30am - The Toll. Band leads cavalcade to Market place, with the cavalcade saluting the war memorial as they pass it, and proceeds down the Canongate. The Jed is forded at Auld Brig at 11.40am and the cavalcade then continues via Priors Road, Bongate to Townfoot Brig. At noon the bands lead the cavalcade by way of High Street, Mercat Cross, Canongate onto A68 to Kenmore Toll and the war memorial where at 12.30pm the Callant and his henchmen dismount. The Flowers of the Forest is played by an unseen piper. The Callant, attended by his right and left-hand men, lays a wreath on the memorial before one verse of “O God Our Help in Ages Past” is sung, followed by the sounding of The Last Post as the Callant dips the flag. One minute’s silence is ended by sounding of Reveille. The Callant resumes his place at the head of the cavalcade which moves on to the platform, there to witness the ceremonial return of the Jethart Flag, presentation of the Callant’s Cup. Callan tArnold will then acknowledge his mounted supporters as they pass the day’s ceremonial proceedings come to a close. On Friday afternoon between 1pm and 5pm a family fun day is being held around Murray’s Green and Abbey Place. The fancy dress parade begins at 6pm and will make it’s way around the town before the Jethart Callant’s Festival Ball takes place later that evening.

Further entertainment is on offer at the Jedburgh Border Games on Saturday. The games begin with the cannon firings at 6am in Market Place before continuing at Riverside Park from 12pm.

Sunday’s ceremonial return of the sashes will take place at Mary Queen of Scot’s House at 2pm.

Scottish Borders Council chiefs have rejected calls to reverse controversial changes to their grass-cutting timetable despite pleas from councillors including Davie Paterson.

Administration members were taken to task at today’s full council meeting at Newtown by Hawick and Hermitage councillor Mr Paterson and accused of ignoring residents’ concerns over the issue.

The council recently changed its grass-cutting regime from a 10-day cycle to a 20-day cycle, meaning that grass on roadside verges and in parks and cemeteries is cut just once every three weeks.

That change has met with widespread protest from opposition councillors and from community councils.

Mr Paterson asked council leader Shona Haslam if the cuts could be reversed within the current financial year, inquiring: “With so much anger, and the public lambasting some councillors with sheer venom and some admin members now openly critical of the decision that they took to decrease the level of grass-cutting, would the leader please tell the council if there is any realistic prospect of this budget-saving measure being changed in this financial year?”

Tweeddale East councillor Mrs Haslam replied: “Making £12m of savings is not easy.

“Next year, we have to make £16m. Again, this is not going to be easy.

“These are tough decisions that councils throughout Scotland are having to make, but during this budget, we’ve increased spending on roads, we’ve increased spending on priority areas such as mental health, and we’ve produced a sustainable plan to review our school estates. That is quite a first year and one I am immensely proud of.

“This budget measure was passed unanimously by the council.”

Jedburgh councillor Jim Brown also stepped up to criticise the council’s changes to grass-cutting, describing cemeteries in the Borders as looking tatty

He asked: “Now that there has been time to fully appreciate the effects of the changes recently made to the Borders’ grass-cutting regime and given the strength of complaints about the tatty state of our cemeteries being disrespectful to those no longer with us, will you now give serious consideration to reversing the decision to cut the grass in our cemeteries on a 20-day cycle?”

The council’s executive member for neighbourhood and locality services, Galashiels councillor Sandy Aitchison, fielded that question, saying: “Discussion are continuing with our communities, and indeed we were down in Jedburgh yesterday.

“There may well be a case made to manage some cemeteries differently, moving forward. However, at the moment our new policy is consistently applied throughout the Borders and we are ensuring it is fair to all.”

Mr Brown followed up by calling for Mr Aitchison to apologise to Borders residents for reportedly failing to consult with the public properly, saying: “I have to say I have a problem with that. It is clear that best practice is to engage with communities before implementing changes, and that has not happened.

“Will you now apologise to the Borders public, on behalf of this administration, for this failed consultation?”

Mr Aitchison replied: “We followed the normal publicity processes around the consultation. There was consultation, and we are continuing that consultation process.

“This is about budgetary concerns. It’s all about funding. If there’s an underspend from the Scottish Government, then tell them to send the money here, and we’ll cut the grass regularly, every 10 days.”

A man cultivated 12 cannabis plants in his home with potential to yield £5,000 worth of the drug, a court heard.

Gerald Donaldson, 48, pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to committing that offence at his Borthwick Road home in Hawick on November 28 last year.

