SCOTTISH Borders Council will do all it can to revitalise the shopping streets in our town centres.

That commitment has come this week from Councillor Stuart Bell, executive member for economic development.

He was commenting after the council unanimously endorsed new and less proscriptive planning policies and before last week's open meeting in the Volunteer Hall to discuss how Galashiels, with 36 empty shops, can shape up before the railway’s return next September.

That meeting, chaired and organised by Galashiels councillor Bill White, was due to seek a co-ordinated way forward in filling vacant properties and holistically maximising the town’s potential as a visitor attraction.

Councillor Bell was talking to the Border Telegraph after the council supported new economic development (ED) policies in its Local Development Plan (LDP) which now awaits ratification from a Scottish Government Reporter.

He said that, driven by increased online retailing and pressure from out of town centre shopping developments, average footfall in Borders town centres had fallen by 23% in the last six years.

The smallest loss in footfall had occurred in Melrose (4%) and Jedburgh (8%) whereas the trend had been felt most acutely in Selkirk (down by 34%) and Hawick (down 36%).

He said that an average of 11% of shop premises were currently vacant in town centres across the region – less than the 14% Scottish average, but still, in his view, too high.

“It is incumbent on SBC to do all it can to revitalise the shopping streets in our town centres…and these policy changes will help.” Mr Bell believes the new policy, known as ED4, is the most “significant improvement” in the new LDP.

“Previously we have been focused on the protection of prime retail frontages in our town centres, but this new policy is focused on the encouragement of public activity in our core areas,” said Mr Bell.

“The effect is to broaden the categories of business which will be acceptable in our main streets to encourage more public use in town centre locations.” Mr Bell said the second key policy (ED3) was a direct response to the recommendations of last year’s Scotland- wide review of town centres, led by architect Malcolm Fraser.

“In essence, this proposes that town centre locations for shopping developments should be preferred to out-of-centre locations. This town centre first emphasis is in line with the findings of the Fraser enquiry and I am pleased our council planners have refused to amend it, despite pressure for modification from some larger retailers.” Finally, Mr Bell commended policy ED5 which outlines “specific town centre regeneration priorities”.

“Taken together, these policies will help reverse the decline in our town centres,” said Mr Bell.

The Border Telegraph was due to be represented at last night’s open meeting and a full report will follow next week.