Latest news with #BordersCouncil
STV News
08-07-2025
- Business
- STV News
Center Parcs submits planning application for first holiday village in Scotland
Center Parcs has submitted the planning application for its first holiday village in Scotland to Borders Council. The site is located three miles north of Hawick and will feature around 700 lodges within a newly forested landscape. The submission follows eight months of public consultation, including four statutory consultation events in Lilliesleaf, Denholm, Selkirk and Hawick. Center Parcs Center Parcs Scotland: CGI image of the Watersports Loch. Center Parcs Center Parcs Center Parcs Scotland: CGI image of the Village Square. Center Parcs Center Parcs said more than 1,000 members of the public provided feedback that has 'shaped and refined' the final design proposals. The site includes waterside lodges, apartments, lochs, spa, sports plaza, and a nature and heritage centre. The Scottish village has been modeled on the Center Parcs' six existing villages across England and Ireland, and will include a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, shops, bars, restaurants and swimming and spa attractions. The total investment for the new village is estimated at between £350m and £400m. Center Parcs Masterplan of the Center Parcs village in the Scottish Borders. Center Parcs Between 750 and 800 jobs could be created during construction with around 1,200 permanent, year-round roles to be created. Colin McKinlay, CEO of Center Parcs, said: ''We're thrilled to submit our planning application for our proposed Center Parcs village in Scotland. 'Since unveiling our initial plans in November, it's been a busy and rewarding eight months of consultation. 'We've listened carefully to feedback from local communities and stakeholders and have worked hard to shape a proposal that is both ambitious and sensitive to its surroundings.' Center Parcs Center Parcs Scotland: CGI image of the Aqua Sana Forest Spa. Center Parcs Center Parcs Center Parcs Scotland: CGI image of the Heritage & Nature Centre. Center Parcs Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Borders village Heriot issues clarion call for incomers
But there's just one catch – they must be families with young children who can help bolster its falling school roll. This year, the number of children filling the village's Primary School dropped below 26 – the 'magic number' Borders Council decrees is needed to run two classes. Residents of the village, which has around 160 homes, are hoping they can attract fresh young faces to ensure the Heriot Primary School has a vibrant future and remains a focal point of the community. Locals are highlighting three homes for sale in the village which they hope would be attractive to families looking to escape the rate race and settle on its quiet streets. School sports day in Heriot (Image: Heriot Community) They have highlighted the village's transport links - the Borders Railway station at Gorebridge is just 10 minutes away and there's also an hourly bus service providing easy access to both Edinburgh and Galashiels – availability of afterschool care and vibrant community spirit. Heriot Primary School Parent Council Chair, Rich Williams said: 'Heriot Primary School's ACEL (Achievement of Curriculum for Excellence Levels) scores compare very favourably indeed to other local schools and even compete with those achieved by the current top performing school in the Scottish Borders,' 'I moved with my family to Heriot around five years ago because we felt our children would thrive in a small school where they get really personalised attention from great teachers, and where they could benefit from the incredible outdoor facilities the school has.' 'But it's not just about the school's scores: everyone says Heriot children are special. The values the school instils in them and the way the school is embedded in the local area as a hub for events and gathering means that children tend to grow up with a real sense of community spirit and togetherness - and this helps them to thrive once they move on to the secondary school at Galashiels, where a brand new academy is soon due to open.' The Old Police House is one of the homes available - priced at £425,000 (Image: Rightmove) Mr Williams added: 'There are lots of things here for parents as well. Beautiful hill walks are on your doorstep, while the cafes and boutique shops of Innerleithen and Peebles, and the mountain-bike trails at Glentress are just down the road.' Villagers are keen for them to be sold to families with school-aged children who want their child to benefit