COMMUNITY groups in Galashiels are set to be more involved in the development of the Great Tapestry of Scotland centre, a meeting has heard.

The town will be the home of the 143metre-long tapestry, which the council announced earlier this year is nearing the final phase of construction.

The tapestry was discussed at last week's meeting of Galashiels Community Council.

During the meeting, independent councillor Sandy Aitchison said that John Curry, the council’s service director for assets and infrastructure, was now the leader of the tapestry project following Rob Dickson’s departure.

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Mr Aitchsion said that he, along with fellow Galashiels councillor Harry Scott, had made a “very strong point” to Mr Curry to get the community council and other voluntary bodies involved in the process.

He added: “We should, at long last, be including people like the community council, Gala in Bloom, the MacArts Centre and other groups who will be intimately involved in making the tapestry a success.”

Mr Scott, also independent, said that the community involvement had the support of Mid Berwickshire councillor Mark Rowley, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for finance.

“There’s been a change of hierarchy at the council and I think they will be more responsive to requests,” said Mr Scott. “Mark Rowley was actually quite disappointed that the community groups hadn’t been involved in the process so hopefully that’ll change.”