PLANS for a new late-night entertainment venue in Galashiels have been unveiled.

Edinburgh-based company, Kaimes Hospitality, want to open the former Move nightclub in Overhaugh Street.

The two-storey building has been closed for around 18 months. But an application to create a new seven-days-a-week venue has been tabled with Scottish Borders Council’s licensing board.

Partners Iain Macintosh and Laith Alkhamis state that they want to create a venue for live music, DJs, family entertainment and functions in the vacant building.

The plans have met with opposition from Borders police and the local authority’s licensing officer, Ian Tunnah.

Mr Tunnah said: “The application is made to licence the ground and first floor of the premises - previously the ground floor was licensed with the first floor unlicensed and used as a storage area. The intention appears to be to provide various types of entertainment in the different areas of the premises.

“While I understand the necessity for licensees to maximise the use of premises, my opinion is that to operate a nightclub venue with mutiple uses, including children and young persons access as applied for, carries an undoubted risk of exposing children and young persons to unnecessary danger.” In a full operating plan for the Overhaugh Street premises, which was submitted with the application, the capital-based company state that they hope to host DJs and live music as well as comedy events, fashions shows, student events, sporting events, segregated hen and stag parties, and supervised events for young people.

Kaimes Hospitality have applied for opening from 1pm to midnight on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

And for the remaining four days they are looking to open from 1pm to 3am.

Chief Inspector Andrew Clark from Police Scotland stated: “Scottish Borders Licensing Board policy states that the board will grant any applications for times after 2am only in exceptional circumstances. The Chief Constable submits that there are no exceptional circumstances in this application.” Scottish Borders Licensing Board will meet on Friday to discuss the Kaimes Hospitality application.