Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Look out dog owners!
THE news that a new Community Safety Unit has been approved will come as good news to most but bad news to those who fail to clear up after their dogs. Not only will the new unit help make Berwickshire a safer place to live but it will also include a new dog wardens service to help make it a cleaner place to live as well.
Renew hall lease and keep the peace!
THE people of Duns turned out in numbers to show their disgust at Scottish Borders Council's decision not to renew the lease of the town's Volunteer Hall. And they got what the wanted with the council extending the lease, at least until June next year, and admitting they had made a big mistake in not consulting with the local hall user groups. Now perhaps the council will see sense and renew the lease for well past next year and give the people of Duns back their hall which has played a major part in community life now for many, many years. (Well done Stuart (Shug) Renton for your unstinting work which, I hope, does not go unrecognised).
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Young Burnsians at Duns
ALMOST 200 young Burns enthusiasts will converge on Duns over the next couple of week's to compete in the Robert Burns World Federation Schools' Competition held in the new Berwickshire High School.
It is fitting that the event be held in Duns at this time of year for it was in May 1787 that Burns first came over Langton Edge and visited Berwickshire during his Borders tour.
During his time in Duns he lodged with the Ainslie family at Berrywell and also attended Duns Parish Church. He also set foot in 'Englandshire' for the first time crodssing the River Tweed at Coldstream.
Good luck to all Berwickshire competitors in the competition.
It is fitting that the event be held in Duns at this time of year for it was in May 1787 that Burns first came over Langton Edge and visited Berwickshire during his Borders tour.
During his time in Duns he lodged with the Ainslie family at Berrywell and also attended Duns Parish Church. He also set foot in 'Englandshire' for the first time crodssing the River Tweed at Coldstream.
Good luck to all Berwickshire competitors in the competition.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Coldstream dental facility
THE news that the much-awaited new dental facility at Coldstream is nearing completion will be welcomed by all.
The development has not been without its problems - Coldstream Dental Practice hasn't been operating since November and dentists announced that they would not be relocating to the new facility when it opened.
However, six dentists are now expected to be at the Berwickshire surgery which NHS Borders hope will be opened next month.
Now, at long last Coldstream residents should be able to be seen by a dentist locally instead of having to travel to get treatment.
The development has not been without its problems - Coldstream Dental Practice hasn't been operating since November and dentists announced that they would not be relocating to the new facility when it opened.
However, six dentists are now expected to be at the Berwickshire surgery which NHS Borders hope will be opened next month.
Now, at long last Coldstream residents should be able to be seen by a dentist locally instead of having to travel to get treatment.
Festivals cash freeze
THE news that Borders common ridings and festivals are to have their council grants frozen appears a bit strange in what is being billed by the Scottish Government as the year of Scotland's Homecoming.
A total of 31 towns and villages receive annual grants from Scottish Borders Council to help defray ever riding costs but they have now been told that the cash they receive will remain the same as that awarded in 2005.
Surely in the year of the much-vaunted Homecoming, when towns are encouraged to attract people back to their roots with special events, a modest increase in grant could have been given.
This is a special year and special grants should have been approved.
A total of 31 towns and villages receive annual grants from Scottish Borders Council to help defray ever riding costs but they have now been told that the cash they receive will remain the same as that awarded in 2005.
Surely in the year of the much-vaunted Homecoming, when towns are encouraged to attract people back to their roots with special events, a modest increase in grant could have been given.
This is a special year and special grants should have been approved.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Golfing dress code
BEING a golfer (well supposedly!) it was interesting to read this week that the impact of the recession has forced some golf clubs to change their attitude towards what people can and cannot wear on the course and at the 19th hole.
For a long time denim was taboo but now, with golf club membership declining all over the country, some clubs are relaxing their dress code, with the backing of the SGU and the SLGA, and allowing jeans and T-shirts.
To attract more members clubs need have a more flexible attitude and this can only be welcome news. Don’t know if it will help reduce my handicap though!
For a long time denim was taboo but now, with golf club membership declining all over the country, some clubs are relaxing their dress code, with the backing of the SGU and the SLGA, and allowing jeans and T-shirts.
To attract more members clubs need have a more flexible attitude and this can only be welcome news. Don’t know if it will help reduce my handicap though!
Prescription charges
THOUSANDS of patients with long-term conditions have benefited from the falling cost of prescription charges in Scotland.
The cost of a single prescription has fallen from £5 to £4 and the cost of Prescription Pre-payment Certificates (PPCs) has been lowered from £48 to £38 for 12 months and £17 to £13 for four months.
This is the second consecutive year prescription charges in Scotland have been cut which will benefit hundreds of thousands of people across the country.
The immediate reduction, which became effective from April 1, 2009, is another major step towards the phased abolition of prescription charges.
It is particularly important for people with long-term conditions to be aware of Prescription pre-payment Certificates and the savings to be made by using these, instead of paying for individual prescriptions.
These reductions and the steps towards abolition of the prescription charges will help alleviate the significant financial burden of living with a long term condition.
The cost of a single prescription has fallen from £5 to £4 and the cost of Prescription Pre-payment Certificates (PPCs) has been lowered from £48 to £38 for 12 months and £17 to £13 for four months.
This is the second consecutive year prescription charges in Scotland have been cut which will benefit hundreds of thousands of people across the country.
The immediate reduction, which became effective from April 1, 2009, is another major step towards the phased abolition of prescription charges.
It is particularly important for people with long-term conditions to be aware of Prescription pre-payment Certificates and the savings to be made by using these, instead of paying for individual prescriptions.
These reductions and the steps towards abolition of the prescription charges will help alleviate the significant financial burden of living with a long term condition.
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