Peeblesshire News | News | Brought to book over hall plan

Thursday, 21st August, 2008

Published: Friday, 30th June, 2006 11:14

Brought to book over hall plan

By David Knox

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COUNCIL rulers have backed a bid to bring books to the Burgh Hall.

And ruined any hopes of the former courthouse being transformed into a community venue.

The executive agreed at its meeting on Tuesday to accept recommendations from council officers to ditch plans of moving Peebles library to the derelict former sheriff court.

And to support a full study on developing the Chambers Institute – including the possibility of locating the library within the Burgh Hall.

A decision which has been met with widespread anger in the town.

Douglas Wright, secretary of Peebles Community Council, emailed members of the executive on the eve of the meeting asking them to think again. He told the Peeblesshire News: “I have suspected for many months that Scottish Borders Council would come forward with a proposal to use the Burgh Hall instead of the sheriff court, and I take no satisfaction from finding that this proves to be the case.

“Peebles and District community councillors want Scottish Borders councillors to be fully aware of their views on this matter, and we ask them to think again.”

And the town’s three councilors – Catriona Bhatia, Graham Garvie and Nancy Norman – are already looking for enough support to call the plans in for scrutiny before they can develop any further.

Councillor Bhatia explained: “There has been a distinct lack of consultation and we want the scrutiny committee to look at this before it can proceed.”

A scoping study into revamping the Chambers Institute is scheduled to begin next month with a progress report to be tabled by the end of September.

Council leader David Parker sympathises with the people behind the old courthouse bid.

But he believes progressing the Chambers Institute option is more than just a novel idea. He told us: “We accept that the Burgh Hall option for the library may not be welcome, but we want to look at all the options before this is put out to full consultation.

“There is a desperate need for a better library and council information provision in Peebles, but we do not want to acquire any more property. What we want to do is best use the properties we already have.

“The courthouse design which was put forward was very well done and did have its merits, but it didn’t meet our requirements for a library service, and would have meant taking on another building.”

The only Peeblesshire member of the council’s executive, Neil Calvert, suggested that consideration should be given to creating a new library building onto the rear of the Chambers Institute.

And his fellow members agreed for this option to be included in the study.

The West Linton councillor said: “I think that a new build should be considered – something similar to what the police have done to the rear of the council’s offices on Rosetta Road. It is early days and it will be some time before a decision is made.”

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