from a smaller school, rural education. Families in Heriot have access to daily afterschool childcare at 'Heriot Country Kids' until 6pm, as well as holiday clubs at Easter, in the summer break and October half term. Heriot Country Kids has recently been commended by the Care Inspectorate, who recognised that children benefitted from 'kind, caring and nurturing interactions, which helped them to feel valued and respected'. Another house for sale in Heriot, priced at £370,000 (Image: Rightmove) Scottish Borders Council has also committed to developing plans for an early years nursery connected to the school, meaning that younger children will soon also be well catered for. With enrolment applications for the nursery due to go live in November 2025 - and the nursery due to open its doors in Easter 2026 - villagers feel that now is the time to ask people to make the move. Community Council Secretary Gavin Whittaker: 'Heriot is located in a beautiful part of the country, with immediate access to some fantastic walking and cycling routes,'
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
North Lanarkshire Council receives fifth-highest number of dog fouling complaints in UK according to new research
North Lanarkshire Council comes in fifth with 1,725 complaints (51 complaints per 10,000 people) the other Scottish council in the top 10, but not the only other one - it has over six times as many complaints as Borders Council, which received 277 complaints. North Lanarkshire Council received the fifth-highest number of dog fouling complaints in the UK according to new research. That's according to the experts at the London rubbish removal company Rainbow Rubbish, which sought to uncover the UK councils that received the most dog poo complaints, utilising existing FOI data. They also partnered with a pet expert, highlighting the hazardous effects dog waste can have on others and its risks to public safety. North Lanarkshire Council comes in fifth with 1,725 complaints (51 complaints per 10,000 people) the other Scottish council in the top 10, but not the only other one - it has over six times as many complaints as Borders Council, which received 277 complaints. Pet expert Josh Wiesenfeld commented on the hazardous effects dog fouling has to other dogs as well as highlighting its risks to public safety and urban cleanliness. He said: 'Dog faeces poses a health risk to other dogs, but also to humans and the overall environment due to the transmission of parasites and infectious disease pathogens. 'Dog faeces can also pass on roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Giardia, and coccidia—most of which are zoonotic, or capable of infecting people as well. 'Toxocara canis, a common roundworm, can cause toxocariasis in people, which can lead to loss of eyesight, organ damage, or neurological issues, particularly among kids playing in infected parks or yards. 'The danger is just as real for other canines. Parasites are caught by touching contaminated faeces or soil. Others, like parvovirus—a very contagious and generally lethal virus—can survive for months in the environment and are eliminated in the stools of the infected dog. 'Even a seemingly low amount of uncollected faeces can harbour millions of bacteria and viruses, causing outbreaks in local dog populations. In shared spaces such as parks or sidewalks, this can significantly increase community-wide public health issues.' Earlier this year, pupils at Wishaw Academy Primary School began running a campaign to highlight the problem and encourage dog owners to be responsible. Speaking at the time, the school's headteacher Michelle Beadie said: 'Many children and parents were concerned about dog fouling around the entrances to the school. 'As a result, the Rights Respecting Schools Steering Group decided to take full advantage of article 12 of the United Nations Charter on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and use their voices to campaign, tackle this problem and effect change. 'Pupils contacted decision-makers within North Lanarkshire Council, including elected members, and have been involved in a leaflet drop in the local neighbourhood. They have also raised awareness of the problem by designing their own posters for display around the school campus and local public buildings. 'This initiative not only promotes a cleaner, safer environment for our pupils but also instils a sense of respect and responsibility. By encouraging our children to speak out, and by working together with the local community, we can ensure that our pathways and grounds remain welcoming and enjoyable for everyone.'
