SCOTTISH Borders Council’s convener is urging a local authority U-turn on a controversial decision to close day services for the elderly.

Back in 2019 services based at centres in Peebles, Hawick, Kelso, Jedburgh, Galashiels and Eyemouth were withdrawn.

But the council failed to properly consider the needs of its members when it closed Teviot Day Service, based in Hawick’s Katharine Elliot Centre, a judge ruled in September.

Lady Carmichael said the council did not contemplate the impact the closure would have and ruled the action ‘unlawful’, while ordering it to reconsider its decision.

A report which was presented to full council yesterday (Thursday), as this newspaper went to press, recommended members to “agree that a new process of consultation on the design and delivery of services”.

Council convenor Watson McAteer, who represents Hawick as an independent councillor, is supporting the reopening of Teviot Day Service, and, if needed, the other services which closed three years ago.

He said: “I’m encouraged with the report which has been brought forward and I am 100 per cent behind the reopening of the service at the Katharine Elliot Day Centre as soon as possible and I’m hoping the council will be responsive and we can ultimately see day care services resumed as soon as possible.

“It’s been a big miss and it is essential for the town and I think the direction of travel is for that to happen and I will be encouraging it to happen.

“The reality is that the council needs to look at day care across the Borders, so there will be other areas that require day care services and they also need to be considered for that.

“In my view it is an essential service that is vital for respite care in particular and other Borders towns should be supported if such a service is required.”

A spokesperson for Scottish Borders Council said: “The council is acting to respond to the court of session judgement with regards to Teviot Day Service as quickly as possible.

“The report that will be considered by the council this week makes it clear we are undertaking a consultation on the future of the centre in direct response to the judgement of Lady Carmichael, taking a proper, considered approach to the complex issues of day service provision.”