IT was great to see the Volunteer Hall in Duns packed to capacity for a fund raising function on Saturday night.
The hall is currently under threat with SBC proposing to end their lease but where else in the town could have accommodated such a big event as the one on Saturday - nowhere.
The new high school certainly is not big enough and it has other probelms regarding catering, bar, etc.
In my mind the council are being a little blinkered with regards to the hall - where else in the Borders would be left without such a facility - certainly not Gala, Hawick or Selkirk that's for sure!
A petition is currently available to sign in Duns shops to support the campaign to save the hall and a public meeting is to be held on April 16 to discuss the subject.
The people of Duns must lend their support to this campaign.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Dog owners beware!
ONE of my pet hates (excuse the pun) is dog fouling.
Apparently one of the Berwickshire towns worst hit by this problem is Coldstream.
Following complaints to SBC about the amount of dog poo in Coldstream, an SBLocal team visited the town and in just one day cleared up an astonishing 335 doggy deposits.
The shear scale of the problem is simply disgusting to say the least and I would urge anyone witnessing dogs fouling - anywhere in Berwickshire - to be prepared to name and shame the responsible dog owners and do their bit to keep our communities clean.
Apparently one of the Berwickshire towns worst hit by this problem is Coldstream.
Following complaints to SBC about the amount of dog poo in Coldstream, an SBLocal team visited the town and in just one day cleared up an astonishing 335 doggy deposits.
The shear scale of the problem is simply disgusting to say the least and I would urge anyone witnessing dogs fouling - anywhere in Berwickshire - to be prepared to name and shame the responsible dog owners and do their bit to keep our communities clean.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Going down
THERE was a stark message in the Scottish Government's farm survey last week - cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and crops are all in decline.
Even the agricultural workforce continues to drop in number.
Although not entirely unexpected news, is does provide further proof that the Scottish Rural Developmemnt Programme (SRDP) must be radically altered if any of these trends are to be reveresed.
Even the agricultural workforce continues to drop in number.
Although not entirely unexpected news, is does provide further proof that the Scottish Rural Developmemnt Programme (SRDP) must be radically altered if any of these trends are to be reveresed.
Secret service
DAVID Lochhead, chairman of Cranshaws, Ellemford and Longformacus Community Council quite rightly stated this week that "the point of a public inquiry is to be open and transparent".
So why then is there so much hush hush activity involved regarding the outcome of the Fallago Rig Wind Farm Public Inquiry?
Could it be that the Scottish Government are trying to do a deal with the Ministry of Defence to be able to approve it and thus step closer to their renewable energy target?
If there is new evidence which has come to light after the public inquiry then surely those who took part in the inquiry should be notified of it.
Given that discussions are taking place behind closed doors surely questions have to be asked about the transparency of the whole public inquiry process.
So why then is there so much hush hush activity involved regarding the outcome of the Fallago Rig Wind Farm Public Inquiry?
Could it be that the Scottish Government are trying to do a deal with the Ministry of Defence to be able to approve it and thus step closer to their renewable energy target?
If there is new evidence which has come to light after the public inquiry then surely those who took part in the inquiry should be notified of it.
Given that discussions are taking place behind closed doors surely questions have to be asked about the transparency of the whole public inquiry process.
Lucky Hibees
IT doesn't happen very often but I had to eat humble pie this week.
Being a staunch supporter of the mighty Heart of Midlothian FC I had been a bit over confident that we would beat the Hibees in the Edinburgh derby only to see the Jambos lose to the only goal of the game.
This has meant getting a fair bit of stick from my Hibees pals this week but I can take it! After all many of them cannot even remember the last time they beat us in a league derby match.
Being a staunch supporter of the mighty Heart of Midlothian FC I had been a bit over confident that we would beat the Hibees in the Edinburgh derby only to see the Jambos lose to the only goal of the game.
This has meant getting a fair bit of stick from my Hibees pals this week but I can take it! After all many of them cannot even remember the last time they beat us in a league derby match.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Gone fishing - or fishing gone?
BERWICKSHIRE salmon anglers are up in arms after losing their rights to hold season permits for the River Whiteadder.
A season ticket for local anglers last year cost £55 (£30 for senior citizens and £3 for juniors). Now Berwick and District Angling Association will no longer issue season tickets to local anglers and instead only day tickets for salmon fishing will be issued in 2009 - at a cost of £30 per day.
This new charge effectively excludes locals from their river.
Whether this move has something to do with conservation measures I do not know but it is time the officials of the Berwick and District Angling Association explained the move - so far they have remained tight-lipped.
A season ticket for local anglers last year cost £55 (£30 for senior citizens and £3 for juniors). Now Berwick and District Angling Association will no longer issue season tickets to local anglers and instead only day tickets for salmon fishing will be issued in 2009 - at a cost of £30 per day.
