Councillors will vote on the plans on Friday, March 19. But today (March 12) SBC organised an online briefing for the media, during which council leader Shona Haslam said the budget would “help the Borders build back better”. Here we take you through some key points from the proposed budget. When is the Great Tapestry Centre opening? Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the council had previously confirmed that the Great Tapestry Centre in Galashiels would not meet be ready in time for the planned spring opening. At the budget briefing, SBC’s executive director, Rob Dickson, said the building is “nearing completion”.
SCOTTISH Borders Council has approved plans to install “specialist display cabinets” costing more than half a million pounds at the Great Tapestry of Scotland centre. Based in Galashiels, the centre – which the council says is nearing the final phase of construction – will house the 143m-long Great Tapestry of Scotland. A council report published before an executive committee meeting yesterday (January 19) stated that the cost of the tapestry’s display cabinets had “unfortunately” gone over budget. At the meeting, members approved taking £316,000 from the 2021 Emergency & Unplanned Schemes fund to pay for the cabinets. That figure adds to the £250,000 initially put aside for the cabinets in 2016 – taking the total cost of the cases to £566,000.
WITH antenatal classes cancelled because of lockdown, a pair of Borders women decided to set up online support groups. Reporter Hilary Scott found out more. ‘Baby brain’ – a term widely used by pregnant women, who have blamed it for forgetfulness, poor decision-making and a lack of concentration. Fortunately, two Innerleithen women have brought new meaning to the phrase after coming up with a way to ‘bump’ into their pregnancy pals. First-time mum Louise Claire and Karen Wilson – expecting her second baby – have created two virtual antenatal groups so that mums-to-be won’t miss out on the support they need due to classes being cancelled because of COVID restrictions.
But Forrest will now face sixth seed Greg Harlow from England. Apart from Forrest, two other women have been competing in the open section – Katherine Rednall is also through to the last-16, but Ellen Falkner was defeated in the first round. In the previous three World Indoor Bowls Championships, no women featured in the main draw of the open section. In the ladies’ singles, reigning champion Forrest lost her opening tie to Devon Cooper. Forrest had taken the trophy home for two consecutive years before crashing out at an early stage this year. Speaking to BBC Sport following her 2019 success, Forrest said: “I am actually still shaking. I thought my legs were going to collapse. I’m ecstatic.”
SCOTTISH Borders Council has issued a statement after it was announced that the coronavirus lockdown will be extended. Current lockdown restrictions had been due to be removed at the end of January for the Borders, as well as the rest of mainland Scotland. However, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today (January 19) announced that the lockdown – which has seen non-essential shops close, and home-working the default position – will be extended until “at least the middle of February”. Regarding the extension, council leader Shona Haslam said: It is clear that COVID-19 is still too prevalent in our communities so we need to stick with the lockdown restrictions for a bit longer.