THE roof of the Walkerburn Public Hall will be saved, thanks to members of the public.

The Localities Bid Fund, created by Scottish Borders Council, saw more than £300,000 split between 40 different community projects across the region.

Borderers voted either online or through paper ballots for projects in one of five localities: Tweeddale, Berwickshire, Cheviot, Eildon and Teviot and Liddesdale.

And in Tweeddale, the campaign to fix the roof of Walkerburn Public Hall topped the polls, with 429 people supporting the cause.

As a result, £13,500 will now be invested in restoring it, allowing the hall to continue housing various groups and classes.

The various activities that take place in the hall every week include a youth club, yoga classes and table tennis sessions.

The hall is home to a number of groups and organisations, and plays host to the village show, coffee mornings and community council meetings throughout the year.

Walkerburn Public Hall’s management committee secretary, Win Pennel, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the outcome of the Locality Bid Fund.

“To come out on top in the Tweeddale District was amazing.

“Thanks to everyone who voted for the hall – our roof will now be saved and our 28 user groups will continue to have a base.”

Other projects awarded funds in the Tweeddale area included St Ronans Youth and Community Centre (£8,422), Eastgate Theatre (£3,507), St Ronans Bowling Club (£4,577) and Innerleithen and District Community Council (£4,315).

Councillor Sandy Aitchison, executive member for neighbourhoods and locality services, said the projects would make a significant difference in towns and villages across the Scottish Borders in years to come.

He said: “I am in no doubt that wherever we go from here, Localities Bid Fund has been an important step in communities making decisions about local projects being funded.”