A COMMUNITY councillor in Selkirk has slammed his colleagues for their snail-paced push towards creating an emergency reaction group.

Resilience teams have been formed in towns and villages across the Borders.

The volunteer organisations react during storms and other emergencies to clear snow, distribute sandbags, operate floodgates, deliver supplies and provide hot meals in community centres.

And support in the way of equipment, training and insurance cover is provided by the local authority.

Although community councillors in Selkirk agreed at the start of the year to form their own reaction group, apart from an initial meeting in April and the creation of a Facebook page little else has happened.

Councillor Adrian Kentleton blasted the lack of progress. He said: "If Selkirk Community Council can't organise this surely they should step aside and allow another group to take it on.

"There has been no rehearsals or drills - we were promised first aid training, equipment and insurance but none of this has happened.

"We're not getting what we were promised.

"Selkirk Community Council took responsibility for this and have done little to move it forward."

Community council chairman Alastair Pattullo and vice chairman Graham Easton both recently attended a Resilient Communities meeting hosted by Scottish Borders Council.

And a Selkirk Response Team Facebook page has already attracted around 120 followers.

But Mr Easton admitted more progress could have been made.

He said: "The Response Team has not moved forward quick enough and I accept that.

"But if there is another Beast from the East we can respond and bring some help."

Selkirkshire councillor Caroline Penman believes that there is enough community spirit to make the Response Team a success.

She said: "Facebook has been effective in the past - last winter a lot of people reacted to appeals on the Facebook pages to come and help."

It was agreed to hold a special meeting in January to progress the Selkirk Response Team plans.