Hawick High Street was given a colourful makeover to celebrate the town and encourage more people to leave their car at home.
The RIDONKULOUS Great Street Day which took place on Saturday 19 September, was organised by Scottish Borders Council’s Active Travel Team.
The High Street was temporarily transformed into a space for people, with more than 20 stallholders joining local businesses, community groups, entertainers and active travel organisations.
Busy atmosphere
Hawick Community Council’s Farmers Market was also part of the event - adding to the busy atmosphere in the town centre.
Families were able to try out bikes and scooters, while a programme of activities and entertainment provided plenty to keep visitors occupied.
One of the more unusual attractions was the RIDONKULOUS mini donkey shop-window treasure hunt, while colourful bunting helped give the High Street a festival feel.
Visitors could also explore Hawick on foot, with Walk It leading guided walks along the recently launched RIDONKULOUS Hawick Bridges Trail.
The event brought together organisations from across the town and was supported by local businesses, community groups and volunteers.
Councillor Jenny Linehan, Executive Member for Environment, Sustainability and Transport
“This was a fantastic day and a great example of what can happen when a local community comes together.
“By working collaboratively, we created an opportunity for people to experience Hawick High Street in a completely different way - as a place to meet, explore, have fun and spend time together. Events like this show the value of bringing people together and reimagining how we use our town centres.”
RIDONKULOUS campaign
The Great Street Day forms part of Scottish Borders Council’s RIDONKULOUS campaign, which aims to get people thinking about how they make short everyday journeys and whether they always need to use a car.
The campaign promotes walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling as alternatives for shorter journeys, with the aim of supporting healthier lifestyles, reducing environmental impact and helping to create more vibrant town centres.
Funding
The RIDONKULOUS Great Street Day was made possible thanks to a People and Place grant. People and Place grants are funded by the Scottish Government and are administered and supported by SEStran.
In Hawick, the campaign has been supported by local Agents of Change, including pupils from Hawick’s primary schools and high school, who have helped spread the message across the community.