"Coldstream Hospital Action Group has thrown down the gauntlet to NHS Borders", with it's alternative plan for the cottage hospital in Coldstream. We shall see how much of a consultation process NHS Borders really has implemented - the local suspicion is that the decision is made though.
It appears the Scottish Borders Council is one of a number of authorities that are preparing to repay a large sum of money back to people who have been charged for personal care services that should be free.
A Coldingham woman who flew as a helicopter pilot in the Australian outback has unfortunately died as the result of a crash - the feeling from her company is that the aircraft was at fault and the same model had been implicated in a handful of other crashes and emergencies in Australia since 2000.
6 lobster creels are reported stolen from Eyemouth harbour and the advertising board at Eyemouth filling station has been vandalised. You have to be thankful to live in an area where the theft of perfume from a shop 25 miles away makes it to the front page of the newspaper.
A new flood protection barrier has been unveiled in Eyemouth to augment or replace the old-fashioned sandbags currently deployed in diverting flood waters flowing down the harbour road. Of course some local residents are suggesting that the barrier is in the wrong place - the council is in a no-win situation though because wherever it is will be wrong for somebody.
The preferred bidder to build 3 new High Schools in Duns, Earlston and Eyemouth has been chosen - although the Scottish Executive has forbidden publication of the winner until formal approval has been given. These 3 new high schools represent a project of about £100 million - quite a sum for a local authority with a population of around 100,000.
Digital TV switchover is coming in 2008 and DigitalUK have published their estimates of changeover costs, helpfully the
News states this to be between £26 and £153 per household - so no opportunity there for confusion, fear or misinformation. Also mentioned is the possibility of new aerials being required for 10% of people, at a cost of between £70 and £150 - so the total could be between £96 and £303. This will not be the last we hear of this story I'm sure. Only 2 more years of it to go.
Sheriff Kevin Drummond back in the chair to see justice served in Duns & District once again: A 16 year-old girl was up before him on multiple charges including vandalism, nuisance phone calls, breaches of the peace and a breach of a restriction of liberty order. Sheriff Kevin told her "For a young girl you have done an extraordinary amount of offending - you're disruptive, rebellious and simply anti-social". She's been given a final warning, told to pay £570 in compensation, 100 hours community service, a 10pm to 6am curfew and her outstanding ASBO is to continue. A London man charged with stealing and attempting to steal from charity collection boxes in and around Chirnside - seems a heck of a way to come for such a crime! An Eyemouth man was found to be under the influence of drugs at Eyemouth filling station, when police arrived he was slumped over the wheel with a syringe in his hand. Later tests revealed diazepam and morphine in his system - £200 fine and disqualified for 12 months. George Michael take note!
A shocker for the Berwickshire - the first news from East Lothian (It does say on the front cover "Berwickshire News
and East Lothian Herald") that I've seen. Sadly for fans of gothic Victorian architecture in general and in Dunbar in particular the Bellevue Hotel is finally going to be demolished and 52 (headline figure, 53 according to the picure caption) retirement homes put up in it's place.
Labels: Berwickshire News
Apparently a quiet week in Duns Sheriff Court - only 3 appearances before Sheriff Kevin's deputy are reported - One driving without insurance and failing to report an accident (£100 for each count and 6 penalty points). Another miscreant driving whilst disqualified and again without insurance - sentence deferred for social reports. The third is that sentencing is once again deferred on an Eyemouth man already convicted of 4 various offences as he is due back in court to be sentenced for charges of vandalism pending social & community service reports.
