BORDERERS are being invited to have their say on how their towns and villages should look in the years ahead.

Beginning this week, a consultation roadshow will visit all corners of the region in a bid to collect views and suggestions.

Where new homes and businesses can be built and how further town centre regeneration can take place are just two of the questions the Borders public are being asked as part of the Scottish Borders Council consultation.

As part of the development of a new Local Development Plan in 2021, a ‘Main Issues Report’ has been produced and approved by the council, and will shortly be subject to a 12-week consultation period.

The Main Issues Report identifies key development and land use issues which the next Local Development Plan must address, setting out what are considered to be the council’s preferred options, including the identification of new sites for future development and suggesting reasonable alternatives.

Councillor Tom Miers, the executive member for Planning and Environment, said: “The Main Issues Report seeks to identify the big questions that we need to address.

"These include where to site new homes and businesses, how to breathe new life into our town centres and where to redevelop old sites for new purposes.

“This report is not a statement of policy but instead is an invitation for ideas and comment from everyone who has an interest in how this wonderful region of ours develops, including housing, industry, transport and public services.

"Our overarching purpose is to encourage new growth and investment while preserving and enhancing the unique landscape and built heritage that characterises the Scottish Borders. In fact the two go hand in hand: increasingly, investment and jobs come to areas that are great places to live and work.

"So good building design and sensitive development improves our economic prospects as well as enriching our quality of life.”

The series of drop in and workshops begin this week in Newcastleton and Kelso before continuing through to December 13.

The responses received will all be considered as part of the new Local Development Plan.

November 13, Newcastleton Village Hall, 2pm-6pm.

November 15, Sainsbury’s Kelso, 2pm-5pm.

November 15, Kelso Town Hall, 6pm-8pm

November 19, 1 Tower Street, Selkirk, 2pm-5.30pm

November 21, Co-op Eyemouth, 2pm-5pm

November 21, Eyemouth Community Centre, 6pm-8pm

November 26, Burgh Hall, Peebles, 2pm-5pm

November 26, Burgh Hall, Peebles, 6pm-8pm

November 27, Council Chambers, Duns, 2pm-5pm

November 27, Council Chambers, Duns, 6pm-8pm

November 28, Village Centre, West Linton, 2pm-6pm

November 29, Tesco, Galashiels, 2pm-5pm

November 29, Galashiels Transport Interchange, 6pm-8pm

December 12, Council Chamber, Newtown, 6pm-8pm

December 13, Morrisons, Hawick, 2pm-5pm

December 13, Heritage Hub, Hawick, 6pm-8pm