A LOCAL councillor has suggested that Hawick High Street be pedestrianised.

Speaking at a meeting of Scottish Borders Council’s executive committee, councillor Tom Weatherston put forward the suggestion during a presentation on the Hawick Action Plan.

Mr Weatherston, who represents Kelso and District, said: “We’ve heard how shops have suffered because folk can’t park at the shops.

“I was on my travels again a few weeks ago, at various places, the busiest places I visited were those with no cars on the streets, and no streets, just pedestrian areas and shops.

“We need to get more cars off the High Street and open up the High Street for pedestrians. If that was a huge pedestrian area, I’m sure it would bring folk into the High Street, and shop in the shops, and only allow vehicles for public transport like taxis. It certainly works elsewhere.

“The walking part of the street, to me, attracts folk in, because they don’t have the risk of getting run over.”

Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for business and economic development, councillor Mark Rowley, concluded: “That’s very probably something that the Hawick working group might want to look at.”  

A spokesperson for Scottish Borders Council confirmed that no viability surveys into pedestrianising Hawick town centre had been carried out recently.