MEMBERS of a local football team have helped transform the entrance to West Linton village.
During lockdown, a group of local volunteers including members of Linton Hotspur FC have taken it upon themselves to repair and improve aspects of the village, with the entrance proving to be their latest project.
Over the past 10 years, visitors to the village were greeted with a damaged stone wall and an orange traffic cone, but thanks to a cooperative effort between the football club and Scottish Power, that is no longer the case.
Reflecting on why the entrance tidy up was important, chairman of Linton Hotspur, Campbell Forsyth, said: “It is the first thing people see when they come to the village.
“Most things are predominantly on social media these days but people on there are saying how pleased they are that the entrance to the village has been tidied up. It was just a positive reaction.”
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Mr Forsyth’s credits his dad, who helps with groundskeeping at the club, for the idea to work on the entrance.
“He came up with the idea that the club could help in the village with a little tidy up of the entrance area, he coordinated that on behalf of the club,” Mr Forsyth, 35, said. “They (the volunteers from the club) rolled up their sleeves and got on with the job.
“It is one of many things that the club does in the local community and it’s a good reflection on West Linton.”
The club plays an active role in the community, including offering support to local schools and amateur theatre, with Mr Forsyth praising their “loyal band of volunteers”.
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“I think ultimately it is important to us to retain the connection with the community,” said Mr Forsyth. “When it comes down to it, we need the support of the community to keep our membership high, to help when we do our fundraisers.
“It is us recognising where we can help. It is certainly not a one-way street, we get a lot of support from the community.”
Scottish Power, who own the land at the entrance of the village, organised for shrubbery on the site to be cleared before members of Linton Hotspur re-built the wall, laid down bark chips and re-planted a selection of small shrubs.
Scottish Power general manager of Edinburgh and Borders, Ian Johnston, said: “We’re proud to have worked with the local community on this particular project, with thanks to West Linton Hotspur Football Club.
“We’re committed to our maintenance programme and doing all we can to help ensure our sites can benefit communities. It’s always great to hear that our work is having a positive impact.”
Linton Hotspur are a grassroots club who take part in the Borders Amateur Football League.
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