Agenda item
Property
Consider update from Estates Surveyor including:-
(a) Shawburn Toll and Embankment – consultation
(b) Access road over Common Good land – Community Windpower
(c) Peat Law - Borderlink Broadband proposal
Minutes:
5.1 Shawburn Toll and Embankment
The Estates Surveyor, Annabelle Scott, explained that the public consultation,for ideas to tidy up the area, had closed on 22 August 2019. There had been a good reaction to the consultation with approximately 250 responses. The Estates section would look at the responses and bring back a summary to the next meeting. There followed a discussion about possible ways of raising money to use for improvements to the embankment.
5.2 Access Road over Common Good land – Community Windpower
Ms Scott advised that she had been approached by a representative of Community Windpower regarding a potential access route over Common Good land at Smedheugh and South Common farms to facilitate haulage of wind turbine components should Faw Side Windfarm proposal, submitted by CWL Energy Limited, be approved by Scottish Government. It was noted that the proposal would have a potential long term detrimental effect to farm land. Ms Scott had explained to the Community Windpower representative that a detailed proposal should be submitted firstly to the Estates section of the Council to enable a report to be prepared for consideration by the Common Good Fund Sub Committee.
5.3 Peat Law – Borderlink Broadband proposal
Ms Scott had talked to representatives from Borderlink Broadband who proposed the erection of relay stations on the Peat Law and Foulshiels to extend their network and to enable approximately 800 residents and 120 businesses with signal coverage and the ability to connect to the superfast broadband service. The low profile relay system would host offgrid solar panels and a small wind turbine. Members noted that the proposed location on Peat Law was on Common Good owned land and part of Linglie Farm, but that the structure was unlikely to be detrimental and would not need servicing. Ms Scott had explained to the company that a detailed proposal with a site plan should be submitted to the Estates section of the Council to enable a report to be prepared for consideration by the Common Good Fund Sub Committee.
5.4 Victoria Park – car park
For Members’ information Ms Scott explained that she had been approached for permission to use part of the car park at the Common Good-owned Victoria Park for occasional use for motorbike driver training. Ms Scott confirmed that the car park was included, along with the swimming pool, under the agreement with Live Borders. The request had therefore been passed to Live Borders for consideration.
5.5 Town Hall
Councillor Penman drew attention to the invasive weed against the clock face on the Town Hall building. Ms Scott confirmed she would check that action was in hand to remove this.
5.6 Green Shed
Councillor Edgar asked Ms Scott to ensure that the previously requested work to cut back the trees around the Green Shed and carry out repairs to the guttering was actioned as a matter of urgency.
5.7 Victoria Hall
Members passed on to Ms Scott complimentary comments about the appearance of the railings at Victoria Hall which had recently been painted.
DECISION
(a) NOTED the update.
(b) AGREED that the matters identified above be taken forward by the Estates Surveyor.