STRONG public interest was once again evident as local politicians came to an independence debate in Peebles, At a packed meeting at the Macfarlane Hall, the audience of about 170 people engaged in a lively exchanges of views.
This followed a well-attended meeting at West Linton a week earlier.
The argument against independence was put by Tory MP David Mundell, Labour MSP Claudia Beamish and local community activist Julia Reid while in the pro-camp were SNP MSP Christine Grahame, Dr Iain Whyte for Christians for Yes and Dr Lesley Morrison for NHS for Yes.
The meeting was chaired by Mark Muller Stuart, barrister working in international relations, who emphasised how the world is watching what is happening in Scotland, appreciating the democratic process being played out and, in many troubled countries, wishing fervently that they could discuss their future openly without bloodshed.
The vote of thanks was given by Rica Macinnes who encouraged people to imagine the Scotland they would like to live in and to work together, whatever the outcome of the referendum, to make Scotland as good a country as it can be.
She asked people to fold up their differences in their ballot paper and cast their differences away as they cast their vote.
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