Ron Smith

Ron was present at Holyrood on the evening of Wednesday 25^th 2008 for a reception for South of Scotland textiles firms, hosted by South of Scotland Lib Dem MSP Jim Hume. The networking event was attended by the Enterprise Minister, Jim Mather. Ron had the opportunity to speak with representatives of the local factories, and of Scottish Enterprise, and was told of their successes and of some points which they would like addressed. It was an excellent evening, with many of those present commenting that it was good that politicians were showing interest in the industry.

Jim said “Organising the reception was a great pleasure and hugely important because we need to constantly highlight the excellent quality of the textiles industry in Scotland. The textiles industry represents a significant part of Scotland’s economy and this is particularly true in the South of Scotland whose economy is more reliant on manufacturing and land based activities than in the national context, and so it’s crucial to support, retain and develop this traditional industry.

“It’s clear that there are challenges – other parts of Europe and markets further a field are more cost competitive. Scottish design talent and the range of innovative and high quality textiles being produced in Scotland continues to go from strength to strength. Therefore competing on quality and design would seem a sensible conclusion. In the same way that Scotland produces some of the best quality food and drink in the world, I hope that the textiles industry will further excel on the already excellent range and high quality of products sold in and out of Scotland so that we build on our international renown.

“And we need to make sure that our marketing is spot on so that we take every advantage to build on opportunities at home and abroad. I know that Scottish Textiles has been doing a lot of work in that area and I saw quite a few companies from the Cashmere Club, an excellent initiative started in 1998. This initiative recognised that it’s not two companies competing against each other in the same town that we have to address, but the challenge of World competition, as the world becomes smaller with globalisation and competitive advantage of nations.

The MSP continued: “I was delighted to see Hawick and Langholm firms displaying a selection of their excellent products. The House of Cheviot, Peter Scott, Lochcarron, Johnston’s and Hawick Knitwear all from Hawick and Reid & Taylor of Langholm each had tables displaying their products and it was wonderful to see such top quality items on show. It’s really important to keep the focus on the textiles industry and I’ll be taking every opportunity to do so through representations to the Scottish Government.”

For some time, I have been concerned about road safety in the Drumlanrig Square area. Nearby residents have spoken to me on the subject, and it has also cropped up in connection with Drumlanrig School’s Safer Routes to School discussions.

Problems are mainly at the upper end of the Square, and are likely to become worse when the new housing development there is completed.

• On the eastern side of the Square, there is a Give Way arrangement at the bottom, but not at the top. Neither side has ‘Right of Way’ at this point.

• Unofficial parking happens on the lined triangle at the top of the garden, creating blind spots for drivers, who may not be able to see other traffic approaching up the other side of the Square.

• It is difficult for pedestrians to cross the Square at the top, as it is such a wide area.

• The developments at the West Port and at Drumlanrig Hospital at present each have their own outlet to the wide area at the top of the Square. There are therefore five roads coming together at this point.

• Children walking up through the Square to get to school have to cross a wide opening at this point without the safety of a pavement.

• Parking in the area is important and therefore any suggestions for change had to deliver at least the same number of parking spaces.

I have met several times with the Council’s Roads officials to look at what might be done to make the area safer. Proposals have been amended two or three times to try to deliver a workable scheme which would help road safety while hopefully maintaining an attractive appearance for the Square.

The map shows a possible design for such a road layout. The key point is that it confirms the main route through the Square as being on the west side. The east side would still be entirely accessible for deliveries, buses and for parking, and the West Port and Drumlanrig Hospital developments would meet to give only one junction with the road through the Square.

Please let me know what you think . . . . . .

Do you think this layout is workable, or would you like to suggest changes?

I have delivered a leaflet around homes and businesses nearest to Drumlanrig Square, have spoken to the Hawick News and the suggestions will then be brought to meetings of Teviot & Liddesdale Area Committee and Hawick Community Council.

Constructive comments will be considered as they are received and the proposals ‘tweaked’ where appropriate.

Comments will therefore be welcomed and can be sent by e-mail to rsmith@scotborders.gov.uk

or by post to Cllr. Ron Smith, Scottish Borders Council, Newtown St Boswells, Melrose, TD6 0SA

The 2008 Common Riding has come and gone, and, in the local phrase, it was ‘the best ava”.

The year 1979 saw Ron’s first outing as a mounted follower (behind Cornet David Brown) and his last foray was behind Cornet Bruce Richardson in 2000. The newly appointed Councillor in 2007 then saw things from a different perspective, but this year, as one of the four Bailies, the situation was again very different. Much closer involvement emphasised the traditions and the responsibility of those, like himself, in privileged positions. This was felt most of all at the Singing of the Song in front of the farmhouse at St Leonards after the Friday morning Hut, and at the return of the flag to the Council Chambers on Saturday afternoon. This last is always a sombre occasion when sympathies go out to the Left Hand Man in particular who is ending his association with ‘The Big Three’, but Ron felt that it has also to be seen by the LHM as a moment of success! The time when he takes leave, having completed his mission successfully, and with tremendous credit for a job very well done.