He also admitted possession of the class-B drug.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said police discovered two distinct growing areas in the house made up of five plants and seven seedlings.

He said: “The potential value of these were significant.”

The fiscal added that 10 grammes of herbal cannabis were also recovered and valued at £200.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client grew the drug for medicinal purposes.

He explained: “At the end of the day, it is clearly someone growing cannabis for their own personal use and nothing more.

“He grew his own rather than funding drug-dealers.

“He won’t be growing any more cannabis. His experience of cannabis has been positive for medicinal purposes.

“He was growing it for his own personal use but has breached the law.”

Donaldson was ordered to carry out 150 hours’ unpaid work as an alternative to a custodial sentence

Sheriff Peter Paterson told him: “Whatever your views are, society determines it remains a criminal offence.”

A dog-breeder has been fined £300 at Jedburgh Sheriff Court and ordered to pay £100 compensation after twice allowing her pet German shepherds to escape and worry sheep in a neighbouring field.

Pauline Miller, 53, pleaded guilty to two offences committed near her home at Falside Cottages at Southdean, south of Chesters, on December 30 and February 27.

The court heard that on the first occasion the two dogs were seen running across a field towards a group of rams huddled together and, after being chased off, they jumped a 3ft fence back into Miller’s property.

On the second occasion, the farmer was alerted by barking and saw the two dogs in the field again, this time at the height of lambing season.

A shot was fired from a gun, and one of the dogs was left in pain. The other was said to be very aggressive.

There was no injury to any sheep, the court heard.

Depute fiscal Tessa Bradley said that the background to the case was a dispute between Miller and the farmer.

She added that a visit was made by a dog control officer, but Miller was not fully responsive to suggestions on how matters should proceed.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said his client accepted it was her responsibility for the dogs to be kept within her property but on those two occasions their enclosure was insecure.

Miller was fined £150 on each count, as well as being issued with a £100 compensation order.

A Borders pub is open again after shutting up shop for over a week ahead of coming in for criticism on a reality television show.

Bonchester Bridge’s Horse and Hound Inn reopened at 5pm yesterday, June 27, after being closed a week ago on Sunday.

That closure coincided with Alex Polizzi’s visit to the pub being screened during the current series of The Hotel Inspector on Channel 5 last week and viewers being left in no doubt about how unimpressed she was by it.

The 300-plus-year-old village hostelry is currently run by novice hoteliers Rosa and Daniel Callen, both in their early 20s, after being bought by the former’s father, London photographic agency boss Charles Taylor, a year and a half ago.

Ms Polizzi, 46, was hoping to be able to offer advice to the pair after identifying various shortcomings, but, for the first time in her 10 years of presenting the show, her help was rejected and she was asked not to return.

It rapidly became clear on the prime-time programme that the pub being featured on was more down to Mr Taylor than his daughter, with the latter saying: “It was my father’s idea for you to be here, not mine.”

Ms Polizzi noted: “I’m not sure she is as keen as Charles thinks.”

Among the issues she raised were dog dirt outside, dogs being given the run of the dining area, some of the decor not being to her taste, being kept waiting for her breakfast, being greeted by Rosa in her nightwear despite it being mid-afternoon and a discrepancy between the £75-a-night pub’s stated and actual opening hours.

“Why is everything a little bit s*** everywhere?” she asked the Callens.

The inn shut its doors ahead of the show being screened but is now back in business, though neither Mr Taylor nor the Callens were there at time of going to press.

“We have been closed for the last week for staff holiday and refurbishment work,” said Daniel.

Go to www.my5.tv/the-hotel-inspector/season-14/episode-3 to see the show.

A Jedburgh man has been disqualified from driving for 18 months at the town’s sheriff court after admitting a series of motoring offences.

Archibald Donaldson, 54, of Blair Avenue, admitted dangerous driving and losing concentration by falling asleep due to a medical condition and swerving into the opposite lane of the carriageway near the Borders General Hospital at Melrose on November 7.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said a lorry had to swerve out of the way to avoid a collision and that Donaldson should not have been driving.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said: “He won’t be driving again. He is a very ill man.”

Fines totalling £425 were also imposed.

Scottish Borders Council chiefs have agreed to look into privatising the region’s public conveniences.

At today’s full council meeting in Newtown, members voted to launch a procurement exercise to seek out potential third-party partners to oversee the 41 public toilets in the Borders.

That decision follows a report revealing that charging for using public toilets has netted just a third of the income the council had hoped for.