This new charge effectively excludes locals from their river.
Whether this move has something to do with conservation measures I do not know but it is time the officials of the Berwick and District Angling Association explained the move - so far they have remained tight-lipped.
Wanting Scotland's help
THE Scottish Government must be doing something right.
I read in one newspaper this week that Northumberland County Council reckons their region have a lot to gain by looking to Scotland for help.
They now want to combine resources on areas such as off-shore wind, oil, energy and high speed rail. Politicians in the north east have effectively been forced to build closer links with Scotland after the London-based Government officers have repeatedly overlooked the needs of the north.
I read in one newspaper this week that Northumberland County Council reckons their region have a lot to gain by looking to Scotland for help.
They now want to combine resources on areas such as off-shore wind, oil, energy and high speed rail. Politicians in the north east have effectively been forced to build closer links with Scotland after the London-based Government officers have repeatedly overlooked the needs of the north.
Sports pitches in Duns
I am firmly in support of the proposal to amend the local plan to allow for the exchange of the existing sports provision at Todlaw in Duns in return for the facilities at the Berwickshire High School.
Whilst Todlaw has been a useful site for training purposes there it is less suitable for meeting the sporting needs of the Duns area than the provision currently available at the BHS site because:
• The site has none of the basic amenities expected of a sports area (changing rooms, etc)
• There is no vehicular access (which is a particular worry for people involved in contact sports) nor parking
• The grounds are not of a standard for competitive match use
• There would be a need to make major capital outlays to bring the grounds and drainage up to specification
• It stands cheek by jowl with a residential area which already causes concern for local residents and any development will only exacerbate this.
By way of contrast, the Berwickshire High School site:
• Already has established usage for a wide range of sporting activities
• Requires no major capital outlays to provide high quality competitive pitches
• Is amply served with parking and vehicular access
• Offers synergies for the multiple sporting activities available on the site (swimming, squash, badminton, rugby and football) which will enable people to reduce costs, share resources and enhance the service to the wider public
• Provides sufficient space for future growth and creation of new shared facilities
In addition, such a development will benefit plans to relocate the primary by guaranteeing that adequate sporting fields are available for the children’s use. Furthermore, combined with the provision also available across the road at the new Community High School, Duns will also be able to host major sporting events, such as football and rugby tournaments for children and adults alike in a single area. Finally, such an approach will enable SBC to swap a difficult to develop, listed site, which is made complex on account of the embedded users, such as the swimming pool and squash club, for a good clean site, which is immediately adjacent to existing and newly-zoned residential areas.
For all these reasons I hope that Scottish Borders Council planners will support the proposed amendment and enable the people of Duns and indeed Scottish Borders Council reap the benefits that it will bring.
I urge all like minded people in Duns and district to write to SBC's planning department supporting this amendment.
Whilst Todlaw has been a useful site for training purposes there it is less suitable for meeting the sporting needs of the Duns area than the provision currently available at the BHS site because:
• The site has none of the basic amenities expected of a sports area (changing rooms, etc)
• There is no vehicular access (which is a particular worry for people involved in contact sports) nor parking
• The grounds are not of a standard for competitive match use
• There would be a need to make major capital outlays to bring the grounds and drainage up to specification
• It stands cheek by jowl with a residential area which already causes concern for local residents and any development will only exacerbate this.
By way of contrast, the Berwickshire High School site:
• Already has established usage for a wide range of sporting activities
• Requires no major capital outlays to provide high quality competitive pitches
• Is amply served with parking and vehicular access
• Offers synergies for the multiple sporting activities available on the site (swimming, squash, badminton, rugby and football) which will enable people to reduce costs, share resources and enhance the service to the wider public
• Provides sufficient space for future growth and creation of new shared facilities
In addition, such a development will benefit plans to relocate the primary by guaranteeing that adequate sporting fields are available for the children’s use. Furthermore, combined with the provision also available across the road at the new Community High School, Duns will also be able to host major sporting events, such as football and rugby tournaments for children and adults alike in a single area. Finally, such an approach will enable SBC to swap a difficult to develop, listed site, which is made complex on account of the embedded users, such as the swimming pool and squash club, for a good clean site, which is immediately adjacent to existing and newly-zoned residential areas.
For all these reasons I hope that Scottish Borders Council planners will support the proposed amendment and enable the people of Duns and indeed Scottish Borders Council reap the benefits that it will bring.
I urge all like minded people in Duns and district to write to SBC's planning department supporting this amendment.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Hi and welcome to my blog. I hope you enjoy the posts and return. I'll be talking about the issues that have aroused my interest over the week. They may be local or national but remember these are my opinions.
If you agree or disagree, post your comment and the best may make it into the Berwickshire News
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