Common Riding time is always special, but the feel-good factor was added to this year by an excellent Cornet in Ben Graham and by the splendid summer weather. The Moor was indeed the location for the best party in the world. Ben had been taken to their hearts by the people of the town, and he will be a tremendous ambassador for Hawick at all the other Borders Ridings and Civic Weeks across the summer.

Meanwhile Ron can look back on a wonderful week. Thank you.

In January, Ron was informed that the minibus service which had been running from Kielder to Hawick on Wednesdays and Saturdays for several years had been withdrawn. This left residents in the Saughtree, Riccarton, Steele Road areas in particular without a link. He had several meetings with those responsible within the council for promoting bus services to press for a replacement service, and arrangements have now been made with Peter Hogg of Jedburgh to provide demand responsive transport between Saughtree and Hawick on Fridays only commencing 6 June. Passengers will have to contact Peter Hogg by telephoning 01835 863755 the day before to request the transport operates. DRT is possibly more commonly referred to as a ‘taxi bus’ service.

The service will leave Saughtree at approximately 11.15 to Hawick arrive 11.55. Return transport will leave from Hawick Mart Street at 13.50.

A leaflet will be produced showing the above information.

A response sent by those council officers to John Lamont MP who recently queried the situation states: ”We have been actively supported …. by Councillor Ron Smith who has provided valuable information at a time when information is at a premium”.

This has been a good outcome, but the service will only succeed if it is used. Please help by spreading news of it.

Hawick & Hermitage councillor Ron Smith met earlier this week with representatives of the Parks and SB Local staffs to work out a Management Plan for the Millers’ Knowes parkland. The hilltop attraction has suffered in recent years from financial cuts and environmental constraints which have seen paths become impassable in wetter conditions and gorse bushes leaving wide areas off-limits. The BMX track, the result of much work by enthusiasts and their parents and once well patronised, has also come to be overgrown by broom plants.

Ron has asked council staff to develop a programme for cutting back the overgrowth and reopening paths. In addition the proposals would see some paths resurfaced with environmentally friendly materials, more litter bins provided, and picnic tables placed at a range of suitable spots. It’s also hoped to extend the steps which already lead part of the way uphill from the Weensland Road gate.

No consideration was given to more formal facilities as the Millers’ Knowes is a natural parkland and it would be inappropriate to introduce artificial features, although the way would still be open for cycling enthusiasts to come forward with a plan for rejuvenating the former BMX track in some form in the future.

The central areas would remain as open grassland, while around the outskirts there would be linked paths for dog walkers and for those seeking exercise.

Ron did however sound a note of warning that users should accept some personal responsibility for keeping the parkland attractive. He stated: ‘ Youths were clearly camping on the hill one Friday evening recently and, while no one would argue with that, the remains of two tents, food containers and broken glass bottles ruined the football field area until council workmen cleared the debris on the Monday’. He went on: ‘Litter can be a major problem, especially when young drivers leave the evidence of their fast-food and their drinks where their cars have been parked on the crest of the hill’.

SB Local staff later took advice from the Council’s Wildlife Officer who advised that extensive cutting of the gorse on the hillside should wait until the end of the breeding season in August. Management of the overgrown pathways can be done now however if completed carefully and with no disturbance of nests.

Recently the main topic has been the Education cuts (or ‘efficiency savings’ as the jargon goes!). Ron worked at Hawick High School for 30 years, the later 18 as assistant headmaster, responsible among other things for liaison with the Primary schools. This also meant that he was closely involved with pupils who were transferring from Wilton’s Special Class into High School, and could then note their progress there. Reductions in DSM (Devolved School Management) budgets, and the threat of closure to Wilton Primary School’s pool, are therefore issues which cause him major concern.

At Council, Ron supported, along with fellow local councillors Zandra Elliot and Stuart Marshall, Davie Paterson’s amendment to the budget which would have seen around half a million pounds taken from reserves to support the schools, and reduce the impact of cuts. This move failed. However the drive for savings was reassessed. Hawick High School still has to make 2% cuts / savings amounting to £86557 (and this must impact on the service to be provided), but the local Primaries saw their position improve, with for example the planned saving of £14918 at Drumlanrig Primary becoming £8951, and £13428 at Trinity becoming £6983. At the smaller schools in Hawick & Hermitage ward, the amounts to be saved are proportionally smaller (but this was always said to be the original intention). At St Margaret’s RC Primary, £380 has to be saved, and at Roberton £181.

Ron has been consistently concerned that the amount which headteachers have been allowed to carry forward from year to the next has stood against them. To drain completely the budget for one financial year by the end of March would require commitments to be made by January, and this does not allow for the unexpected event in February or March. Also, headteachers have perhaps saved from their budgets towards particular projects, such as redecoration of the school, or re-equipping of classrooms, and this ability to manage their budget is being taken away from them. It has been said that, if they can carry forward a large amount of money, they obviously do not need that much in the first place!

