THE two-year appointment of a town centre co-ordinator in Galashiels has been hailed “a success story” – even although the £100,000 Scottish Borders Council pilot scheme, which ended in December, will not be extended or rolled out in other towns.

“The project delivered a number of key small scale infrastructure projects which have significantly improved the visual attractiveness of the town centre,” said Bryan McGrath, chief officer for economic development.

In his postscript to the initiative, Mr McGrath told last week’s meeting of SBC’s executive committee, that the pilot had involved the appointment of a coordinator ]Steve Revell who earned £34,000 a year for a 35-hour week] and the formation of a steering group to “guide activity” over the two years.

“The project sought to capitalise on the re-opening of the Borders Railway [in September, 2015]…and was shaped to address concerns over the loss of retail footprint, the resultant increases in retail vacancies and the town and the reduced footfall,” said Mr McGrath.

“The activity has helped to facilitate Energise Galashiels, the Chamber of Trade, local businesses and community groups to work together and move forward.

“This provides a stronger platform for more business development and community activity in future.”

At the meeting Councillor John Mitchell (SNP, Galashiels and District) said Mr Revell had done a “fantastic job” and committee chairman Councillor Stuart Bell (SNP, Tweeddale East) said the pilot scheme had been “a success story, particularly in bringing businesses and other groups together in a common cause”.

A further report to the committee revealed that in the summer of 2016 16 per cent of the 242 retail units in Galashiels were vacant – down from 17 per cent from the winter of 2015.