A GALASHIELS town centre co-ordinator has been appointed and will begin work on December 1.

The two-year post – on an annual salary of up to £34,000 and based at Newtown – is being underwritten by Scottish Borders Council in a bid to revitalise the urban landscape to take full advantage of the return of the Borders Railway next September.

Although the identity of the successful candidate is being kept under wraps, one of his or her first duties will be to meet with the new community-led task force – Gala2020 – which held its first 'leaders’ meeting’ on Saturday.

“We’ve set up a number of groups with around 40 different individuals involved, to deal with specific areas where we believe urgent action is required,” said local councillor and Gala2020 chairman Bill White at last week’s meeting of SBC’s economic development group (EDG).

“By the time the co-ordinator starts work, we will have group leaders in place to deal with specific areas of interest where action is required, including the staging of events, filling empty shops and using new technology for promotion and marketing.

“Already, we have made significant progress in talks with the landlords of some of the many empty properties which are causing so much concern.” Councillor White said he had been made aware that a number of graduates from the town’s Heriot-Watt University had been looking to set up businesses in the Borders but had been unable to find private sector premises which were either too big or too expensive.

He thus supported moves by the EDG to explore ways of creating business space, outwith the retail sector, in the region’s town centres.

“Addressing the stagnation in our town centres, especially but not exclusively in our main settlements of Galashiels and Hawick, is perhaps the toughest challenge we face,” said Councillor Michelle Ballantyne.

Highlighting the impact of online shopping and the competitive pressure of major supermarkets, she added: “Life has changed, the retail footfall has gone and we cannot go back.” Earlier, the EDG heard a positive report on economic activity in the Borders over the last six months.

Bryan McGrath SBC’s chief officer for economic development, revealed that the council’s Business Gateway team had assisted 115 new business start-ups over that period, eight of which had the “potential for high growth”.

In addition, the council had received 102 property enquiries and had arranged 21 new commercial leases.

He also acknowledged the success of a small business centre in Kelso’s Horsemarket which officially opened last month thanks to funding from the EU, the council and the national lottery.

Mr McGrath confirmed there was currently a lack of such units outwith the Riverside Business Centre in Selkirk and Cavalry Park in Peebles but agreed to look at property availability in towns with a view to expanding provision.

“The idea of incubation business units in town centres has been tried elsewhere and been successful,” said Gordon Henderson, representing the Federation of Small Businesses. “People think retail is the key to vibrant town centres, but that’s no longer the case,” he added.