It now seems likely that the pool at Wilton will reopen in mid-May and this is to be welcomed. This is very much part of a facility for the Special Class pupils at Wilton, and at Hawick High and for other identified children with particular special needs. The most important thing is to have this pool reopened to meet those needs. The facility is very specialised, and the plans for its reopening identify very specific improvements which are aimed at the needs of the disabled etc. The hoist, the Kiefer board and the general issue of the water temperature are more focused on the disabled. If other young children get to use Wilton Pool, for example to learn to swim, that’s great and is a bonus. Several voices are being heard calling for the pool to be available for a much wider range of children but let’s get it opened, and available as a therapy pool for those in most need and then take it from there.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader visited Hawick recently. He was most impressed by the new Community Hospital and then visited several shops on High Street, talking to shopkeepers. Ron took the opportunity to bring him up to date on the flood risk situation in the town.

Ron was mentioned recently at Holyrood, when John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth was answering a question related to the reduction in business rates. He stated: ‘In the Hawick News . . . I read that the announcement of the small business bonus scheme was welcomed as ‘great news’ by Hawick & Hermitage councillor Ron Smith, who is – I happen to have heard – a Liberal Democrat.’ Conservative John Lamont tried to score points later by commenting that ‘the fact that the Lib Dems in the Borders warmly welcomed a move so strongly opposed by their parliamentary colleagues shows how confused and out of touch they are’.

Well, John (both of them). I don’t feel out of touch. I know that shopkeepers in my area welcome any move which helps them stay viable businesses. I know that the cut in business rates will help. I also know that the extra parking allowed by the One Way High Street and the extra traffic to the town generated by the Heart of Hawick project, the Reivers Festival, the farmers market etc. will also help. We have to make the High Street environment welcoming to the business community, to visitors to the town, and to our own townspeople so that they feel less need to travel elsewhere to shop.

I do have one gripe however and that is that many of our shops and businesses will not qualify for rates relief. It’s unfortunate that all premises operated by a firm, regardless of where in Scotland they are and what nature they are (as this includes storage premises), have to be added together when calculating rateable value, as it means that businesses which I would assess as small in Scottish terms are raised to a level where they gain only minimal benefit. The bands are set too low!

Recently, the ongoing problem has been wheeliebins! Not much can go wrong there you would think? However I’ve received comments recently from residents about problems with the wheeliebins.

These are being left out on the street all week round and so the pavement is congested, making it difficult for passers by, prams, etc., and just adding to an unattractive approach to the entries of tenements in particular.

In addition, difficulties are being noticed by the refuse collectors in that bags of all sorts are being mixed up in these bins, making it hard for them to identify what is to be cleared on the appropriate collection day.

Normal household waste in much of Hawick is collected on Tuesdays. The clear recycling bags for cans and plastic bottles etc., and the lilac bags for paper and cardboard are collected on Thursdays. Lilac bags, just for example, won’t ever be collected on Tuesdays! However if left out early they’ll be at risk of blowing about, or of being torn open.

It would be helpful if neighbours would only put out a bin or bags the night before they’re due to be collected, at the earliest. (It’s also a help if the bags are left separately – not within wheeliebins). If bins are then taken in again to the back court afterwards, the whole place will look better.

Unless this is tackled, the situation is going to become even more complicated from 31^st March when the garden refuse collections start again for the year!

I hope you will consider how you can help. I’ve delivered a letter seeking co-operation around one of the streets in the town and it’ll be interesting to see if anything changes! We’re all looking forward to seeing the town, and the street, look better as spring and summer arrive.

Scottish Borders Council recently agreed to establish a Flood Advisory Group, consisting of one member of the Council’s Administration from each of the five Area Committees, plus one SNP member who might be able to provide liaison with the Scottish Government. The five Councillors are Gavin Logan (Tweeddale), Vicky Davidson (Eildon), Len Wyse (Cheviot), Jim Fullarton (Berwickshire), and Ron Smith (Teviot & Liddesdale). The SNP representative is Kenneth Gunn, also from the Eildon Area Committee. Jim Fullarton as Executive member for Technical Services will chair the group. This group gives an opportunity for putting the case for rapid and effective action to safeguard Hawick. There has been major change in the approach to flood protection since the Council’s Flood Prevention report came out in September 2007, with much more willingness now to consider smaller schemes which can be progressed more quickly. Work will continue in preparing a case for one or two of the earlier and more expensive projects, but these are more likely to lie then on the table pending a signal from Holyrood that policies have again changed and funds might be made available for them. The F.A.G. meantime will balance cash and the prioritisation of the smaller local schemes so that residents will be able to see progress in their own areas much earlier.

[The Group has now met once and indications are that this new approach will indeed benefit Hawick and Newcastleton earlier.]