The current 30p charge for using 27 of the council’s public toilets in the Borders was agreed by a full council meeting in February after members were told that charging for using the loos would be expected to generate an income of £280,000 a year.

However, a report discussed today estimates that the total income for the initiative’s first year will be just £89,000.

As a consequence of that disappointing income performance, councillors were asked to consider five options, including maintaining the status quo, introducing fees for the 14 remaining free-to-use toilets, increasing the current 30p charge or shutting some WCs.

A fifth option, the one recommended by officers, is to privatise the toilets.

Galashiels councillor Sandy Aitchison, the council’s portfolio holder for neighbourhoods and locality services, said: “I know that the team have done a large amount of work on this.

“We’re recommending option five as something a little more radical to take this issue further.

“This is a sensible option, and I look forward to the outcome of the review.”

East Berwickshire councillor Helen Laing said: “This is a big mess literally.

“The report points out that the status quo is not an option. Something needs to change.

“We are being asked to support option five, to find a third party to undertake the management of the toilet facilities.

“The use of an outside party will inevitably lead to some loss of organisational control, and ultimately it will be service users who suffer.

“Good public toilets are not a very glamorous ambition, but, none the less, they are essential for our residents as they go about their business in our communities.

“Interestingly, the bulk of the comments contained in this report are not about the charging but, rather, about the standard of provision. We can do better.

“We should do this ourselves and not rely on others to sort out this mess. As my colleague Andy Anderson commented, we are not in the business of paying someone else to take the p***.”

The report, by neighbourhood services manager Jason Hedley, says: “What is apparent from financial monitoring is that revenue income received to date is significantly less than the estimated levels that were forecast.

“A revised full year of income of £89,000 is now being estimated, a shortfall of some £179,000, which, in turn, was expected to also cover the cost of the implementation of comfort schemes.

“A significant body of anecdotal evidence around payment avoidance has been received and observed, including from elected members.

“This centres around following the previous paying entrant into the facility, people exiting the facility allowing free access by holding the entry door open, families paying one fee for multiple usage or antisocial behaviour, where people vandalise doors or wedge them open, allowing free access to all.”

Among the 27 council-owned toilets now charging fees are those at Jedburgh’s Lothian Park and tourist information centre; High Street, the transport interchange and Bank Street Gardens in Galashiels; School Brae, Eastgate and Kingsmeadows in Peebles; Howegate, the Common Haugh and Volunteer Park in Hawick; and Kelso’s Shedden Park and Woodmarket.

The others are at Eyemouth’s harbour and Bantry car park, Coldstream Courthouse, St Abbs Harbour, Main Street in St Boswells, Earlston bus station, the Avenue in Lauder, Selkirk Market Place, Hall Street in Innerleithen, St Mary’s Loch in the Yarrow Valley, Coldingham Sands, Melrose’s Abbey Place, Newcastleton’s Langholm Street and Briery Baulk in Duns.

The 14 still free are in Burnmouth, Broughton, Chirnside, Cockburnspath, Denholm, Greenlaw, Kelso’s Croft Park, Morebattle, Melrose’s Greenyards, Newtown, Scott’s Place in Selkirk, Stow, West Linton and Yetholm.

The most profitable of the toilets charging fees are those at Galashiels transport interchange, generating £8,966 in 41 weeks, followed by Jedburgh tourist information centre’s with £7,807 and Kelso’s Woodmarket loos with£6,919, then Jedburgh’s Lothian Park WCs with £4,604.

A new survey of Scottish renters has revealed why relationships between landlords and their tenants are bubbling ever closer to boiling point.

Scotland’s private rented sector grew at a faster rate than anywhere else in the UK last year, but new data shows Scottish tenants’ renting experiences are less than rewarding.

In the wake of this news, bathroom retailer 1 Click Bathrooms asked 500 Scots to share some of their biggest bugbears from their time renting a property in Scotland - and the results are in.

Above all else, Scots are concerned they’re being swindled by their landlords - with unexplained or unexpected rent increases coming out on top.

Physical property damage also scored highly in the survey - suggesting Scots may be rightfully affronted at rent increases, in the face of so many outstanding repairs.

Paying dues and reporting disrepair

Renters across Scotland are paying what they consider an unfair monthly premium for their properties - with 38% of survey respondents saying they’ve been subject to rising rent prices during their time in the private rented sector. Two million UK tenants could see their rent increase this year as a result of new government regulations, and women in Scotland are especially and unfortunately used to this change in circumstances - with 45% reporting a history of repeated rent inflation. Mould, damp and leaks are also a source of stress for Scotland’s renting population, 27% of whom said they’ve come to blows with their landlord as a result of property damage - as well as half of all 18-24 year olds surveyed.

