Berwickshire News, February 9th
Big story on the front page is about a row between the Scottish Executive & the local authorities over funding - the usual story for February/March time anywhere in the United Kingdom really.
Despite lower than normal rainfall, and the Tweed being at it's lowest January level since 1997, Scottish Water maintain that there is no need for a hosepipe ban. Although "As ever we recommend consumers to use water more wisely. Never put just a half load into the washing machine, don't leave the taps running and try and [editor: should be 'try to'] have showers instead of baths" (I have to mention here that the Paper Boy was told about 4 months ago "Scotland's got plenty water, run your taps as long as you like" - by a Scottish Water workman following a discolouration incident precipitated by a fire tender pumping a considerable - probably unmetered, free - volume of water from the main).
1000 Letters of Protest have been received by NHS Borders regarding the proposed closure of the cottage hospitals in Coldstream & Jedburgh. Apparently the march last month in Coldstream was so successful that second march planned has been cancelled in favour of a coffee afternoon.
Other highlights from the front page - A fight in Duns, between a female (36) and a male (18) on Saturday morning and in a separate incident another male (18) committing a breach of the peace in Duns.
Excitement on page 2 where the number 23 bus between Berwick & Kelso is to be discontinued, and replaced by a number 67 bus. Timetable changes will ensue - notably the cancellation of the 9am Kelso-Berwick service, but the great news is that the 67 route takes in St. Boswells and Galashiels. Of course being a service bus it's likely to take about a week to reach the terminus, and cost a fortune to use. No mention of through ticketing to other destinations off-route - but it does mention that it connects with other routes, so progress of sorts.
Greenlaw Town Hall is in the news because there are plans to change it into a community/commercial centre - an improvement from the eyesore centre it's been for as many years as the Paper Boy can remember. Apparently the options considered are conversion into flats, new build retaining the facade, community use, a community/commercial mix, demolish or nothing. Hopefully whatever they do, it's tidied up - because it is (well was) a handsome building in a prime spot in downtown Greenlaw.
After a short interval of a mere 493 years - they don't want to be accused of unseemly haste, the time has come for a permanent memorial to the dead of the Battle of Flodden Field (which took place on Branxton Hill on September 9th, 1513 - I wonder why it's not called the Battle of Branxton Hill then ?). Anyway, who says things run more slowly in the countryside ?
The local MSP's column on page 5 in the Berwickshire starts off with a piece about road safety and the need for an improved junction on the A1 at Reston (it is a poor junction, but to be fair a lot of the A1 between Morpeth and Dunbar is poor and should be improved) and ends with what looks on first glance like a defence of the hospital closure (this is the same MSP that is trying to obtain a debate on the hospital closures at Holyrood on page 1).
Lots of court round up from Duns Sheriff Court (Sheriff Drummond presiding): Assault on a paramedic by a Duns man under the influence, an Eyemouth man jailed for robbery, vandalism of the Jim Clark clock (try saying that after 12 pints of heavy) by a Chirnside man, breach of the peace by a Duns woman, 2 Eyemouth women on driving charges (mainly driving without insurance - so it appears it's somewhere not to have an accident), an assault by a Spittal youth (in drink) on his ex-girlfriend's new partner (also in drink) at Reivers' (drinking) Week in Duns, a Lauder man for racially aggravated breach of the peace in Duns and finally a straightforward example of "general loutish behaviour that happens on the street and causes trouble" in Duns. Total fines handed down £1525, penalty points 24, 6 months custody and 2 sentences deferred.
Cashcard skimming has reached the Borders! A skimming incident in the bright lights of Kelso. Lothian and Borders Police have issued an alert to businesses owning or operating ATMs (which it helpfully tells us are Automatic Teller Machines) to be alert to the possibility of skimming. Then it continues to tell the full story of what happens with a skimmed card.
According to the Farm Focus column there are mixed feelings about the publication of farm subsidy payments - with figures ranging from £20.36 to £307000 in the Borders. Cue lots of covetous glances at neighbours' subsidy cheques.
More court reports - this time from Berwickshire District Court - Failing to provide information about a driver £200 & 3 points, Assault £150, Breaking windows without reasonable excuse £100, Vandalism £50, Shouting - swearing - and gesturing in an offensive manner £110, No car tax £100 + £73.34 in back tax, Carrying a pillion passenger with a provisional licence £125 + 3 points, Said pillion passenger having no helmet further £100, lorry speeding twice at the same point on the A1 £200 + 6 points, 2 other speeders £100 + 3 points each, shouting - swearing - acting in a disorderly manner £150 - another tidy sum there in fines - if they're ever collected.
