A VOLUNTEER who helped Langlee sign up to Scottish Borders Council’s Resilient Communities scheme is urging other towns in the region to join the initiative.

Retired civil servant Mike Lomas has been assisting SBC with introducing the scheme, which aims to enable his fellow volunteers in communities to be organised and respond to emergency situations such as severe weather, fire, power failure and other major incidents.

His work has supported Langlee in Galashiels to become the first community in any of the Borders’ six largest towns to join Resilient Communities.

Volunteers in Langlee have been given basic manual equipment by SBC, while a local emergency plan and first aid training will be provided. It means the scheme will be fully operational for next winter.

Mr Lomas, from Kelso, which has yet to join the scheme, said: “There has previously been an issue around how Resilient Communities would work in large towns, so we have decided to try to target areas within towns to make it more practical.

“Langlee is also the 30th out of 69 communities in the Borders to take part in the scheme and we expect that number will increase through this year.

“I am enjoying helping the Council with the scheme, and believe it is important for communities to get involved in order to help their vulnerable and elderly people.” Kevin Sewell, the Council’s Assistant Emergency Planning Officer, added: “Mike’s work has been invaluable and we hope Langlee is the first of many urban areas to start helping themselves by becoming a Resilient Community.

“Any community which joins the initiative will get assistance from the Council to draw up plans so the local resilience group can respond in an organised manner in an emergency. They will also be given basic manual equipment, appropriate insurance cover and first aid training.

“A Resilient Community can then assist with local issues such as clearing snow, putting sandbags and floodgates out in areas at risk of flooding or deliveries supplies to people most at need.” New housing developments at Coopersknowe and Melrose Gait in Galashiels are also included in the area covered by Langlee’s Resilient Community plan.

Judith Cleghorn, who is co-ordinator for the Langlee Resilient Community, said: “I am pleased that Langlee has been given this chance to join the Resilient Communities scheme and delighted that we already have a group of volunteers who are prepared to give their time freely to help our community.

“I am grateful to Kevin Sewell and Mike Lomas for all their help, and I look forward to our group being ready for an emergency.”