A failure to communicate

Some of Scotland’s landlord-tenant relationships are suffering due to communication breakdowns - with 26% of participants citing too much or too little contact from their landlord as a cause of tension.

Faulty appliances in the home are also creating friction for Scottish tenants, according to 18% of those surveyed - a persistent problem estimated to result in more than 60 house fires every week in the UK.

Burdens and bombshells

‘Revenge evictions’ are rampant across the UK - and 5% of Scots revealed they’ve been the victim of early eviction or termination during their time as renters, shedding light on the prevalence of these crimes against tenants.

Landlords have other surprises for Scottish tenants, too - with 3% of respondents complaining they’ve been ambushed by landlords arriving at their property completely out of the blue.

While Scotland looks to be the only area of the UK where the private rental market is on the up, this survey shows that relationships between many landlords and their tenants are nearing breaking point.

Which of the following issues have you experienced while renting a property?

Rent increases: 37.6%

Mould/leaks: 26.7%

Not enough/too much correspondence: 26.3%

Faulty appliances: 18.4%

Early eviction/termination: 4.9%

Unexpected landlord visits: 3.1%

The glorious weather continued for 2018’s Galashiels Braw Lads’ Gathering celebrations as 143 riders joined its principals on Monday evening for its Lindean rideout.

With the Tweed level still low, all horses and ponies were able to cross to Abbotsford at Galafoot for a bit of practice ahead of Saturday’s big ride.

A large crowd gathered to watch the ceremony at Lindean as Braw Lad Greg Kelly laid a wreath of wildflowers on the Preacher’s Cross.

The cavalcade – and the crowd – made the most of the beautiful summer’s evening by stopping off at the superb chase field at Hollybush, where various races were held over several categories.

First up was the principals’ race, won in style by ex-braw lass and this year’s bearer of the white roses, Alex Mundell, ahead of last year’s braw lass Amy Thomson and Greg, with Braw Lass Kimberley O’May beaming a big smile at the re

The ex-principals’ race was won by Graeme Howlieson, celebrating his silver anniversary as braw lad in 1993.

A new race this year was the visiting principals’ race, won by Selkirk Royal Burgh Standard Bearer Peter Forrest after he beat his attendant Robbie Reilly in a two-horse thriller.

In the other races, Sarah McGhee was victorious in the under-15s’ race, Hilda McLennan of Annan won the ladies’, Frank Johnston, also from Annan, convincingly grabbed the Over-45s victory and Thomas Wilmott of Selkirk finished first in the men’s.

A 35-year-old man has admitted assaulting his elderly father and been remanded in custody at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to allow background reports to be prepared.

William Quarry pleaded guilty to pushing his 72-year-old father against a gate, resulting in him falling to the ground at a property in Kelso on June 9.

He also admitted stealing 14 rifle rounds and two shotgun cartridges from a garden shed and possessing ammunition without a firearms certificate.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said his client had been living in London and battling various addictions including heroin, cocaine and alcohol and had returned to Kelso, where he was sleeping rough.

He added that Quarry regretted the incident involving his father.

Bail was not requested and Quarry, described as being of no fixed abode, was remanded in custody until July 9 for the preparation of a criminal justice social work report.

Post Office bosses have launched a six-week consultation on its new permanent branch in Innerleithen.

It comes despite a decision already made to bring the service back to the town in the form of a concession within The Allotment fruit and vegetable shop on High Street.

That news brought an end to a long-running push to reinstate a full-time service in the town following the resignation of the previous postmaster in the DayMart store in February last year.

The town had been served by a mobile outreach van every Friday morning since but Susan Meikle and Helen Millen, business partners at the Allotment, said the loss of the post office has been badly felt within the town.

In a move welcomed by the town, the post office local-style branch will open in The Allotment on Wednesday, August 29 opening from 10am to 5pm between Monday and Friday, and from 9.30am to 1pm on Saturday.

Although the decision to reopen the branch has already be taken, the Post Office is now inviting customers and interested parties to give their comments on the move in a six-week public consultation.

Steven Simpson, Post Office area network change manager said: “We are making it easier for customers to get their cash, send and collect their mail and do their banking because we know how important these services are to local residents.

“We are confident that this vibrant new-style Post Office at the heart of the local community will meet customer needs.”

During the public consultation, Post Office will welcome feedback on any issues customers would like considered before a final decision is taken on the proposal. The consultation will close on August, 16. Customers can share their views during the consultation online at postofficeviews.co.uk with the branch code 196830.

