In this week’s Peeblean Midweek we feature an in-depth interview with Calum Kerr MSP on his reflections from the campaign, his priorities going into Holyrood, the learning he gained from canvassing and how it all works within an MSP’s office.
TOWN CHAT
I feel a natural affinity to a lot of the LibDems and I think if they are outcome oriented we should see what we can do together. Calum Kerr MSP
🧱 If you have an interest in the high school demolition and the final stage of the project - the landscaping of the cleared site, the project team are hosting an update session on Friday 29 May. This is a drop-in information event with displays and an opportunity to ask questions from 1.30pm to 3.30pm in the reception area of Peebles High School
🫱🏻🫲🏻 Community leaders, organisations and interested individuals convene in Peebles for a Tackling Poverty conference on Thursday. The half day event will hear from Peeblesshire Foodbank, the Poverty Alliance and will feature lived experience stories from the local area. Discussion sessions will explore what is working well, where the gaps are and what collective action could achieve.
At 1pm on Thursday, Windfall or Shortfall is a public information session with Michael Marshall of Peebles Community Council on the new wind farm benefit fund for Peebles and Eddleston and the process of applying.
💷 Having told you last week that the controversial house plot at 8 Ballantyne Place had sold at auction, it turns out that the £44,000 bid wasn’t acceptable to the seller. So it is back at auction this Thursday 21 May with a lower starting bid (£35k instead of £40k), but presumably a higher-than-£44k reserve price.
We contacted Future Property Auctions to ask why they were using a marketing image that showed a two-house plan, when planning is only approved for one residence. Despite promising to respond, they haven’t so far.
The Peeblean interviews Calum Kerr MSP
Last Friday morning we met Calum Kerr in the Park Hotel in Peebles for a catch-up on his first week in the job and initial priorities.
WEEK AHEAD
Wednesday 20 May
Eddleston Village Hall AGM, 7pm in the village hall
Film screening: Glenrothan at the Eastgate Theatre at 1pm and 7.30pm
Peeblesshire (Primary) Schools County Sports, Whitestone Park, 6pm.
Peebles Civic Society talk ‘Town and Country Planning in the Scottish Borders’ by Douglas Hope, 7.30pm at the Eastgate Theatre Studio
Peebles Camera Club, AGM and Prize Giving, Drill Hall, 7.30pm
Thursday 21 May
The Coffee Clubs session in Walkerburn, 10am - 12 noon.
Tae Sup Wi’ a Fifer, Eastgate Theatre, 7.30pm
Friday 22 May
Young Plant Share and Picnic at the Greener Peebles Community Garden, 10am - 12 noon.
Willow Plant Support workshop, Walkerburn Village Hall, 1-4pm.
Lesley Johnson Art Exhibition opening, Silver Tree Studio 7-9pm
The Bacchae (with Q&A), Eastgate Theatre, 7.30pm
The New Neidpath Inn Quiz Night, 8.30pm. Teams of up to 6, £1 entry.
Saturday 23 May
Innerleithen Civic Association Plant Sale & Coffee Morning, Memorial Hall, 8am - 12 noon.
Eddleston Horti & Leadburn Community Woodland Plant Sale & Coffee Morning, 10am - 12 noon in Eddleston Village Hall.
Car Boot Sale at St Joseph’s for Chest Heart and Stroke, 10am - 2pm.
Traquair Medieval Fayre, 10am - 5pm.
50 Years of Peebles Orchestra exhibition, 10am - 4pm in the Eastgate Theatre Studio.
Peebles Orchestra Golden Jubilee Concert, Burgh Hall, 7.30pm - featuring Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, Brahms’ Violin Concerto and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1.
Peebles Singers ‘Mostly Celtic’ charity concert at Peebles Old Parish Church, 7.30pm
A Peebles HS reunion at Peebles Rugby Club for pupils born between 1967-69.
Sunday 24 May
Traquair Medieval Fayre, 10am - 5pm.
West Linton Fire Station Open Day, 10am - 1pm
Rugby taster session for next year’s P1s, 10 - 10.45am in Haylodge Park.
BBQ and Market at Whitmuir, 1pm - 5pm.
Peebles JAC Hockey Tournament, Peebles High School, 2pm
Peebles Acoustic Sessions, 3.30pm, Cross Keys Hotel
Peebles Concert Band spring concert, Eastgate Theatre, 7pm