STV News
25-04-2025
- Business
- STV News
Council to consider closing list of pools and libraries
Borders Council is considering closing several pools and libraries throughout the county to address 'significant financial and operational challenges.' At least five libraries throughout the Borders are slated for closure, along with four swimming pools, six community centres, multiple museums, and town and public halls. It's all part of a Borders Sporting and Cultural Estate Review, which is looking at the future of Live Borders, the charitable trust that runs facilities on the local authority's behalf. Councillors were presented with a range of proposals – including closures and selloffs – to consider during a full Scottish Borders council on Thursday. They were told that both the council and Live Borders are facing 'significant financial and operational challenges in maintaining their extensive sporting, leisure, and cultural estate'. 'Rising energy costs, ageing infrastructure, and declining participation levels necessitate a strategic transformation of leisure, cultural, and community assets,' the report said. 'This review sets out a long-term vision for a high-quality, modernised estate. The ambition is to create the right suite of facilities that are fit for the 21st century and beyond.' The independent report from Integratis Consulting was adamant that the current situation is 'financially unsustainable'. Live Borders required £2.5m of additional council funding in the last financial year – over and above the annual £4.8m management fee – to keep services and facilities operating. 'There is therefore a shared understanding, reflected in the independent consultant's report, that the status quo in terms of services, facilities and funding is not viable,' the council report said. That's why the council has been asked to consider a range of 'significant' proposals – including closures, selloffs, and consolidations. Among the facilities recommended for closure are Selkirk Swimming Pool, the Wilton Primary School swimming pool, the Queen's Leisure Centre and the Tri Fitness gym in Galashiels. The report also advised that Jedburgh's Laidlaw Pool should remain closed. Libraries in Earlston, Eyemouth, Coldstream, and Hawick are recommended to be shut down or consolidated with other services. Old Gala House, Abbey Row Centre in Kelso and Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom in Selkirk are also on the closure list while the bowling hall at Tweedbank and sports hall at the Gytes in Peebles are proposed to be turned into fitness gyms. If the proposals are accepted wholesale, the Mary Queen of Scots' Visitor Centre and Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum could also introduce new visitor charges. The council acknowledged in the report that the proposals are 'significant', and that it will be 'critically important' to fully understand the impacts before decisions are taken. 'It is important to note that no decisions on the future provision of services or associated buildings are being made at this stage, with significant further work required from communities to consider all options available,' the report added. The council said it would take a 'staged approach' to considering any changes that are proposed. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Borders council votes for nursery closures plans despite parent protest
A council has voted to press ahead with plans which could see a number of nurseries closed despite a protest from local authority in the Borders revealed proposals to shut six rural sites earlier this month due to low attendance prompted criticism from families with children at the nurseries - as well as from Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden. He went to Channelkirk Nursery in Oxtonwhich is under threat of being Borders Council's executive committee voted by nine to seven to take forward its "meaningful consultation" which could pave the way for mothballing the facilities. The council plans, which emerged earlier this month, said the sites across the region were operating at 50% capacity or below and should be local authority said the closest alternative provision was within an "acceptable distance" and promised consultation before any closures went was criticised by parents over the short notice with which they had found out the Lowden also said he hoped some alternative solution could be reached.A facility in Fountainhall shut this school year and it is proposed to remain mothballed.A further six - Channelkirk in Oxton, Cockburnspath, Ednam in Kelso, Walkerburn, Westruther and Yetholm - are being recommended to be mothballed due to falling numbers. Channelkirk parent Paul Fulton said: "All of us are so upset and disheartened by the whole process."We feel that the decision made today is the wrong decision."He said an amendment - which would have dropped the closure plans and allowed longer consultation - would have been the "common sense" option."We just feel they need to take stock and come back next year with a properly thought-out policy," he Fulton said he did not think the short consultation being proposed of a few weeks was long he said they had not given up hope of keeping the sites open."We are going to continue the fight and continue to tell them exactly how we feel about it," he said."We hope that by the time it comes back to council the right decision is made." Executive committee member Julie Pirone said they needed to understand all the factors affecting the 50 or so children involved and why parents had sent them to a particular nursery."Everybody must be clear that this council - and every other council up and down the land - is looking at the same thing," she said."We are strapped for cash."I do not like looking at cutting services when we have increased the council tax."She stressed that finances were not the only issue they needed to look at before reaching a final decision."We need to consider people's views and having a consultation is the right way to do that over the next few months," she said.
