The Peeblean: Friday 24 January 2025
Storm Eowyn closures, Go Tweed Valley plans, new premises for Zoom Motorhomes, Community Council latest, funding bids for Tweeddale projects, job vacancy at Peebles Community Trust, knit for climate.
Welcome to the third Friday issue of The Peeblean. Our hatches are battened and the flasks are filled.
It is safe to say that activity and events in the area today have been cancelled thanks to Storm Eowyn. For planned re-openings, we’d advise keeping an eye on social channels for updates from the organisers as plans may change over the day.
Hay Lodge Health Centre is operating an emergency service only.
Lots of local facilities and shops – including Tesco, the Esso filling station and the Premier shop on Rosetta Road – have closed for the day but may consider re-opening in the evening if safe to do so.
The Wild Writer’s Festival at the Eastgate has announced further changes to the already-altered timings, so nothing is going ahead this evening.
Please support the remaining Festival events over the weekend. Having this brilliant facility on our doorsteps is a real bonus but the financial challenges of running an arts venue remain considerable.
HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES - on Friday 31 January we’ll be featuring events and activities that are running during the February half term and also further ahead during the Easter school holidays. Please get in touch with anything you’d like included - email planner@thepeeblean.com
It was great to hear this week that Go Tweed Valley - the promoter of the area as a visitor destination - has been approved to continue for a further five years. With so many knock-on benefits for local businesses, not just those directly in the tourism and hospitality sectors, this is fantastic news for the local economy. The beauty of the GTV approach is its diversity - they don’t just promote adventure sports but also cater for those who’d prefer to wander round a musuem or curl up in a book nook with a view.
We caught up with the GTV team this week to quiz them on what they’ll be up to in the next phase:
Developing a new literary trail to highlight the area’s links to writers and writing
Exploring the potential for an indoor climbing/bouldering wall within the Tweed Valley (to expand the wet weather activity provision)
Promoting existing trail infrastructure and signage – including new interpretation boards on the Eddleston Water Path (due spring/summer 2025)
Continuing to explore the provision for motorhomes and camper vans in the area.
Helping sort out public toilet provision, one of the priorities of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance.
· Improving transport links to rural areas and to/from Edinburgh
You can read about this in detail in the Go Tweed Valley business plan for 2025-30.
Pippa and Malcolm at Zoom Motor Homes have bought the Tweeddale Kitchens building, opposite their current premises at Dovecot Road. Internal demolition works have already started to open up the space which will accommodate up to five vehicles once walls and ceilings are removed. There are no immediate plans to vacate their current garage.
If you are considering plans for the spring, Zoom are offering a chunky 20% discount on motorhome hires during March and April, using the code BOX25. There is still availability for the Easter school holiday dates (5-20 April).
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
A new community theatre project is starting up this week with an intro session at Newlands Community Centre on Tuesday 28 January at 19:00. Teaser posters for ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ have been spotted and the project is for anyone aged 14+ who’d like to get involved. More info on the Nomat Beat FB page.
Tweeddale North Sea Knitters is a local group formed to support the international Knitting for Climate initiative. The group will knit scarves to publicise the ‘Red Line for Climate’ - the risk of global temperatures changing more than 1.5 degrees centigrade.
AROUND AND ABOUT
On Saturday in Innerleithen, there’s an opportunity to meet local groups that run activities and events for young people. This is a drop-in event with children’s activities, free juice and snacks where you can chat in person to the people running local clubs, activities and support services. You don’t need to live in Innerleithen to come along. Groups attending will include Tweeddale Youth Action, the local pipe band, silver band, Innerleithen Youth Theatre, the tennis club, girlguiding, Leithen Vale Sports and Peeblesshire Youth Trust. The event runs from 11:00 and 15:00 at Innerleithen Church of Scotland on Leithen Road. The youth section of the pipe band will perform at 13:30.
Also in Innerleithen, following a significant refurbishment Stay Scotland have just re-opened the former Tweedside Hotel as self-catering rooms which can be booked individually or as a group venue. The property has four ensuite bedrooms, sleeping 10 in total. Dogs are welcome. Tweedside is the latest expansion to the accommodation offering in the town, which includes the Room in the Borders redevelopment of the former Corner House Hotel at 1 Chapel Street.
OPPORTUNITIES
Peebles Community Trust are recruiting an Adminstrator to work 12 hours/week from the School Brae Hub. Full details on their website. No deadline specified.
Community Development Lens are recruiting a freelance researcher to deliver a study on addressing depopulation in Dumfries & Galloway. The contract is for 45 days of mostly desk-based work between February and April. Applications close on 28 January.
Damhead Plant Nursery is looking for a part-time team member to help with an online marketing campaign. For more information contact Sue Gray on sueg@damheadnursery.co.uk
NEWS ROUND-UP
Education Scotland have published a report on Newlands Primary School with strengths and areas for improvement identified. The SBC press release includes comments from headteacher Carn Peaston and parent council chair, Jaimie Buchanan.
It’s a full meeting of Scottish Borders Council this Thursday 30 January which will consider a draft sports and physical activity strategy, school non-attendance procedures and the roll out of a ‘Missing Share’ scheme (to support repairs in tenement or joint-ownership properties).
