COLDSTREAM & DISTRICT COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Chairman: Secretary & Treasurer: Mr. M. Brims Mrs. J. Gillie 45 Priory Hill 2 Rossville Market Square TD12 4EB Coldstream (Tel 01890 883123) TD12 4BE [email protected]

Minutes of the meeting of Coldstream & District Community Council held in the Marriage Room, on Thursday, May 16, 2019.

Present: Martin Brims, Janice Gillie, Derek Balmbro, Henry Wallis, Wendy Guthrie, Councillor Donald Moffat, Councillor John Greenlaw, Colin McGregor, Jill McGregor, John Banks, Gordon Thomson, Chris Gregg and Adam Gregg.

Apologies: David Guthrie and Therese Spencer.

Caravan Park Chris Gregg, the owner of Blackadder Caravan Park, Greenlaw, attended the meeting to make a presentation about his plans for a caravan park in Coldstream on the Hospital Field (opposite the health centre/dental centre). He produced figures that suggest it could bring in £1m annually to the area, plus 30 new jobs. No on-site retail out-let is planned. The site is 12-13 acres, and they are looking at approximately 145 static caravans, 20 touring caravans and an area for tents. His target market is from the north of England and the Central Belt in . Archaeological investigations will be carried out – an iron age settlement is in the field and that area is not included in the plans as its existence was already known. It is hoped to submit plans for the caravan park in August, and a decision from the council by December, work starting on the park in early 2020 for it to be operational before the end of the 2020 season. Members of the public are invited to call in at a drop-in session at Coldstream Community Centre, on Thursday, June 20, 2-8pm, to see the plans, proposed landscaping etc. Councillor Moffat said: “I am convinced it will benefit the town.” At the end of the discussion Chris and Adam Gregg. Jill McGregor, John Banks and Gordon Thomson left the meeting.

Minutes The minutes of the April meeting were read, approved and signed.

Matters Arising Duns Road bollard – Daren Silcock has still not got back to Councillor Moffat about its re-placing. New cemetery – Nothing signed yet. Pot holes – some have been dealt with but Lennel Mount is still outstanding. Eccles/ School – The proposal to close the school permanently is out for public consultation, and views sought about whether children in the area should go to Coldstream or Swinton Primary School. No entry sign – One of the signs at the bottom of Nursery Lane is still facing the wrong way. High Street – Council roads officers say it is unlikely that the positioning of the central white line will be changed.

Play Park Work on the new play park in Home Park has started. The ball wall has been moved. Henry pointed out that the ‘guards’ at the entrance to the play park look like Coldstream Guards but the uniform buttons are wrong and as that is something that people will notice it was agreed to let the designers know that they will have to be changed.

Car parking There has been no progress on the idea of additional car parking in Home Park. The original plans need to be made available as a starting point.

Treasurer’s Report Common Good Account – £1557.41 General Account – £1079.85 Pensioners’ Party Account - £747.60

Planning Keith House – plans to create two dwellings there. No observations 61 High Street – application for dormer windows. No observations, as long as the changes are done sensitively as it is in the conservation area.

Development Group No update.

Councillor updates Councillor Greenwell reported that Scottish Borders Council is seeking accreditation for being a Living Wage employer and is now encouraging other companies in the Border to do the same. Councillor Moffat said is keen for people to phone 101 if they suspect hare coursing is going on in rural areas. He also advised that prior to the spate of tradesmen’s vans being broken into, it is suspected that people were driving around the area during the day scoping out opportunities and then returning overnight.

Citizen of the Year Derek Balmbro said that he had been approached by someone wanting to nominate John Dickson for the Coldstream Citizen of the Year Award.

Correspondence Police Report: Over the previous month there had been reports of two thefts from shops, an arrest following a disturbance in a house, a theft, a report of cold calling, a drink driver was reported, and a road check resulted in one charge of driving with no insurance and another charge of possession of controlled drugs.

Fly tipping More furniture etc has been left near the Links Housing in Market Square and Abbey Road. It is understood that Housing Association now manages the Links flats on behalf of Links Association, so they will be informed of the fly tipping.

Buses Part of Coldstream High Street is to be closed for a few hours while new manhole covers are put in. Martin will put notices on the bus stops to advise bus users that Borders Buses has organised taxis to take them to Cornhill as the buses will not be coming through Coldstream that day.

Next meeting Coldstream & District Community Council will next meet on Thursday, June 20, 2019 at 7.30pm in the council chambers.