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Eskdale & Liddesdale Advertiser • Owned by the Community : Published for the Community Thursday July 9, 2020 7
Boris must keep his Roadworks
IN BRIEF

promise on railway will close

road three

times

Campaign calls for co-operation between the two governments
MAJOR repair works on the
B6357 near Newcastleton will
THE Prime Minister’s “Build skills and make long-lasting now by providing much-needed close the road at Dawston bridge
Build Build” promise last week change to communities. capacity but will also economi- for 10 weeks.
must include extending the “This ambitious package of cally benefit many generations The closure will come into
Borders Railway, the area’s support highlights the need to to come. operation on Tuesday, July 21.
MP has said. invest in every part of Britain.” “This can be a legacy project The bridge was badly dam-
Boris Johnson told the nation The Campaign for Borders which shows a commitment to aged by the flooding which af-
there would be a review to look Rail (CBR) says Mr Johnson is long-term recovery and faith in fected the area and flooded
at how best to improve transport understood to be keen on the future.” Newcastleton in mid-February.
links between the four nations rebuilding the railway from Extension These repairs are part of a
and bring forward funding to Tweedbank to Carlisle as part significant investment on the
accelerate infrastructure projects of his plan to boost the union. Last month the CBR called B6357, which is a vital link for
in Scotland. Representatives are meeting on the two governments to the Newcastleton community.
John Lamont, Berwickshire, Iain Stewart, Scotland Office co-operate on making the rail- Once the bridge works are
Roxburgh and Selkirk MP, has minister, this week. way extension a reality. completed, three further closures
Its submission comes on the
welcomed the announcement Reinstatement heels of a report from the High of the road will be needed:
and is pressing for more invest- Simon Walton, chairman of the Campaign for Borders Rail says the Speed Rail Group, which specif- Burnmouth Lodge – full road
ment in the extension of the Among other things, he railway extension must be a priority for both governments ically cited completing the closure in late September for
railway. pledged that Project Speed regional and national growth. ery of the UK economy, the Borders Railway as a crucial one week. Exact dates to be
would deliver better transport
He said: “Cross-border infras- and other infrastructure. Simon Walton, campaign re-establishment of this cross- development for the national confirmed. This will allow road
tructure is key for ensuring trade, The CBR says that when con- chairman, said that extending border rail link fits the bill. rail network in the document repairs to take place.
education and work opportuni- sidering the reinstatement of the Borders Railway between “We have consistently made High Speed Rail and Scotland. Riccarton - daytime road clo-
ties, especially in border com- the railway to Hawick and Tweedbank and Carlisle had the the case that a new, fit-for- Mr Walton said devolved trans- sure lasting two weeks in early
munities, like ours. Carlisle, this announcement was backing of community, com- purpose Borders Railway will port powers should be an October, exact dates to be con-
“I warmly welcome that the important and raised hopes. merce, administrations and in- promote economic regeneration, opportunity, not an obstacle to firmed. Resurfacing will take
place.
government is investing in As a result, the CBR believes dustry at large in the UK. social inclusion and environ- progress. Ralton Bridge - daytime clo-
infrastructure to help deal with the completion of the former He added: “If the UK govern- mental sustainability. He added: “Both governments sure lasting one week mid-late
the economic fallout of coron- Waverley Route through Hawick ment is to introduce a pro- “Add to that the fact that a have already shown the eco- October. Exact dates to be con-
avirus. to Carlisle provides a ready- gramme of infrastructure in- new Borders Railway will ben- nomic regeneration of the firmed. Resurfacing will take
“This will help boost jobs and made project to stimulate vestment to underpin the recov- efit not only the national network Borderlands is a priority. place.
Resurfacing work will also
be done in North Hermitage
Jill’s masks have travelled far and wide Street where temporary traffic
lights will be put in place.
Scottish Borders Council will
confirm nearer the time the
exact dates for all these works
but they will not happen until
the Dawston Bridge repairs are
completed.
Tracey Logan, chief executive,
said: "It’s crucial we start work
to repair Dawston Bridge as
soon as we can to safeguard its
long-term future.
"After this, there’ll be further
significant works on the B6357
which means we’ll need to have
either daytime closures or traffic
management in place.
"I realise this will result in
Dr Jennifer Bowley and Libby Kennedy of Newcastleton Medical Practice receive a cheque from Jill Scott major disruption to people in
Newcastleton and I thank them
THE sewing talents of one and money but she has also making the masks as long as in advance for their patience
Newcastleton resident have raided the family wardrobes. there’s a need for them. and understanding.
been put to incredibly good “At the beginning my husband “I decided to give the money “Unfortunately, it’s not pos-
use during lockdown. Kevin lost six shirts because I to our health centre because sible to do these works at the
Jill Scott has raised nearly needed material. they looked after me so well same time. They have been pro-
£1,500 by sewing face masks “Someone then asked me to when I was ill,” Jill says. “The grammed to maintain access
and has donated the money to make a mask in a particular village is really lucky to have and avoid properties being cut
the village’s medical centre. colour I didn’t have and I them.” off.
Jill says she originally intended couldn’t go anywhere to get Pharmacist Libby Kennedy "By doing all this work in the
to make the masks for friends any so I just chopped the legs says the health centre was coming months, we will avoid
and family but word spread off my linen trousers and used thrilled to receive Jill’s amazing future necessary disruption.
swiftly and requests came in them.” cheque. “It will also ensure the road
thick and fast. The masks are on sale in the “It will go into our medical can be used by residents and
She said: “I put a post on village shops for only £4 each fund. We use this fund for equip- visitors for years to come.”
Facebook to see whether there and Jill has received orders ment and services which are Official diversions will be in
would be any interest and after from as far afield as Fife and not funded by the NHS. place using the A7 and A6088
that my phone never stopped. Surrey. “We look forward to putting to and from Newcastleton.
I’ve been sewing all day, every So far, she reckons she’s made the mask money towards some-
day.” about 300 and there’s no rest thing special so a very big thank
Lacey and Dylan Brown model two of Jill’s masks Jill says people have been in store for her nimble fingers you to Jill and, by the way, her
very kind in giving her material because she intends to keep on sewing is amazing.”