Peebles Community Council met on Thursday 9 January and the minutes are now published. The meeting included a Q&A on the Eildon development at Caledonian Court (Tweedbridge), tree felling at Glensax Road / Cademuir Drive and lots of other local matters. Though not necessarily headline news, the minutes reveal how often the things we take for granted around the town like bins and flower planting and signage are being monitored and maintained by volunteer effort. We’d also like to send an appreciative hat-tip to Fiona Richardson (minutes secretary) and Anne Snoddy (CC secretary) for their work in ensuring all the discussions are summarised and circulated. Updated 28/1/25 to correct the names.
Further up the road in Eddleston, residents with an interest in alternative uses for the village primary school are being urged to step forward in 2025. The mothballed Eddleston Primary School will have been closed for three years in June 2025 and the community council reckons that permanent closure might be next on the SBC agenda due to cost pressures in the education budget. Assessing the likelihood of re-opening as very unlikely, the CC is hoping that a group might step forward to explore alternative community uses, so that the feasibility can be properly assessed well before a final decision has to be taken. Ideas already suggested at community consultation days include private nursery provision or a community sports facility.
Tweeddale Area Partnership is the area body of Scottish Borders Council that brings together councillors, council officials, community councils and other service providers to assess priorities for the area. They also make decisions on funding which is ring-fenced for local community groups and projects. The next meeting is on Tuesday 4 February at 19:00 and will be online (Teams). On February's agenda is flood management in Tweeddale, parking for campervans and an update on the Chambers Institution Trust.
At the TAP February meeting Tweeddale councillors will also decide on funding bids which have been assessed by a local funding panel:
Tweeddale Flood Advisory Group seeking £4k for radio communication equipment and insurance. Recommended for funding.
Tweeddale Rideability Group seeking £800 for new riding hats. Recommended for funding.
Peebles Bowling Club seeking £7k towards clubhouse refurbishment. Assessment panel is split on the recommendation and is bringing the decision in front of Tweeddale councillors for a final decision.
Broughtonknowe Community Woodland seeking £5k towards the cost of a community woodland purchase. Recommended to delay a decision to March meeting to understand more fully the funding picture.
FUNDING NEWS
The Destination Tweed Community Grants Scheme supports projects based within 2km of the River Tweed. Applications need to align with one of their priorities (nature, history and stories) and deliver on outcomes relating to biodiversity, outdoor opportunities and public awareness of stories, culture and traditions. The next deadline is Wednesday 12 February.
Greener Peebles has recently been awarded funds through the scheme to create pollinator-friendly habitat, a new wildlife trail and seasonal activities. Further grant funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting some traditional crafting workshops on willow weaving, natural inks, nettle cordage and coiled baskets. See their Facebook page for details.
For any organisations looking for funding sources, the Bank of Scotland Foundation’s Empower Fund will open for applications for ten days, starting at 12 midday on Monday 3 February. The Fund provides unrestricted funding for charities who support vulnerable people. Applicant organisations must have an income of between £150k-£500k and a minimum of three years accounts lodged with OSRC, the charity regulator.
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Updated 5pm: Haylodge Parkrun is CANCELLED tomorrow. The team have been sharing some Burns-themed poetry this week:
“My love is like a bricht pink vest, wi’ writing o’er the back,
My love is watching hunners tank, way up the forest track.
My love is hearing Ronnie’s prose, he tried tae nick fae me”
But I have nae love if the bogs are closed, and the runners need tae pee”
Francos is open tonight from 17:30 - 21:000 for dine-in and takeaway only and downstairs the Bridge Inn is open this evening (Friday 24).
As featured last week there are Burns Supper events at Cardona Village Hall, Peebles Old Parish Church, Neidpath Castle and Manor Village Hall this weekend. Details in The Peeblean (17 Jan).
NOW CANCELLED: On Saturday 25 January there’s a Children’s Clothes and Toy Swap at the Memorial Hall, Innerleithen from 11:00 – 14:00.
Peebles Business and Retail Association hold their AGM on Tuesday 28 January in the Tontine.
On Wednesday 29 January, Peebles High School parent council meets online. MEETING POSTPONED until w/c 10 February.
On Friday 31 January the Central Bar in Peebles hosts a Race Night to raise funds for Peeblesshire Foodbank
The first matches of the Six Nations take place on Friday 31 January and Saturday 1 February with Wales heading to France, Scotland hosting Italy and Ireland hosting England.
If there’s anything we’ve missed please add it to the comments section.
NEXT WEEKEND
On Saturday 1 February local duo Morag Brown and Lewis Powell-Reid play traditional repertoire from Scotland to the Balkans and beyond. Eastgate Theatre, Saturday 1 February at 10:30.
If you haven’t seen their video filmed at Northshield Rings, it’s on Youtube here. Watch out for the third member of the family on his pipes at 2:36…
On Saturday 1 February Beach Crows play the music of John Martyn at No.1 Peebles Road, Innerleithen – admission free, from 19:30.
Events on Sunday 2 February include Whitmuir Makers Market, Cardrona Village Association AGM, a Wedding Showcase at Barony Castle Hotel and the latest Music in Peebles concert at the Eastgate, Song over Scotland.
A full listing for the weekend of Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 February will be included next Friday.
BOOK AHEAD
This caught our eye this week - more details on Lesley Johnson’s FB page
BENCH OF THE WEEK
Bench of the Week this week is just off Bonnington Road as you turn down towards Crookston Farm and Haystoun.
Do you have a bench-related story you’d like to share with the readers of The Peeblean - it might be a favourite spot, a bench that has a memorial plaque to someone you’d like to publicly remember or maybe you’ve been involved in constructing one. Get in touch with us - BOTW@thepeeblean.com
Thanks for reading!
The Peeblean