Live Borders session at Victoria Halls 13 Aug re: Sports & Culture venues
Added at 09:48 on 03 July 2025
Live Borders and SBC have announced a series of public events around the Borders, to elicit opinions on the future of Live Borders venues, and Selkirk's will be on Wednesday 13th August, between 2 and 7pm as a drop-in session at the Victoria Halls.
This is in the wake of independent consulatnts Integratis having produced a report recommending closure for most Selkirk assets, though SBC Councillors have said that nothing is yet decided. Selkirk assets include Sir Walter Scott's Courtroom, Selkirk Leisure Centre, Victoria Park caravan site, Halliwell's House Museum, the Argus Centre and Selkirk Library. Selkirk Community Council have obtained data from Live Borders that shows that, even in a year with an overspend of £2.9m, the net cost of all Selkirk venues did not exceed Selkirk's population share of a normal year's subsidy - without overspend. In other words, there is no financial case for closing any Selkirk venue.
Notwithstanding that, there is always a case for more usage of all venues, alongside a case for more effective markeing by Live Borders, and SBC Councillor Caroline Cochrane has come up with a series of positive suggestions of how to maxinmise the efficiency and appeal of all Selkirk's venues. Her detailed proposals can be found in links in the News story below on this page.
The online survey, set up to elicit public views, is live until August 31, and has apparently received 1,000+ comments, although it has been much criticised for focussing on historic personal use, as opposed to overall critique of quality of facilities and service, including opening hours, and it has been noted that no alternatives are suggested. The survey can be found here
A recent feedback session at Victoria Halls featured the opportunity for members of the public to leave anonymous Post-It Notes under each venue heading, plus comment on the survey. Disappointment with the survey was expressed, plus opposition to any closures.
The full Integratis report can be found here
More information can be found at https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/jointreview
