SCOTTISH Borders Council (SBC) has lodged official plans to demolish a former pub which is in a state of deterioration.

The old Cross Keys Inn building, on Market Place, Selkirk, was previously purchased by the council to prevent “undesirable development” in a prominent town centre location.

In February last year, the Border Telegraph revealed that SBC was intending to demolish the pub – but Selkirk councillor Caroline Cochrane told a community council meeting the following month that there was no money to fund the work.

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However, official plans have now been submitted for the demolition of the once-popular establishment.

On the proposed demolition, a council spokesperson said: “The building fabric of the Cross Keys Inn has deteriorated to an extent that has required monitoring by structural engineers.

“This monitoring has continued as the condition deteriorated further. It has now been concluded that the most appropriate course of action is to demolish the building before further deterioration makes the building unsafe.

“The capital investment that would be required to repair and restore this building to a habitable condition due to the structural condition of the building prevents this from being a viable option.”

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According to council papers, the total project cost for works needed to save the building would be approximately £459,000.

A number of options for the development of the site have been investigated over recent years, says the SBC spokesperson.

The expansion of Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom is one of the options. However none of the potential outcomes have progressed “to date”.

The spokesperson added: “The council is mindful of the adverse impact on the centre of Selkirk and the appearance of the conservation area following the removal of this building.

“To avoid the possibility of leaving an undesirable gap site for an undefined period of time it is proposed to create an extension of the urban realm / streetscape works that have been completed recently.

“This ‘meanwhile’ space can be used as an extension to the Market Place for additional community activities including the markets and the Common Riding.”