Submissions can also be made via email to comments@postoffice.co.uk, by post to freepost Your Comments, or by telephone 03452 66 01 15 or textphone 03457 22 33 55.

Recorded crime has risen by 13% in the Borders, new figures have revealed.

The rise - from 3047 to 3448 between April 1 2017 and March 31 this year, compared to the same period in 2016-17 - was the biggest percentage increase of any council area in Scotland.

Tory MP John Lamont has blamed SNP cuts and the “shambolic” creation of Police Scotland for the surge, which includes a 20% increase in sex offences, housingbreaking up by 17% and other crimes, including offences involving weapons and drugs, rising by 29%.

Mr Lamont said: “Some of these figures are truly shocking. A 20% rise in sexual offences and a 17% rise in housebreaking in just one year needs to be taken very seriously.

“It is no coincidence that crime is on the rise just as the SNP have slashed local police numbers and officers are increasingly filling in paperwork as police staff have been cut.

“The shambles surrounding the creation of Police Scotland has not been good for the Borders. The council has stepped in to create their own local policing team, but these figures just go to show that the Scottish Government’s approach to justice is failing our communities.”

However, local officers highlighted a reduction in non-sexual violent crimes, from 95 recorded incidents to 81, and said increased reporting had played a part in the number of domestic and sexual crimes recorded.

Chief Inspector Andy McLean said: “The Quarter 4 crime statistics for the Scottish Borders demonstrate some very positive results that reflects the outstanding work local officers have been carrying out within the division, often in collaboration with our key partners and stakeholders.

“One of Police Scotland’s continued priorities is to tackle violence and we have seen a 15% reduction in such offences within the Borders. We will not become complacent with this success however, and will continue to utilise all resources at our disposal to reduce violent crime further.

“We have seen a rise in the number of domestic incidents and sexual crimes reported to police, but historically these incidents were under reported and I am hopeful that this increase reflects the confidence victims have in the services that are available to them in the Borders.”

The figures apply to the period leading up to the introduction of the community policing team, paid for by Scottish Borders Council, to tackle local issues including anti-social behaviour.

A memorial bench for Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison could be sited in Selkirk, thanks to fundraising fans who wanted to do something in his memory.

Donations flooded in from all over the world after a crowdfunding campaign was set up earlier this month to raise money for a bench and a plaque in Glasgow.

The idea of a second bench was mooted after the initial £1500 target was exceeded within a day of the Just Giving page (www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/scottsbenchpage) being launched.

With the total raised currently standing at over £8,000, Selkirk has come out on top in an online poll for the best place for a second tribute.

Ade Cartwright, 48, who set up the project, said: “I had no idea just how kind people would be, and how much we would raise. The response has been amazing.

“We are hoping to place a bench where people can meet, sing, celebrate the amazing love for Scott or gather their thoughts. The bench will be a place to celebrate Scott’s life and what he means to all of us.

“Plans are now in action for bench number two, and we can help so many charities as well.”

Scott, 36, was found dead on May 10 following a battle with depression.

A former pupil at Knowepark Primary and Selkirk High, he was the founding member of the indie rock band.

Formed in Selkirk in 2003, Frightened Rabbit recorded five highly-acclaimed studio albums including the top 10 hit Pedestrian Verse, released in 2013.

As well as contributing to the fundraising campaign, fans have come together on Facebook group Scott’s Bench to remember Scott and discuss their shared love of the band.

Money left over from the Just Giving page will be donated to charity in Scott’s name.

Scottish Borders Council’s flagship new mental health and emotional wellbeing service is now up and running, half a year behind schedule.

The initiative is being questioned by opposition councillors, though, following reports of a six-month gap affecting provision of mental health services.

It was in October 2017 that the council awarded a £1.1m contract to social care charity Quarriers to deliver an emotional health and wellbeing service in the council’s nine secondary schools.

Two months later, the council and integrated joint health board released a statement saying the service would begin in early January, but two weeks ago it was revealed that the service was still not fully functional as schools headed towards the summer break.

Council leader Shona Haslam recently announced that Quarriers would now provide a counsellor for each high school, leading opposition councillors to query where the funding would come from and if they could expect further delays in mental health provision.

At the full council meeting held on Thursday, Tweeddale West councillor Heather Anderson asked: “Our council leader recently announced that Scottish Borders Council is launching a new initiative to place counsellors in each high school to support health and wellbeing.

