MORE than £1.5 million will have to be found to prevent the local authority's old folks homes being condemned.

A lack of investment into Scottish Borders Council's five care homes has left them requiring improvements.

Last month it was agreed to spend £2.8 million bringing Deanfield in Hawick up to standard.

But local councillors are being warned when they meet this week that if major repairs aren't carried out soon at Waverley in Galashiels, St Ronan's in Innerleithen, Eyemouth's Saltgreens and Grove House in Kelso they could face being deregistered.

Infrastructure director Martin Joyce stated: "A risk of not funding the investment is that the standard of the accommodation continues to decline to an unacceptable standard.

"The implication of this development is that the Care Inspectorate could de-register the care home requiring Scottish Borders Council to find alternative accommodation for frail older people."

More than £600,000 is required to bring Saltgreens Care Home up to an acceptable standard.

As well as replacing doors and windows, the heating systems needs to be renewed and the toilet and kitchen fittings replaced.

The exterior of the building also requires maintenance.

To upgrade the heating at Gala's Waverley home along with providing new lighting and kitchen units, as well as refurbishing the staffroom, around £137,000 is required.

Repairs to the outside stairs and driveway are also required in Galashiels.

Almost £400,000 is needed to replace the windows and doors at Grove House along with structural work, redecoration and upgrading of the electrics.

And a similar amount of money will be needed at St Ronan's where new heating is required, shower rooms refurbished, kitchen units replaced and external repairs undertaken.

Mr Joyce added: "A capital investment of approximately £1.52 million will be required to maintain the interior and exterior of the four remaining homes to bring them up to an appropriate standard."

Councillors will be asked this week to consider allocating the required funding as part of their 2020/21 budgeting plans.