The Peeblean: Friday 7 March 2025
Priorsford to Hay Lodge paths consultation, Findra founder says 'use us or lose us', snowdrop planting, samba drumming, Cloich power line, InChorus, pop-up market, jobs thread, Nomad Beat survey.
SBC and Destination Tweed have opened a consultation on the initial plan for an upgraded active travel path between Priorsford Bridge to Fotheringham Bridge.
At a drop-in event on Thursday at the Go Tweed Valley tourist office, the visuals and fly-throughs of the proposed route were presented. This consultation, which runs until 28 March, is to get feedback on the preliminary designs ahead of a full planning application to be submitted in 2025.
The consultation asks questions about path widths (4m is proposed), segregation of walkers and cyclists by a white line marking, path lighting, ‘the Hump’, plans for Hay Lodge Park and the ‘hole in the wall’. There is also space to make general comments on the path work overall, including the section from the Gytes to Priorsford Bridge.
We have also posted some of the images in a separate update to make sure these are accessible. Click below to open but please also read the important context in the consultation itself.
TOWN CHAT
On Monday, Peebles High School student parliament will host Tweeddale Youth Summit. The event, which will be led by senior pupils, will bring together a range of town groups and representatives to discuss matters affecting young people in Tweeddale. They say “The purpose of this event is to discuss all matters affecting young people in Tweeddale – celebrating all the great things that are already being done, and exploring opportunities for the future. We believe it is by bringing people together that we can best tackle issues like anti-social behaviour and work to make sure that Tweeddale is one of the best places to grow up in Scotland.”
The new CHSS charity shop (No. 74) and the new nail bar (No.78) are both due to open their doors on Thursday 13 March.
Details of an asset transfer request by Peebles Community Trust to take over the School Brae public toilets will go live on the SBC consultation portal on Monday 10 March.
Floral Peebles have a plan for a stunning snowdrop display next spring in Hay Lodge Park. The hard-working FP volunteers are meeting on Saturday 15 March at 10:00 at Fotheringham Bridge to plant over 3,000 snowdrops. They would love some additional help. Just think how nice it will be next year to walk past and say ‘we did that’…
High streets don’t decline on their own—they decline when people stop showing up.
The fragile nature of independent retailing was brought to the fore this week in a blog by Findra founder, Alex Feechan. “Use it or Lose It: Why Our High Streets Matter More Than Ever” is a punchy manifesto for sustaining a thriving and diverse high street. Why not pop down to Inners this weekend and check out what they’ve got going on.
This guide to his hometown by Tweed Valley Blogger, Stewart Wilson, is a perfectly timed accompaniment.
Innerleithen Post Office is open 9-5 Mon-Fri and 9-3 on Saturday and you can pick up fruit and veg at the same time at The Allotment (in the Neidpath Church building on Peebles Road).
COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD
If you’d like the opportunity to drum at the Beltane fancy dress parade, a 7-week samba drumming course starts at Nomad Beat on Thursday 1 May from 19:30 - 21:00. The cost is £70 for adults and £35 for 12-18 yr olds.
Peebles Retailers are looking for musicians and street performers to perform at their annual community festival on Saturday 31 May. Contact Kerrie at Perfect Fit if you’re interested in taking part.
A lampshade making class is running at Tweedsmuir Village Hall on Friday 21 March at 19:00. The cost is £10 and you can bring your own material.
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Saturday 8 March
Coffee Mornings on at Stobo - from 10:30 - 12 noon in the village hall - and at West Linton (10:00 - 12:00 in the Graham Institute).
Quercus Garden Plants, the hardy plant nursery reopens. Run by the hardy and very knowledgeable plant expert Rona, their opening hours are Weds to Sunday from 10:00 - 17:00. Just one of the many reasons to point the car towards Whitmuir this weekend.
Nearby, at the Newlands Centre, the SWI spring show takes place from 13:00 - 16:00. Displays of spring bulbs, plants, floral art and handicrafts.
Charity car wash at the Co-op car park, Innerleithen, 10:00 - 14:00, raising money for the Fire Fighters Charity and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
At the Eastgate Theatre, Chris Stout and Kris Drever
Sunday 9 March
The 10k Heart Burn Hill Run (or walk) from Corby Linn car park. Suggested donation for taking part is £5.
Tweeddale Ramblers are heading to Priesthope and the River Tweed circular.