“Could the leader provide us with the specific details, including costings and timescales, for this initiative?”

Tweeddale East councillor Mrs Haslam replied: “An additional £1.2m of funding has been allocated to support early intervention and intervention support services for children and young people.

“£150,000 of this funding has been allocated to mental health support in secondary schools to complement the existing work which is taking place as part of the development of our mental health and emotional wellbeing strategy.

“More about this innovative strategy will be explained in a paper to the executive in September.

“Full-time staff have been recruited and have started working and will continue to work with individuals over the summer.

“In this new initiative, staff will be available in a much more flexible way to provide mental and emotional health support to young people and their families at times which suit the families.”

As well as announcing that Quarriers would now provide counsellors for each school, Mrs Haslam also revealed that Borders schoolchildren are to be given mental health first aid training.

The See Me project will see 800 year-six pupils, at all nine of the region’s high schools, given tuition in helping their peers during mental health crises.

This includes being taught to recognise the symptoms of a panic attack and to help those struggling with depression or anxiety.

In a follow-up question, Ms Anderson asked: “It’s still unclear. I’m trying to find out if this new initiative is the same as the Quarriers contract or in addition to that, or in place of it.

“I read in the local press that the £1.1m contract given to Quarriers last October was due to start work in January and, as yet, it still hasn’t started work, so part of my concern is, what is the £1.1m being spent on, who’s in charge of managing that contract, where has the money gone and is this an additional initiative or substitute initiative?”

In response, Mrs Haslam revealed that the mental health and emotional wellbeing strategy was now up and running, saying: “I’m happy to give that clarity. Thee Quarriers contract is an enhanced contract, so as well as doing everything that we’ve asked them to do, they’re also installing a full-time counsellor at every high school as well in order to enhance that contract.

“In terms of the programme starting, that’s completely untrue. The programme has started. It is working in schools now. The level of service now is higher than it was before Quarriers came into the post.

“It’s a massive change in the way that we’re tackling mental health, and we’re putting so much time and resources into that because it’s a priority for this council, and I think it’s taken a lot longer to get off the ground, but there is more provision now than there was under the previous contract

“We’ve launched two initiatives this week. One is to train every year-six pupil in the Scottish Borders in mental health first aid. The second initiative is the full-time counsellor role, which is an enhanced part of the existing Quarriers contract.”

A council spokesperson confirmed that the Quarriers mental health and emotional wellbeing service is now up and running, six months after it was supposed to commence.

The spokesperson also confirmed that the service to be provided by the additional allocation of £150,000 will be fully operational for the new term in August and additional recruitment is now taking place.

Council chiefs have confirmed that buses will continue to stop in the Borders on the 101/102 route between Dumfries and Edinburgh.

The service skirts the north west of the Borders, making stops at Carlops and West Linton, but is likely to face significant reduction as Scottish Borders Council is withdrawing nearly £100,000 in funding.

The service is currently jointly funded by the South West of Scotland Transport Partnership (SWestrans), the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), Scottish Borders Council and Midlothian Council.

Currently, Scottish Borders Council provides £135,280 a year, with SWestrans providing £113,386, SPT £142,318 and Midlothian Council covering the cost of departure charges at Edinburgh bus station.

Villagers fearful that their communities could be isolated have put together a petition to protest about the cut, and so far it has gathered more than 3,400 signatures.

At Thursday’s full meeting of the council, Tweeddale West councillor Heather Anderson asked: “This petition represents over 31% of the population of the Tweeddale West ward.

“Can the member for roads and infrastructure now advise on the outcome of the tender process for this route and, if cuts to the service have been made, can he honour his earlier promise to undertake a full consultation with people in Tweeddale West about the alternative proposals for the service before August 18, when any reductions to the service will be implemented?”

Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar, the authority’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, said: “The tender process was undertaken by SWestrans for several options, all of which I’m pleased to say will ensure the continuation of bus services between Dumfries, Biggar and Edinburgh.

“The options included up to 12 return journeys a day Monday to Saturday and up to four return journeys on Sundays on the section of the route between, Biggar, West Linton and Edinburgh.

“Prices were received for all options, and I’ll be able to advise councillor Anderson of the outcome of that process after the SWestrans board next meets to discuss the options.”

Borders MP John Lamont is backing calls for tougher sentences for supplying fentanyl, a drug 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.

Police and health chiefs in the region have already issued warnings about the risks posed by fentanyl after several drug-users were admitted to hospital in December last year.

A debate in the House of Commons last week called for a law named after Robert Fraser, a Kent 18-year-old killed in 2016 by a fentanyl overdose, to be introduced.

