THE ruling administration of Scottish Borders Council closed ranks last week to give the green light for a purpose-built visitor centre near Tweedbank’s new rail terminus to be the permanent home of the Great Tapestry of Scotland.

After an hour-long debate on Thursday, the council voted 21-10 to borrow £3.5m over the next two years as its share of the £6m total construction costs including the provision of extra car and coach parking.

Councillors were told the capital balance will be met by the Scottish Government as part of its commitment to maximise the economic impact of the Borders Railway.

Eight of the nine-strong Conservative opposition group – with the exception of Kelso’s Tom Weatherston – voted for no action, along with Hawick Independent backbenchers Watson McAteer and Stuart Marshall.

These dissenters believed a council which must cut £20m in revenue spending over the next five years could not justify annual loan and interest repayments of £208,000 over 30 years.

But the administration held firm and the new centre will be up and running by 2016/17, with Galashiels councillor Sandy Aitchison describing the project as “a once in a lifetime opportunity”.

Indeed all seven councillors representing Galashiels and the ward of Melrose and Leaderdale, which includes Tweedbank, backed the project.

The two-storey circular building, including a café and workshop areas, will be leased at no cost to a new trust which will employ 17 staff.

The 160-panel tapestry, which charts the history of Scotland and was embroidered by 1,000 volunteers, will be set out in a radial pattern on the first floor.

Councillors heard that the current trustees of the art work had made it clear it was “Tweedbank or nothing” if the tapestry was to be sited in the Borders.

Consultants’ reports, which have already cost SBC £48,000 to commission, predicted that, at £10 a head admission, the centre would attract 47,000 visitors a year after its third year of operation, giving an annual surplus to the operating trust of £22,000 on an estimated £688,000 turnover.

Although SBC’s corporate services director Rob Dickson said he was unaware of any “rival bids”, leader Councillor David Parker claimed other communities, including Perth, Alloa and Linlighgow “wanted the tapestry”.

And Mr Parker revealed the project had the support of Lord Sanderson, chair of the trust which runs Abbotsford House, a mile away from the Tweedbank site.

Councillor Stuart Bell (SNP), executive member for economic development, felt the centre would be an attraction of “national and international significance” and said the projections contained in the business case were “compelling and realistic.” David Page, the architect who designed the building, claimed the tapestry bore comparison to similar international visitor attractions, including the 11th century Bayeux Tapestry and the Overlord (D-Day) Embroidery in Portsmouth.

But Tory group leader Michelle Ballantyne was unimpressed, asserting that although she believed Tweedbank to be an “illogical site”, she was more concerned about the council’s spending priorities.

“For the last few years, this council has had to make significant savings, reducing some services and completely removing others,” said Councillor Ballantyne.

“In those circumstances, the business plan does not give me sufficient comfort to possibly justify taking £208,000 a year out of the likes education, roads and social work for 30 years.”