Published: Friday, 29th May, 2009 11:31am

Pupils left crestfallen by feudal furore

PUPILS at a Peebles school faced being dragged through the courts over their design for a new bronze artwork.

Children from Kingsland had hoped to erect a £10,000 crest at the entrance to their new school.

But dated regulations have forced them back to the drawing board.

The kids wished to incorporate the main parts of their school logo with the official town crest of Peebles.

However, the Office of the Lord Lyon King at Arms has stamped their disapproval on the idea due to the heraldic device belonging to the now defunct town council.

One startled parent told the Peeblesshire News: 'This is feudal law gone mad. All the school wanted to do was have a unique artwork at their new school gates.

'This could mean that every club and organisation in Peebles is using their town crest illegally.'

Local SBC Education member Catriona Bhatia has now helped the school redesign its schoolgate artwork.

She said: 'To the Lord Lyon the original design looked too like the town"s coat of arms.

'We"ve now agreed on a crest which stiil has the three fish but with the school motto of 'deeds not words" in place of the crown.

'The artwork will be in place for the school opening in January 2010.'

An SBC spokesperson said: 'After checking with the Lord Lyon"s office, we have confirmed that the council does not have permission to use any Coat of Arms other that that of Scottish Borders Council - not even those of any of our predecessor authorities.

'We had sought approval from the Lord Lyon"s office for artwork to go on the front wall of the new Kingsland Primary School but we can"t use one of the Coats of Arms, as only the community council is entitled to use this

'The Lord Lyon King of Arms has power to prosecute any person for the unauthorised use of Arms, and even has his own Procurator Fiscal.

'We are, however, continuing to work with the school on a new design.'