Air your views on future development in the Borders
Monday, November 10 2008
Local residents, businesses and organisations with an interest in the future development of the Borders are being urged to give their views on a draft amendment to the area’s Local Plan.
Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Planning and Environment, Councillor Carolyn Riddell-Carre, said: “Everyone is getting busy in the run-up to the festive period, but this is a very important document. It is vital that local people look at it and give us their views, so that we can be better informed about their wishes and include them in shaping the future development of the region.”
The public consultation on the Local Plan Amendment will run until 28 January 2009. Councillor Riddell-Carre added. “We have proposals for: new housing and employment land sites; a Countryside around Town policy which will protect the area from the north of Galashiels to the south of St Boswells; possible development locations for schools; a Borders Crematorium and cemetery extensions and the possible reinstatement of a prime retail frontage policy area in Selkirk. The amendment covers the period up to 2018 and sets out potential longer-term development options for 2019-2026.”
Councillor Riddell-Carre added: “The recently adopted Local Plan was based on population figures which in some cases were 10 years old. This document builds upon the Local Plan and should make sure that there is enough housing and employment land up to 2018. I would like to stress that where there is more than one site being proposed for development within communities, these sites are alternatives. We really need to know which site would be preferred for development by those communities. It is very important that the Council continues to look forward in its planning for the area even during an economic downturn. Downturns do end and the Borders will still be here. I would encourage everyone to look at the amendment and ask them to respond to the proposals.”
Copies of the plan are available at libraries and Council contact centres, at www.scotborders.gov.uk and from the Plans and Research Section, Planning and Economic Development, Scottish Borders Council, Newtown St Boswells TD6 0SA.
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