Newlands land deal secured

David O'Leary • Published 19 Mar 2010 10:54 0 Comments

SCOTTISH Borders Council have been given the green light to transfer land to a ground-breaking project at Newlands.

The Scottish Government this week approved the sale to Newlands Community Development Trust (NCDT) which will facilitate the building of a new community facility at Romanno Bridge.

This consent from Scottish Ministers will now enable legal agreements between the council and NCDT to be finalised so that the long-awaited centre can finally become a reality.

The 86-pupil school at Newlands Primary had been earmarked for closure six years ago but parents fought back forming a community trust and amassing a £1.7 million warchest to both refurbish the school and build a community hub nearby.

Last September, councillors agreed to transfer the land to the Newlands Community Development Trust (NCDT) and commit £800,000 towards the project also, as part of a unique partnership agreement between the rural Peeblesshire community and its educational department.

This week's decision by the Scottish Government allows NCDT to fulfil the pre-conditions for their £999,363 Big Lottery grant and thus enables them to now award contracts for the construction of the hub and the refurbishment of the school.

NCDT's remaining £858,000 of funding was received from the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

Karen Blissitt, chair of Newlands Community Development Trust said: "This welcome and timely decision by the Scottish Government will really allow this project to move forward.

"This decision now releases the funds from our Big Lottery Grant allowing us to finalise contracts with the selected team who will now produce drawings and submit our planning application for the centre."

NCDT secretary, John Currie, said: "Scottish Borders Council and the Scottish Government pulled out all the stops to finalise this decision, we are now well on our way to starting the project within our agreed timeframe.

"There are still some legal issues to be finalised but the funding is in place and with the appointment of the professional team our vision for the community is about to be realised."

Executive Member for Education, councillor Catriona Bhatia said: "This is excellent news and I am proud to be a part of what has been an inspirational partnership which will provide fantastic facilities for Newlands and the surrounding community.

"Back in 2005 we gave the community of Newlands a challenge that they have more than risen to, so I would like to once again congratulate them for reaching this stage.

"This is a pioneering project which I am sure will be copied by many rural communities across the Borders and the rest of Scotland. I now look forward to seeing the project develop over the next year."

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 19 Jul 10

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