SCOTTISH Borders Council's emergency funds will be used to pay for display cabinets at the Great Tapestry of Scotland Centre – after the price of the units exceeded officers' estimates.

The issue will be discussed at the council's executive committee meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, January 19).

Members of the committee will be asked to approve plans to use £316,000 from the 2020/21 Emergency & Unplanned Schemes fund to complete the Galashiels site – which, according to the council, is now “not expected” to be completed in time for the target of a spring opening.

According to a report issued ahead of tomorrow’s meeting, “an estimate allowance of £250k was made to cover the final design, fabrication and installation of the cases that will display the tapestry”.

However, the actual figure of £316,000 has now “unfortunately” exceeded the budget set when the contract was initially awarded.

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Mark Rowley, SBC's executive member for economic regeneration and finance, said: “The need to approve funding for specialist display cases is something we knew would be coming as the project reached its latter stages.

"It is essential to ensure we can showcase the Great Tapestry of Scotland in all its glory.

“With the Borders Railway on its doorstep, we have the prospect of the tapestry drawing thousands of visitors in from Edinburgh and beyond to discover Galashiels and the wider Borders, and we have to make sure this centrepiece attraction is presented as well as it can be to maximise the visitor experience.

“We have to think about life after COVID-19 and we have an opportunity to put the Great Tapestry of Scotland Visitor Centre at the heart of economic regeneration in the Borders.

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“The day we open its doors for the first time will be a strong symbol of regeneration for Borders-wide tourism from the ravages that COVID-19 have had on such a key industry for our region.”

In justifying the extra cost, the council report states that the display cabinets for the 143-metre-long tapestry are “arguably the single most important element of the overall construction project”.

The cases "will ensure the true interpretation of the story of Scotland to be seen", according to a council spokesperson, who added: "The orientation, positioning, lighting and audio visual components of the display cases have all been carefully designed to maximise the impact and power of the tapestry."

The cabinets are being made in Scotland using lightweight steel and timber, according to the spokesperson, with the cost finalised "only recently".

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Galashiels councillor Euan Jardine said: “The funding for display cabinets is something that will rightly be scrutinised and debated at the executive committee meeting and as a local councillor I'll be asking questions to ensure this is the best way of covering this expense, and that it will add value to the overall project.

“I still believe that the tapestry will be a great success and help bring Galashiels into the national and international spotlight.

"There are already several tapestry aligned projects that have helped with the town landscaping and I hope the increased footfall will help to encourage more retailers into the town and help those businesses that already exist.”

Fellow Galashiels councillor Sandy Aitchison said: “It is important that when this building does open we exhibit this display in the best way we can.

“This means high quality display. This extra money will be well spent to ensure the tapestry is displayed to the best effect for many years to come.

“The experience of visitors must be awe-inspiring to fit the beauty of the building itself.”

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Meanwhile, according to the council, the planned spring opening time is “not expected” to be met, despite the build “nearing the final phase of construction”. The project is on track to come in within its budget of £6.7m, the council says.

Galashiels councillor Andy Anderson said: “With a further lockdown now we have to accept there will be a delay in opening. After all, [there is] no point in opening if visitors will not be allowed. I look forward to a firm date being announced.”

Harry Scott, another Galashiels councillor, said the delay was “disappointing but not unexpected” considering the social distancing guidelines currently in place during the coronavirus pandemic.

The council says the venue will “attract over 50,000 visitors to Galashiels each year” – creating 16 jobs and almost £900,000 of extra spending per annum.