Berwickshire News June 22nd

The sad decision to close Coldstream (and Jedburgh) cottage hospitals screams from the top of the front page. Much of the article is taken up picking over the possible uses for the site and a defence of the care and facilities that will be available at other facilities in Kelso and Duns cottage hospitals. A smaller article reports that the Scottish Health Council is urging NHS Borders to attempt to rebuild the bridges that their hostile action have destroyed. Also a toddler absconded from a previously well respected nursery in Eyemouth. He was returned safe and well after his incredulous mother spotted him in the company of strangers 60 yards up the road. Members of staff have been dismissed as they didn't know he was missing and weren't apparently too concerned when he was returned.

There's a Council Tax demand served on 5 migrant workers in Duns - they'd previously been assured by their landlord that their rent covered it. A clear case for the SBC officer mentioned last week, except no appointment has been made. Funding for rural buses is inadequate according to Euan Robson MSP for Berwickshire and Roxburgh - he hails the increase in frequency of the X95 service from Carlisle to Edinburgh via Hawick but bemoans the fact that they're using regular urban service buses for the route (which is approximately 100 miles in length). He implores the Scottish Transport minister to put some cash up to transform the rural bus network.

The Waverley Rail project is fraught with risks according to the leading article on page 3 - the bill to allow the restoration of the rail link between Tweedbank and Edinburgh was passed only last week by 114 votes to 1 in Holyrood and already the doom-merchants are circling. More on the anger and sadness felt by the campaigners who sadly lost their fight to keep Coldstream Cottage Hospital open - many feeling as the PaperBoy does that the decision was made months ago and that everything that happened since has been a sham.

The James Hutton Trail, which follows in the footsteps of the 18th century Berwickshire farmer regarded by many as father of modern geology, is highlighted as attracting international interest in the first month since it opened. It doesn't mention how international - so it might just be some daytrippers from Berwick.....

Amey Highways hits the news with the exciting revelation that it's a 24 hour a day operation to maintain the A1. It's not just the roadworks with which we're all too familiar - but safety schemes, signage, drainage, lighting, litter picking (on certain stretches) and other unspecified general routine maintenance.

Over at Sheriff Drummond's courthouse a fleet of drivers are in his sights this week - a Coldstream man banned for 9 months for moving an uninsured vehicle, which was also defective, which he'd just taken ownership having an accident and being uninsured during the process. Also relieved of £300. A painter and decorator from Coldingham reversed into the same fence twice on separate occasions - Sherriff K listened to the pleas of counsel that the guilty party had repaired the fence and had painted it all. Awarded 5 points which took him over the 12 point limit but has pleaded to go to a special hearing to be able to keep his licence claiming undue hardship and suffering. A Berwick builder was fined £300 and banned for 18 months for drink driving in Eyemouth. A 'senile delinquent' from Selkirk was fined £325 and had 6 points awarded for driving with no MOT or insurance. On the non-driving front a Duns woman was fined £200 for contempt of court after a performance where she was pleading not guilty to a charge, witnesses were called from all over the country only for her to change her plea to guilty. Sheriff K opined "the conduct shown to the court and witnesses was nothing short of disgraceful".

Old timers in Kelso will be able to get their Zimmer™ frames and walking sticks MOTed on Tuesday 27th when a special event is held in the Market Square. Also part of the event is some advice on avoiding trip hazards - those that know Kelso at all will realise the humour in this - most of Kelso is cobbled, whilst they aren't particularly uneven, they do represent exactly the kind of trip hazard that the target audience should be seeking to avoid.

Farm Focus tells of the woes of the wool market - farmers get 45p per kilogram of fleece (provided it's in top condition) of which 27p is taken up in handling fees at the British Wool Marketing Board - given an average fleece in the area is something like 3kg there is not a lot of money left after the shearing costs are taken into account. More ridiculous are the deductions that can be made for incorrectly rolled fleeces, dirty fleeces, contamination by twigs or twine - it's perfectly possible that a fleece could end up with a negative value! British eggs are the safest in the EU acording to a recent EU survey - something that the Scottish NFU is keen to bring to everyone's attention. The PaperBoy mainly buys local eggs from Oxenrig farm - can't get much more local than that!


Picture of Duns Sheriff Court courtesy of the Scottish Courts website