More from Dodge City & district (aka Duns & Berwickshire) next week!
Despite lower than normal rainfall, and the Tweed being at it's lowest January level since 1997, Scottish Water maintain that there is no need for a hosepipe ban. Although "As ever we recommend consumers to use water more wisely. Never put just a half load into the washing machine, don't leave the taps running and try and [editor: should be 'try to'] have showers instead of baths" (I have to mention here that the Paper Boy was told about 4 months ago "Scotland's got plenty water, run your taps as long as you like" - by a Scottish Water workman following a discolouration incident precipitated by a fire tender pumping a considerable - probably unmetered, free - volume of water from the main).
1000 Letters of Protest have been received by NHS Borders regarding the proposed closure of the cottage hospitals in Coldstream & Jedburgh. Apparently the march last month in Coldstream was so successful that second march planned has been cancelled in favour of a coffee afternoon.
Other highlights from the front page - A fight in Duns, between a female (36) and a male (18) on Saturday morning and in a separate incident another male (18) committing a breach of the peace in Duns.
Excitement on page 2 where the number 23 bus between Berwick & Kelso is to be discontinued, and replaced by a number 67 bus. Timetable changes will ensue - notably the cancellation of the 9am Kelso-Berwick service, but the great news is that the 67 route takes in St. Boswells and Galashiels. Of course being a service bus it's likely to take about a week to reach the terminus, and cost a fortune to use. No mention of through ticketing to other destinations off-route - but it does mention that it connects with other routes, so progress of sorts.
Greenlaw Town Hall is in the news because there are plans to change it into a community/commercial centre - an improvement from the eyesore centre it's been for as many years as the Paper Boy can remember. Apparently the options considered are conversion into flats, new build retaining the facade, community use, a community/commercial mix, demolish or nothing. Hopefully whatever they do, it's tidied up - because it is (well was) a handsome building in a prime spot in downtown Greenlaw.
After a short interval of a mere 493 years - they don't want to be accused of unseemly haste, the time has come for a permanent memorial to the dead of the Battle of Flodden Field (which took place on Branxton Hill on September 9th, 1513 - I wonder why it's not called the Battle of Branxton Hill then ?). Anyway, who says things run more slowly in the countryside ?
The local MSP's column on page 5 in the Berwickshire starts off with a piece about road safety and the need for an improved junction on the A1 at Reston (it is a poor junction, but to be fair a lot of the A1 between Morpeth and Dunbar is poor and should be improved) and ends with what looks on first glance like a defence of the hospital closure (this is the same MSP that is trying to obtain a debate on the hospital closures at Holyrood on page 1).
Lots of court round up from Duns Sheriff Court (Sheriff Drummond presiding): Assault on a paramedic by a Duns man under the influence, an Eyemouth man jailed for robbery, vandalism of the Jim Clark clock (try saying that after 12 pints of heavy) by a Chirnside man, breach of the peace by a Duns woman, 2 Eyemouth women on driving charges (mainly driving without insurance - so it appears it's somewhere not to have an accident), an assault by a Spittal youth (in drink) on his ex-girlfriend's new partner (also in drink) at Reivers' (drinking) Week in Duns, a Lauder man for racially aggravated breach of the peace in Duns and finally a straightforward example of "general loutish behaviour that happens on the street and causes trouble" in Duns. Total fines handed down £1525, penalty points 24, 6 months custody and 2 sentences deferred.
Cashcard skimming has reached the Borders! A skimming incident in the bright lights of Kelso. Lothian and Borders Police have issued an alert to businesses owning or operating ATMs (which it helpfully tells us are Automatic Teller Machines) to be alert to the possibility of skimming. Then it continues to tell the full story of what happens with a skimmed card.
According to the Farm Focus column there are mixed feelings about the publication of farm subsidy payments - with figures ranging from £20.36 to £307000 in the Borders. Cue lots of covetous glances at neighbours' subsidy cheques.
More court reports - this time from Berwickshire District Court - Failing to provide information about a driver £200 & 3 points, Assault £150, Breaking windows without reasonable excuse £100, Vandalism £50, Shouting - swearing - and gesturing in an offensive manner £110, No car tax £100 + £73.34 in back tax, Carrying a pillion passenger with a provisional licence £125 + 3 points, Said pillion passenger having no helmet further £100, lorry speeding twice at the same point on the A1 £200 + 6 points, 2 other speeders £100 + 3 points each, shouting - swearing - acting in a disorderly manner £150 - another tidy sum there in fines - if they're ever collected.
More from Dodge City & district (aka Duns & Berwickshire) next week!
Labels: Berwickshire News
posted by The Paper Boy at
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