IT is expected that a new long-term lease for Ladhope Golf Course will be rubber-stamped today (Thursday).

Galashiels Golf Club want to raise around £100,000 to develop a new practice area.

But they have to secure a lease of at least 25 years to progress with funding applications.

Members of Galashiels Common Good will be told at their meeting tomorrow that the new agreement will secure the long-term future of the club.

James Morison, estates manager at Scottish Borders Council, said: “The golf club have a proposal to install a practice area and some other improvements which would cost £10,000.

“The funding for this would come from grants, including the lottery.

“In order to raise the grant funding a new lease is required which gives security as tenure to the golf club.” The Ladhope Estate and golf course were gifted to Galashiels Town Council in 1945 by Hugh Roberts.

A lease to Galashiels Golf Club, granted in 1992 by Ettrick and Lauderdale District Council, ran out last year.

The proposed new lease would be for a reduced area of 61 acres due to the course being shortened from 18 holes to nine.

Talks are continuing with the Borders Forest Trust for the lease of the former 'back nine holes’, which stretches to 38 acres.

Galashiels Common Good Committee will meet tomorrow afternoon at Newtown St Boswells.