Eastgate Members Event - Behind the Scenes with Fraser, 14:00
THIS WEEK
Tweeddale Society: Ospreys in the Scottish Borders, Tuesday 11 March at 19:30
Tweeddale u3a meet on Tuesday 11 March at 14:00 in St Joseph’s hall
PHS Parent Council on Wednesday 12 March.
Moorfoot Runners club AGM is on Wednesday 12 March at 19:15 at the Eastgate.
Also on Weds 12 March, Tweeddale Access Panel mees at 19:00 at Dovecot Court
Thursday 13 March is PHS Bands Night featuring 8 Days and others
St Ronan’s Border Games AGM on Friday 14, 19:00 at the Union Club
Demential Friendly Tweeddale family ceilidh tea dance at Cardrona Village Hall from 14:30 - 16:30 on Friday 14 March.
WEEKEND 15/16 MARCH
The Eastgate Theatre are hosting a pop-up market across the weekend 15-16 March. Running 10:00 - 16:00 each day, stalls will feature pre-loved clothes, toys, books and homeware. Donations can be handed in on Friday 14 March between 09:00 and 20:00.
Springtime Swap for kids clothing at Peebles Community Centre (Drill Hall) on Saturday 15 March, 13:00 - 16:30.
BOOKING NOW
The next meeting of Peebles Civic Society will feature the Mills of Tweeddale Project, set up two years ago. New donated materials will be on show and the meeting takes place on Tuesday 18 March at 7.30pm in the Eastgate auditorium. Tickets free but must be booked.
The Peeblesshire Youth Trust annual ball takes place on Saturday 26 April at Peebles Hydro. Ticket are £55 and are available from pytball2025@gmail.com
Fiona Henderson Dance Academy have announced an Easter Dance Camp for P1-P7 running from Monday 7 to Friday 11 April. Cost is £105.
AROUND AND ABOUT
If your idea of a good day out involves a garden visit, then Archerfield Walled Garden at Dirleton have removed their admission fees. They have lots of events running over the Easter holidays including a Bunny Trail, craft events, a space-themed family festival and an egg hunt.
BENCHES OF THE WEEK
These two benches are tucked away in a quiet place on the edge of Peebles cemetery, about half way along the north wall. This is the children’s cemetery, surrounded by a high hedge to create a semi-private area.
When we visited today it looked like the recent storms had caused some damage to vases and other mementos. We plan to do a tidy up this weekend but we won’t necessarily know where items were originally placed. If we leave these carefully to one side, perhaps other families who tend graves here can visit and return them to the right plot.
These benches are appreciated by the families who spend time here and today when we visited it was lovely to hear the chatter of Kingsland pupils heading to school above our heads and the birds singing in the trees.
For more bench content, one of our favourite writers Peter Ross has featured a lonely bench in Glasgow in his latest update.
JOB VACANCIES
NEWS ROUND-UP
It doesn’t feel like a month since they last met, but that’s the short month of February for you, so yes, Peebles Community Council meets this Thursday (13 March) in the Burgh Hall, 19:00. The meeting will include a presentation from a developer looking to build on land west of 8 Ballantyne Place in Peebles.
A new planning application has been lodged for an overhead line to connect the proposed Cloich Forest windfarm to the Currie substation.
Nomad Beat are running a survey this month on what you’d like to see on offer at the music school.
SBC are looking for views on their Sport and Physical Activity Strategy (closing date 23 March) and also on the provision of commercial and industrial property around the region (closes 28 March). If you have views on either, get them submitted!
The Scottish Government have extended Free Schools Meals eligibility to children in P6 and P7 where an award of Scottish Child Payment is in place. If your child is not already in receipt of Free School Meals under an existing criterion, and you are in receipt of a Scottish Child Payment award, you can make an application online. Thanks to Peebles CAB for sharing this. They will help you with any application for this or other benefits and you can make an appt by calling 01721 721722.
The Creative Arts Business Network have a small grants fund which is now open for bids from professional artists and practitioners who wish to develop projects, research or training. The deadline is Monday 31 March.
Thank you to everyone who nominated a charity to benefit from our March subscriber push. We spun a randomizer this evening and the winner was the Dyslexic Collective. If you can help us reach 1,000 readers, they’ll get a donation of £75 + gift aid to help them provide support and equipment for dyslexic learners in the local area.
Thanks for reading! As ever, if we’ve missed something, add it to the comments of the online article.
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