DESPITE the famous age-old rivalry between Gala and Hawick, the ‘Galaleans’ and the ‘Teries’ do have some things in common.

They share the title of the two largest towns in the Borders and a recent report looked at the similar challenges facing the retail sectors in each.

Both Galashiels and Hawick have seen more empty shop windows than new stores appear on their High Streets in the last decade. 

And the focus is now on turning this around and regenerating the local economy.

The report looked at various aspects including footfall figures, retail vacancies and gaps in the market and its findings have been presented to Scottish Borders Council and a number of community groups.

The local authority said its recommendations would be “carefully considered” before any action is taken.

SBC’s Executive Member for Economic Development Councillor Stuart Bell said: “This piece of work is an important step in tackling the challenges faced in both Galashiels and Hawick in terms of retailing, but we now need to go away and consider the recommendations and come back with an informed plan on where we go from here.

“It is important that community and business groups in both Galashiels and Hawick are engaged with the work that will result from this report, and as such it was vital to make them aware of the findings as early as possible.

“Change will not take place overnight, and we still have to take into account the wider economy across the Scottish Borders and nationally which has, and continues to, impact on retailing in our towns.

“However, I am hopeful that following this report, and in conjunction with our ongoing efforts in Hawick and Galashiels, including work with partners such as Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government on the Hawick Action Plan, we can make progress in both towns, which are clearly vital to our local economy.”

SBC will now consider the recommendations made by consultants and decide how to take them forward.

The report presents a number of key findings about the retail sector in the Borders as a whole.

It found that the region’s towns are shifting from ‘traditional’ shopping offering (shoes and clothing for instance) to more convenience and leisure. 

Also, retail premises are becoming more locally owned as major financial institutions disinvest and this localisation of ownership is bringing challenges in managing town centres.

Leases tend to be for much shorter periods leading to higher turnover of tenants and all High Streets are seeing more change these days compared to the past.

It also stated that towns in the Borders are “not particularly well understood by UK level decision-makers in the retail sector” and suggested a prospectus should be drawn up for Hawick and Galashiels, identifying what the towns have to offer. 

This would allow the towns to target operators “with a clear message around local trading conditions.”

Consultants said that growth was coming from local retailers and added that current vacancies could provide an opportunity for them to “improve their trading location.”

In Hawick it suggested a footfall generating “anchor” such as a major commercial outlet in the town centre might provide a boost.

It also said that the public sector should consider regeneration efforts in Galashiels on Stirling Street and the west end of Channel Street.