GALASHIELS more than doubles the regional average for alcohol related hospital stays and has topped a depressing league table charting the adverse impacts of alcohol consumption on crime and public health.

The highest number of alcohol related hospital stays - 1,490 per 100,000 of the population – came from Galashiels West, closely followed by Galashiels North (1,449) with Langlee in fourth place (1,240).

This compares to a Scottish average of 704 and a Borders average of just 566.

This from the Alcohol Profile report for 2014/15, commissioned by the multi-agency Scottish Borders Local Licensing Forum, which considers and compares data from 29 zones across the Borders, each with a population of between 2,500 and 6,000 and each considered to represent a distinct community.

The fourth Galashiels zone – Galashiels South – although 10th in the table with 739 hospital stays, was still above the Scottish average.

The report does not give a zonal breakdown of the 864 alcohol-related attendances (nearly three per day) at the emergency department of the BGH last year, but its narrative states that the highest rates – more than double the regional average - came from residents of Galashiels North, Galashiels West and Langlee.

The report also reveals that the four Galashiels zones occupied the first five places in a regional tally of alcohol-related antisocial behaviour incidents – from fighting and assaults to breach of the peace and littering – reported to the police in 2014/15.

The highest – 75.5 per 1,000 of the population – occurred in Galashiels West followed by 72.7 in Galashiels North with Hawick Central third with 56.9. Galashiels South and Langlee occupied fourth and fifth places in the ASB listings with 47.5 and 40.5 respectively against a Borders-wide average of just 19.5.

After the report was noted at Friday’s meeting of Scottish Borders Licensing Board, councillors were given a candid eyewitness account of the level of nuisance experienced by residents of High Street in the Galashiels North zone.

It came from Jeanna Hutcheson whose third floor flat is next door to Buddies, the recently-opened American style pub/diner at number 95 (formerly Nachos Fiesta).

“Our house stands squarely within a close triangle of three events venues [Reivers, Hunters Hall and Buddies],” wrote Mrs Hutcheson in a letter to the board.

“Consequently we find ourselves in a ring of noise that comes not only from these near neighbours, but also, well into the small hours, from clientele attending live events in two establishments on the corner of High Street and Bridge Place [The Golden Lion and the Bridge Inn].

“Bands performing there and at Reivers are clearly audible in all our bedrooms. 

“We currently endure glasses and bottles laid down beside our front doors; we endure, very early in the morning, the noise of broken glass being swept away by motorisised street-cleaning vehicles with engines and brushes loud enough to waken sleepers.

“We endure touring coaches decanting, for example, football teams into local bars and parking up with their engines idling for long periods. We endure the voices of the inebriated shouting from one side of the street to the other or on mobile phones when summoning taxis.

“We endure the unwelcome sound of revellers becoming ill when too much drink has been consumed and we endure a street being made disgustingly unclean by the results.”

Mrs Hutcheson made her comments in a letter of objection to a bid by Buddies to amend the existing operating plan of Nachos Fiesta to include “outdoor” activities.

As it turned out, Buddies licensee Cindy Davey informed the board this request had been withdrawn.

The board duly granted the licence and allowed the new business to open an hour earlier – at 11am – on Sundays.