Fentanyl killed 20,000 people in the US last year, and it is feared to be becoming a growing problem in the UK too.

Since Robert’s death, there have been 100 further fatalities linked to the opioid painkiller, and it is believed to be available increasingly widely.

Campaigners including Robert’s mother, Michelle Fraser, are now calling for the law to reflect the danger of the drug and for sentences for supplying it to be made tougher.

Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP Mr Lamont said: “We’re already seeing this dangerous drug in the Borders, and, while no fatalities have occurred, the police are clearly concerned about its growing use.

“This campaign for a Robert’s law has been driven by a mother who just wants to stop other parents having to go through the loss of a child.

“While Fentanyl is classified as class A, it is significantly more dangerous than many other class-A drugs.

“Dealers are attracted to this drug because it is cheap and potent and can be easily sent in small packages.

“We need to take action to stop this deadly substance becoming more prevalent and send a message that dealing it will simply not be tolerated.”

The Crown Prosecution Service has already issued guidance calling for tougher sentences for those caught spplying fentanyl, and Ms Fraser has welcomed that breakthrough.

It advises prosecutors to highlight the fact that as little as two micrograms can be lethal, as proved by the 58 fentanyl-related deaths in England and Wales in 2016, nearly three times the figure four years earlier.

Fentanyl’s relative potency compared with heroin should also be spelled out, it advises.

Ms Fraser said: “Fentanyl isn’t just a class-A drug – fentanyl is a killer, and now when looking at the guidelines on prosecuting people, the potency of the drug involved has to be taken into consideration. It is an amazing step forward.”

A Borders woman accused of having sex with a 14-year-old boy in the US while working as a prostitute has denied that charge and now faces trial by jury.

Sarah McGill was arrested on Saturday, April 7, at a hotel in Orlando, Florida, after allegedly arranging to meet the teenager for sex via the website quora.com.

Prosecutors say the 28-year-old, originally from Selkirk but latterly of Church Square in Galashiels, was paid $480, around £365, by the boy for that liaison.

McGill was subsequently charged with lewd and lascivious battery, an offence also known as statutory rape and carrying a jail sentence of up to 15 years, but was released from Orange County Jail after surrendering her passport and paying a $1,000 bond.

Her attorney, Donald Lykkebak, has now entered a not-guilty plea to that allegation and requested that McGill be tried by jurors.

An arraignment hearing is dueto take place on Thursday, July 19.

McGill, said to have been going by the alias of Sophia Belle, was also ordered not to advertise escort services online or to attempt to make contact with the boy in the meantime.

Football World Cup star Dejan Lovren had his social media accounts hacked by a fan living in Selkirk, the town’s sheriff court has been told.

About 150 private family photos belonging to the Croatian defender, an image of his identity card, financial details and a letter from his club featuring his address were found on Peter Doswell’s computer.

The 22-year-old Liverpool supporter also accessed private contact details for two of Lovren’s club team-mates, Adam Lallana and Emre Can, sending them messages on their personal social media accounts and mobiles asking them questions.

Doswell, described as having a low IQ, pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to knowingly causing a computer to perform a function with intent to secure unauthorised access to a program or data held on another computer.

That offence was committed at his rented Murray Place home on Selkirk’s Bannerfield estate between April 1 and April 20 last year.

His lawyer, Mark Harrower, described it as an unusual case and insisted his client was “not an experienced hacker”.

He suggested that a third party was involved given the level of expertise required but that Doswell had gone along with it and had carried out some of the actions himself.

An examination of Doswell’s computer by Police Scotland’s cybercrime unit found 155 video folders featuring Lovren and his family, eight text documents relating to the 28-year-old’s purchase of a property in London and a club letter from Liverpool, all information not publicly available.

Doswell’s laptop contained details of phishing and software used to hack email accounts.

England international midfielder Lallana, 30, received WhatsApp messages from Doswell asking if he played for Liverpool and saying he had personal details of his team-mates.

German defender Can, 24, since signed by Italian club Juventus, had five missed calls from Doswell’s mobile phone and began exchanging text messages querying who he was.

Doswell then sent him two photos of Liverpool players playing poker and an image of Lovren’s identity card asking: “Your team-mate, yes or no?”

Can informed team manager Jurgen Klopp and it was then that Lovren realised his Facebook page had been compromised as those pictures were not publicly available.

Merseyside Police were called in, and Police Scotland were contacted when the evidence began pointing to Selkirk.

