First, A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR to all the readers. This is probably a good opportunity for us to look at all the activities of the Peebles and District Community Council (PCC) over the last year. It has been a busy year.

The highlight as always is our Peebles in Bloom competition which once more showcased some of our truly excellent gardens and gardeners. We would all be the poorer without them. Once more I thank our team who did such a terrific job in organising it.

We also need to highlight the town’s success in being selected for more than £4M of levelling up funding from Westminster for our Chambers Institution. For this success we thank our present team of SBC elected councillors and David Mundell MP. Already we can see what can be achieved. The Burgh Hall is magnificent now that it has had the suspended ceiling removed and been redecorated. Peebles Community Council was the catalyst that kept William Chambers aspirations alive over the last few years by pushing for change and our present SBC councillors who are the Trustees took up the challenge with enthusiasm. We now have a Beneficiary’s Group, led by SBC Councillor Robin Tatler and a management group led by SBC Councillor Julie Pirone and representation from several interested parties including PCC and the Peebles Civic Society.

The PCC has been involved with the victims of flooding in Walkershaugh and Tweed Avenue and is now closely allied with the Paul Spence’s Resilience Group. We are also working with Colin Kerr of Walkerburn and the Tweeddale Area Committee Flood Advisory Subgroup. When we consider how badly affected Brechin was in the recent storms and how it could so easily have been us, it gives serious pause for thought. We need to help ourselves and keep pressure on SBC and SEPA likewise to help us.

We are represented on the NHS working group considering the community hospitals including Haylodge and have held meetings with NHS senior management and with the Chief Executive of NHS Borders. Any feedback from the community is encouraged and is being passed on.

Unfortunately, I’m now restricted to circa 450 words in these articles, so a quick overview. In November I had 18 meetings with 13 in October. Over the year these have included the Baptist Church building, the Victoria Park Centre, Victoria Park Lighting, meetings with residents, the Tweeddale Area Partnership, the future of the Community Councils Network with SBC, parking meetings, the High School, Peebles Youth Voice and much, much more. We make a difference. You too could help to make a difference, so contact Anne Snoddy, our secretary on secretary@ccrbpeebles.co.uk

Peter Maudsley

Chair

Peebles and District Community Council