Photograph credit: Borders Group of Advanced Motorcyclists
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
It will be safety first for a motorcyclists group next month as worrying new figures expose the dangers to riders on Borders roads.
Latest statistics reveal that in Scotland 253 bike riders and 16 of their passengers died in crashes between January 2015 and August 2024, which is about 26 deaths a year, or on average one every two weeks.
It also follows another fatal crash on the A68 at Earlston on Wednesday 19th March which claimed the life of a 70-year-old man.
The Borders Group of Advanced Motorcyclists (BGAM) will put riders’ skills to the test at their annual open day at Galashiels Fire Station on Saturday 12th April from 10am to 3pm.
This event provides an excellent opportunity to engage with the team, learn more about the IAM Advanced Riding Course, and explore the benefits of advanced motorcycling skills.
As an added incentive, the first ten participants to sign up for the course will receive a reimbursement of £150 upon successful completion of the course within one year, generously sponsored by Motorcycle Law Scotland.
To ensure eligibility for this offer, early attendance is highly recommended. To find out more click HERE.
Meanwhile, Police Scotland is introducing an 18-month pilot which will see 60mph limits reduced on the A708 between Moffat and Selkirk, A7 north of Galashiels, B6357 from the Carter Bar, and the A6088 between Kielder and Bonchester Bridge.
A new 50 mile per hour speed limit is set to be trialled on four roads in the Borders from next month, as part of a drive to make them safer.
Crichton Mains, near Pathhead.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
A bid to turn a farm steading into housing has been rejected over plans to more than double its floor size.
Midlothian planning officers refused to allow the only farm building still to be converted on a courtyard near Pathhead to be turned into two new houses saying the extension proposed for it was too big.
And they criticised the design of the conversion saying it was neither “traditional nor contemporary” and was “not of sufficient quality given this highly sensitive area”.
The application had pointed out that all other steadings on the site had been converted into housing over the last 30 years and the remaining building had not been used for agricultural purposes for decades.
It argued the steading was too narrow for modern day living and extensions were required.
It said: “All the other stone buildings of the original Georgian steading have already been converted into homes. There are now nine homes at Crichton Mains and this conversion of the last original farm buildings will increase the number of homes to 11.
“The increase is considered appropriate and in proportion to the size of the steading. The additional two families will help sustain this rural community.
The applicant has no use for the redundant buildings which were last used for agricultural purposes over 25 years ago and now used very inefficiently for storage.”
Planners said the building currently had a footprint of 150 square metres and the application proposed adding a front extension which also had footprint of 150 square metres and a proposed rear extension with a footprint of 98.5 square metres. The extensions are more than double the
floorspace of the existing
They said: “This is substantial in terms of floorspace created and extension to the original fabric of the building.”
Refusing permission for the new housing, they said: “The proposed extensions and alterations are not in keeping with and do not respect the historic and rural character of the existing building and layout in terms of siting, scale and design.
“The proposed extensions would substantially alter and extend the original fabric of the former steading building to its significant detriment.”
North Berwick sports centre.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
The number of people using East Lothian sports centres fell by more than 10% last year as operators recorded an operating loss of £131,000.
Enjoyleisure which operates the council’s sports centres and swimming pools said the continued cost of living crisis and RAAC issues had an impact on visitor numbers.
A report due to go to the council’s audit and governance committee next week says the arms length company has struggled to increase fitness memberships and balance the books with increasing costs and wages.
And it said it was working to address a gap in pay which saw workers receiving around 15% less than council employees on the same grade structure.
It added there have been “unprecedented difficulties in the recruitment of staff due in a large part to rates of pay being offered by enjoy”.
The number of visitors to sports centres last year was 685,000 compared to 765,000 the previous year.
The report said the closure of some buildings for repair including North Berwick where Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) was identified shutting part of it down, had impacted its numbers as well as the cost of living.
It said: “Total visitor numbers fell in 23/24 compared to the previous year, which we have attributed predominantly to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and customers necessarily tightening their personal finances as a result.
“We also continue to feel the impact of the closure of the Loch Centre
pool in early 2023 and restricted access at the North Berwick Sports Centre due to ongoing RAAC issues which arose as an issue in the summer of 2023.”
The report added that there had been a deficit of £131,000 in operations split including £79,000 trading losses in its cafe business.
However it said total income across the group was £6.97million – higher than the £6.75million in the previous year, adding “this has put us in a good position compared to pre-COVID income levels, which were circa £6.4m”.
The report said despite the challenges enjoy was looking to the future and seeking new ways to improve the business while continuing to support its users.
It said: “We are also proud to continue to offer an Access to Leisure Scheme, whereby East Lothian residents on low incomes, with disabilities, or in NHS health programs can access enjoy leisure facilities for £2.00 off peak, and receive 50% off children’s coached activities such as swimming lessons.
“We hope this will go some way to ease the burdens of the cost of living crisis for customers and ensure that those who wish to participate in sporting activities can continue to do so.”
