Wednesday February 11th 2026
Duns Football Club players (photo from Duns Football's Facebook)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A Berwickshire football club going from “strength to strength” has called on Scottish Borders Council not to impose a planning rule that could threaten further expansion plans.
Duns Football Club at New Hawthorn Park on Langtongate was officially formed in 1877.
The Borders Amateur Football League club is known as ‘The Dingers’ and are the current South of Scotland Amateur Cup, Colin Campbell Cup, Border Cup and Waddell Cup Champions.
A club steeped in the community, members frequently hosts events, such as quiz nights and bingo at their ground with the clubhouse bar open to the public on match days.
Now a planning application has been submitted to Scottish Borders Council for alterations including the installation of a profiled metal roof and photovoltaic panels.
Back in 2016 an application was agreed with SBC for the siting of a portacabin to serve as changing rooms, with a second portacabin approved in 2019.
But a condition was imposed that the portacabins should be removed within five years.
The club is now asking the council’s planning department not to impose that condition and regard the portacabins as permanent structures.
A submission with the application, from David Burgon, on behalf of Eyemouth-based Richard Amos Architecture, states: “Since this time, the football club committee has changed significantly and the previous permissions accompanying conditions were archived with the new committee unaware of the time constraints.
“In this time, the football club has gone from strength to strength and is in a position re-invest in the facilities.
“Both portacabins are still in position. Some work to improve the aesthetics and accessibility have been carried out, this is reflected in the submitted drawings.
“The football club has successfully secured funding to install photovoltaic panels to the roofs to improve their sustainability and reduce their direct electric heating bills.
“It is also proposed to continue the profiled metal roofing (which improves the aesthetic and longevity of the buildings) and create a storage area between the portacabins.
“Given the level of investment into the buildings, the improvement of their aesthetics and installation of photovoltaic panels, it would make sense that the club rooms are treated as more permanent structures.
“With this in mind, we ask that the planning department do not apply a condition restricting how long the clubrooms can remain on site.
“The level of ongoing investment demonstrates the football club’s desire to provide up-to date facilities for all that use the club and ensure it remains a valued facility to the local community.”
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