Peeblesshire News | News | All systems go for new hall

Thursday, 4th December, 2008

Published: Friday, 5th September, 2008 12:30

All systems go for new hall

By David Knox

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PIPERS in Innerleithen are in line for a new band hall after planners gave them the thumbs up this week.

The run-down current headquarters of the town’s Pipe Band fell into a state of disrepair several years ago.

A bid to pull the 80-year-old hut down and replace it with a new building to the tune of £112,000 has now been given the green light by Scottish Borders Council.

Ian Gillie, who is leading the project, told the Peeblesshire News: “We have attempted in the past to repair our hall but it has become impossible and there is an urgent need for a new hall to be built.

“We’re delighted to have been granted permission.”

Innerleithen’s pipe band hall has become an eyesore in recent years with the windows requiring to be boarded up.

And problems with the leaking roof have also forced band-leaders into urgent action.

Pipe Major Bruce Gillie told us: “The hall us run down and cold and it’s far from suitable for practice.

“We have fixed it up as much as we can over the years. The band has never been stronger with lots of new members joining but we need a better hall.”

Fundraising is already under way with a sponsor-a-brick campaign being launched and many offers of work arriving from local firms.

But the plans for Hall Street may have to be put on hold as a more ambitious project was to be discussed last night.

Local councillor Graham Garvie was due to bring together most of the town’s sporting and social clubs, including the pipe band, to discuss the possibility of creating a single hall to meet everyone’s purposes.

Councillor Garvie explained: “There are real pressures on facilities within Innerleithen, which is growing at a rapid rate.

“The condition of the pipe hall and the neighbouring football pavilion need urgently addressed.

“There are many options open to us, such building at the Hall Street site or adding onto the Memorial Hall. It is early days and I am just wanting to see what feeling there is between all the clubs and societies in the town to take this forward.

“It is purely an exploratory meeting and hopefully something will come out of it.”

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