SIR, I assume Scottish Borders Council are very proud of their achievements within Galashiels.

We are so lucky to have two 24 hour supermarkets, and right next to each other, so convenient! So convenient that the heart of Galashiels has been ripped out. Channel Street would be Mecca for collectors of For Let/May Sell signs. Bank Street is not far behind. All roads lead to Tesco or Asda - no escape!

Driving from the north into Galashiels along the A7, what a sight greets visitors to the town as they sweep round the bend past Plumtreehall Brae - hundreds of wheelie bins lining the pavements along with various items that do not fall into general or recycling categories - broken TVs, vacuum cleaners, mattresses etc. Of course we do have to thank SBC for removing the garden waste bins, much less of an eyesore and people wouldn’t dream of dumping garden refuse wherever they can. No matter, we will eventually have a railway and nobody will be using the A7 so the filth that accumulates along Magdala Terrace and High Buckholmside will not be visible to the tourists that will be flocking to Galashiels (but only collectors of For Let/May Sell signs). Even Visit Scotland can only muster eleven lines about the town, special mention goes to the Border Reiver statue and Old Gala House.

Finally, the railway itself, who on earth considered that mile upon mile of silver galvanised fencing was appropriate? This fencing runs almost continuously through the town and is an absolute blot on the landscape. Countryside - green? Well you would have thought so!

Thank you so much Scottish Borders Council.

I am, etc.

Sherry M Fowler Magdala Terrace Galashiels