Investigations are continuing into the possibility of reviving the ceremonial role that was lost under local government reorganisation.

Peebles Community Council is planning to hold a poll on its Facebook to canvas public opinion.

However, Tweeddale West councillor Catriona Bhatia is against the idea of a provost - and argued that a positive vote on Facebook should not be enough to convince community councillors that the idea was worthwhile.

“Most of the honorary provosts are involved in common ridings. It’s unnecessary, although it is nice to have one,” she said.

“People have brought lots of issues to me over the years but none of them has said: 'let’s have a provost’.

“If 30 out of 50 people in a poll were for it - this would not give a mandate for a provost.” However, the community council chairman Robin Tatler said: “Over 500 people are registered on our Facebook and a poll would give us a good idea what people feel about the idea.” Tweeddale West councillor Keith Cockburn said: “It would be up to the community council what they do with any information - and there would still be a lot of work to do.” The idea of bringing back a provost was put forward at the Guildry Supper in 2013. It followed the death, a month earlier, of Alex Walker, the last provost of the Royal and Ancient Burgh.