Border Telegraph | News | 'Bookies is in the best interests of Selkirk'

Tuesday, 6th January, 2009

Published: Wednesday, 12th December, 2007 12:30

'Bookies is in the best interests of Selkirk'

By Atholl Innes

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SELKIRK Community Council this week took the unprecedented step of asking Scottish Ministers to call in the decision by the Eildon Area Committee to allow a bookies shop in the Market Place.

And SBC councillor Carolyn Riddell-Carre was accused of not representing the views of the community in allowing the former Post Office to be turned into a bookmaker’s shop.

The row was sparked after Councillor Riddell-Carre had asked for councillors’ views to be brought forward earlier in the meetings.

“How long do you want us to sit here for?” she asked the meeting on Monday night in the Victoria Halls.

“I need to be away by twenty past eight,” she said.

But she had not banked on a robust attack from councillors, who felt that they had been ‘let down’ by the bookies’ decision, which will see Morrisons move from their premises in the West Port.

Secretary David Bethune said: “We would expect you to stay to the end of the meeting.”

Community councillor Ian King said Councillor Riddell-Carre was the link with the Council and should sit through the agenda.

“I can get the information from the minutes of the meeting,” she said.

When the discussion moved on the bookies’ plans, Councillor Riddell-Carre said: “The Planning Committee can take account of what you say, but we do not take directions from the Community Council.

“We do not go as your mouthpiece.”

Councillor Riddell-Carre said that she had contacted the legal department at SBC and the decision had been taken in line with the council’s code of conduct.

She had backed the plans as she felt that the building would be better in use than standing empty.

“I am not going to change my decision. I took it in the best interests of Selkirk,” she said.

“I try to work in the best interests of the town. I do not believe that a boarded-up building is any advantage whatsoever.

“There is a tremendous amount of business in Selkirk, bakers, butchers, etc and it is up to the Planning Department to say what we have.”

But fellow-SBC councillor, Vicky Davidson, said: “I think the Planning Department got it completely wrong.

“No-one in the town can believe this decision.”

Now the Council is to write to the Minister for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead, asking him to call in the application.

“We can draw attention to what is a fundamental flaw in the planning procedure (allowing bookies in conservation area),” said vice-chairman Dr Lindsay Neil.

Councillor Riddell-Carre, who previously said that she would attend only every third meeting, eventually left at 9.10 p.m., 50 minutes later than planned.

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