Common Good Fund assets still 'benefit Peebles'

David O'Leary - David O'Leary • Published 26 Mar 2009 12:30 0 Comments

SEVERAL key sites in Peebles have now been reclassified following a report by the Common Good Fund Working Group.

The report was ordered following numerous inquiries by local groups into the ownership of several sites in the town.

Also of concern was whether it was appropriate for some of these properties to be held on the Peebles Common Good Account.

At present, Scottish Borders Council administers eight Common Good Funds throughout the region, which consist of bequests made to the former town councils for the good of the residents.

These funds were transferred to district councils as the successor authorities under the reorganisation of local government in 1975.

Then the responsibility for Common Good Funds and other Common Good assets became the responsibility of Scottish Borders Council when it replaced the former district councils in 1996.

At present in the Scottish Borders there are Common Good Funds for Duns, Galashiels, Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso, Lauder, Melrose, Peebles and Selkirk.

The recent report relating to Peebles recommends that two areas of land at Victoria Park be transferred to Common Good Property, while three areas remain classified as council assets.

The Burgh Hall Allotments will be removed from the List of Common Good Assets and reclassified as belonging to the Chambers Institution.

Ground at Walkershaugh will become a council asset, along with a house at No. 2 Hay Lodge Cottages.

However, the site for the house and Hay Lodge Depot will remain Common Good Assets, and in the event of any future sale of the house the purchase price will be apportioned between the Common Good and SBC.

Local councillor and member of the Common Good Fund Working Group Catriona Bhatia said: 'There are no clear records held for a number of assets held by the Common Good Fund, and it involves a lot of unravelling to clarify who owns what.

'Either way these assets will continue to benefit the people of Peebles.'

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 26 Mar 09

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