Mystery merchants to move in to Baxters Selkirk

The town gateway site at Dunsdale Haugh has been empty since the start of the year.

And fears were growing for the future of the entire retail park after a neighbouring unit also closed.

It remains unclear which company is planning to develop the Baxters site - but local councillor Vicky Davidson has given the move a cautious welcome.

She told the Border Telegraph: “It will be a shame to lose what Baxters offered as well the visitors centre but the fact that the building will be brought back into use has to be welcomed.

“This is a very important site as it is the first building people see when they are coming into Selkirk from the north.” The detailed plans for the site will see the car park reduced from 44 spaces to 17 to allow for the development of an outdoor storage compound.

The company, which is described as an agricultural merchants and country store, also wants to erect new fencing, introduce a fresh landscaping scheme and carry out internal alterations to the former restaurant and visitors centre.

Fellow Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar said: “Having someone going into the building is certainly good news.

“It is not good for Selkirk to have that building left empty.” Baxters closed at the start of the year with the loss of 23 full-and part-time jobs.

The restaurant and specialist food retailer, which had been in Selkirk since 2008, blamed the closure of a storage depot in Perthshire as the reason behind its withdrawal.

The town was hit with a further blow in the summer when it was announced that the Co-op’s neighbouring furniture and white-goods outlet was also closing.

The NGT store finally pulled down the shutters last month with 16 jobs being lost.

Selkirk already has three country and agricultural supply stores - Carrs Billington, Game and Country, and Roxan International - all based in the Dunsdale Road area.

Councillor Davidson added: “We don’t know yet if this is a company which is already in the town and just wanting to relocate or a company moving into the area and creating jobs.” Scottish Borders Council confirmed that it has yet to receive any planning enquiries regarding the neighbouring Co-op building.

The town gateway site at Dunsdale Haugh has been empty since the start of the year.

And fears were growing for the future of the entire retail park after a neighbouring unit also closed.

It remains unclear which company is planning to develop the Baxters site - but local councillor Vicky Davidson has given the move a cautious welcome.

She told the Border Telegraph: “It will be a shame to lose what Baxters offered as well the visitors centre but the fact that the building will be brought back into use has to be welcomed.

“This is a very important site as it is the first building people see when they are coming into Selkirk from the north.” The detailed plans for the site will see the car park reduced from 44 spaces to 17 to allow for the development of an outdoor storage compound.

The company, which is described as an agricultural merchants and country store, also wants to erect new fencing, introduce a fresh landscaping scheme and carry out internal alterations to the former restaurant and visitors centre.

Fellow Selkirkshire councillor Gordon Edgar said: “Having someone going into the building is certainly good news.

“It is not good for Selkirk to have that building left empty.” Baxters closed at the start of the year with the loss of 23 full-and part-time jobs.

The restaurant and specialist food retailer, which had been in Selkirk since 2008, blamed the closure of a storage depot in Perthshire as the reason behind its withdrawal.

The town was hit with a further blow in the summer when it was announced that the Co-op’s neighbouring furniture and white-goods outlet was also closing.

The NGT store finally pulled down the shutters last month with 16 jobs being lost.

Selkirk already has three country and agricultural supply stores - Carrs Billington, Game and Country, and Roxan International - all based in the Dunsdale Road area.

Councillor Davidson added: “We don’t know yet if this is a company which is already in the town and just wanting to relocate or a company moving into the area and creating jobs.” Scottish Borders Council confirmed that it has yet to receive any planning enquiries regarding the neighbouring Co-op building.