Search warrants were secured, and Doswell’s home was searched on April 20, as as his partner’s home elsewhere in Selkirk.

Mr Harrower admitted Doswell was guilty of a “huge intrusion”, adding: “It is a serious matter, I accept that, but it was not particularly sophisticated what he has done, and he seems to have been led down the garden path by others but is here to face the music.”

Mr Harrower pointed out that Doswell had pleaded guilty and that had avoided the Liverpool players needing to travel north of the border to give evidence at a trial.

Sheriff Mark Thorley told Doswell: “Although the circumstances are somewhat unusual, I can find a way of dealing with this without you going into custody, but be in no doubt that taking information from them and circulating it is a serious matter.”

As an alternative to a prison sentence, Doswell was put under supervision for 27 months with a conduct requirement restricting his use of the internet and with his supervising officer able to inspect any of his devices.

He was also ordered to carry out 225 hours’ unpaid work as part of a community payback order.

Lovren has played in all four of Croatia’s World Cup matches in Russia and is due to line up against the host nation in the quarter-finals this Saturday.

An argument over a text message resulted in a fine of £540 for a man at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

Stephen Carver, 26, of McLaren Court, Hawick, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by shouting and swearing and acting in an aggressive manner towards his then partner and struggling with her.

That offence was committed at a house in Silverbuthall Road, Hawick, on April 15.

The court was told that the couple had been together for six years and had what was described as a volatile relationship.

Depute fiscal Tessa Bradley explained that at 8.30am Carver’s partner noticed a text message he had received the night before and contacted the person who had sent it.

She added that Carver was angry she had done that, and an argument broke out between the pair, resulting in a physical struggle.

Defence lawyer Ed Hulme said the relationship was now over.

Sheriff Derrick McIntyre reduced Carver’s fine from £600 to £540 due to his guilty plea.

Walkerburn’s week-long summer festival never fails to pull the small town together and this year’s show of community spirit was as strong as ever.

Villagers enjoyed a packed programme of events, all led by this year’s principals Tiegan Hunter, who was Festival Lass, and Kayla Amos, essay prizewinner for 2018.

Both primary seven pupils at Walkerburn Primary School, the girls were unveiled by their head teacher Keith Belleville a month prior and took pride of place at Monday night’s festival concert and Thursday night’s principals party.

Before that the events kicked off with a church service and wreath laying on Sunday, June 24, followed by a community bike ride.

The school sports followed on Wednesday morning before that evening’s popular scavenger hunt,

The week culminated with a packed weekend which included highlights such as Friday night’s fancy dress parade, torchlight procession and fireworks display, Saturday’s football competition, family entertainment and barbecue and Sunday’s boat race.

Summer festival treasurer Dawn Rodger said: “We had a great week and the sun shone throughout. All our events were well attended the kids had a ball.

“The fireworks display was great as usual and the torchlight parade was well attended.”

Fancy dress results were as follows:

Girls under five: 1 Moana- Paton Anderson, 2 Little Bo Peep - Addison Preacher

Boys 5 - 10 years: 1 Stick Man - Charlie Nisbet, 2 Devil in disguise - Jack Ewart, 3 Jurassic Park - Declan Hunter.

Girls 5 - 10 years: 1 Miss Piggy - Alice Shoesmith, 2 Little Fairy - Ruby Burgess, 3 Cat in the Hat - Rachel Woodcock.

Couple under 10 years: Wildest kids in the avenue - Lillieanne and Andrew Hutchieson.

Couple over 10 yeras: 1 Caught in a trap - Skye Connor and Summer Spence, 2 Murray Anderson and friend, 3 Buckaroo - Melissa and Callum

Boys 11 - 16 years: Robin lost in hood - Thomas Wilson

Girls 11 - 16 years: Arcade - Kayden Hunter.

Adults: 1 Gladiator - Glen Stevens, 2 Butterfly - Natasha Rice, 3 Love Island reject - Morag Wilson.

Mixed ages: Popstars - Lees and Hardy families, 2 The Royals - Charlotte, 3 Cookie Monsters - Rachel Mays and Hazel and Johann Schofield

Decorated non-motorised vehicle: 1 Toy Story - Alfie Stevens, 2 Unicorn and fairy - Isabel and Charlene Weir.

Decorated vehicle: 1 Kindergarten cops - Esme Amos and Levi Hunter, 2 Trolls - Zokas, McDaid and Hunter families, 3 Walkerburn Festival 2018 - Houston family.

Outstanding entry: Kindergarten cops - Esme Amos and Levi Hunter.