Headlines for April 2009

• Payment of business rates – support available - Thursday, Apr 30 2009
  Business owners in the Borders are being urged to take advantage of a help scheme, operated locally by Scottish Borders Council (SBC), which could drastically reduce the rates they pay.
• HM Inspection - Stirches Primary School - Wednesday, Apr 22 2009
  An inspection of Stirches Primary School took place in February 2009. The inspection covered key aspects of the quality of education at the school and how young people benefit from learning there.
• New Community Safety Unit aims to make Borders the safest place in Scotland - Tuesday, Apr 21 2009
  A new Community Safety Unit for the Borders and a new Wardens Service, including environmental, community and dog wardens, have been approved by Scottish Borders Council’s (SBC) Executive Committee.
• Jedburgh ‘Taste of the Tattoo’ tickets released - Friday, Apr 17 2009
  Tickets for the ‘Taste of the Tattoo’ in Jedburgh are now available through Border Events. The event takes place on Thursday 27 August from 12.30-1.30pm at Jed-forest Rugby Club.
• Peebles Pubwatch issues its first ban - Friday, Apr 17 2009
  At the most recent Peebles Pubwatch meeting, the group agreed on its first ban.
• Alasdair gets a standing ovation on Broadway - Friday, Apr 17 2009
  A standing ovation on New York’s Broadway is any performer’s dream and that is exactly what Scottish Borders Council Convener Alasdair Hutton got, along with the cast of a hugely successful Scottish show there, during Scotland Week.
• Grants available to help improve private water supplies - Monday, Apr 13 2009
  Since the introduction of The Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations of 2006, Scottish Borders Council has been assessing private water supplies throughout the region.
• Step back to the fabulous fifties in Jedburgh - Thursday, Apr 9 2009
  Locals and visitors to the Scottish Borders are being encouraged to take a step back in time to the fabulous 1950s and visit the new exhibition currently showing in the Bob Mason Room at Jedburgh Castle Jail until 31 October 2009.
• Don’t lose your right to vote at the European Parliamentary election - Thursday, Apr 9 2009
  Scottish Borders Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) Les Walker is issuing a call for people to make sure they are on the local register of electors so that they can vote in the Euro Election on 4 June.
• Discover ancient Egypt in Galashiels - Thursday, Apr 9 2009
  Old Gala House opened in real Egyptian style recently as guests gathered to celebrate the start of a new, exciting season at the increasingly popular museum.
• Selkirk Common Riding showcase - Wednesday, Apr 8 2009
  Local residents are being urged to share their common riding stories, photos and items for a special Selkirk Common Riding exhibition to be held at Halliwells House Museum from 23 May until 5 July 2009.
• Improvements for Kelso town centre - Wednesday, Apr 8 2009
  Cash from this year’s budget has been set aside for a town centre traffic management project for Kelso. The aims of the project are to:
• Sports coaches learn from the best at Peebles - Monday, Apr 6 2009
  More than 150 sports coaches from across the Scottish Borders and other parts of Scotland gathered at Peebles Hydro on Sunday 29 March for the region’s first Coaching Conference organised by Scottish Borders Council (SBC) and supported by Sportscotland.
• Flood Protection - Monday, Apr 6 2009
  Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has made £2.9 million available in its budget over the next four years for the preparation and design of flood protection schemes.
• Youngsters set to benefit from new Creative Identities Project - Monday, Apr 6 2009
  Young people across the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway are set to benefit from a new £1.2 million partnership project with Scottish Screen and the Scottish Arts Council.
• Views sought on children and young people’s services plan - Monday, Apr 6 2009
  The Scottish Borders Children and Young People’s Planning Partnership is seeking the views of members of the public on their draft Scottish Borders Children and Young People’s Services Plan for 2009-2012.
• Borders Heritage Week set to unlock area’s hidden gems - Monday, Apr 6 2009
  Local history enthusiasts, groups and businesses are being encouraged to get involved in the preparations for Borders Heritage Week.
• Affordable housing investment for Peebles - Friday, Apr 3 2009
  Plans for a major housing project have been put in place because of the increasing demand for affordable homes in Peebles.
• Countdown to eco-challenge winners - Friday, Apr 3 2009
  Pupils throughout the Scottish Borders are eagerly counting down the days to finding out which schools will be declared winners of the ‘Scottish Borders Schools Eco-Challenge’.
• New transport service for Bonchester Bridge - Friday, Apr 3 2009
  From Monday (6 April) the improved demand responsive transport (DRT) service will replace the Bonchester Bridge Post Bus and the previous DRT provision between Hawick and the Bonchester Bridge area.
• Waste management is a Council budget priority - Wednesday, Apr 1 2009
  Scottish Borders Council (SBC) is continuing its focus on waste management in order to work towards achieving some challenging government targets, designed to help protect the environment.