The abandonment of what was a promising allotment scheme for Selkirk, reported in your paper last week, raises the question of whether health and safety regulation is being applied in a manner which benefits the community, or whether this is another case of the law (or at least the application of it) is an ass.
The public now has a wider-than-ever freedom to roam the countryside, and the logical extension of the £100,000 worth of health and safety recommendations for the former fish farm allotment site would mean that the whole length of the Ettrick Water
(and the Yarrow, Teviot, Tweed etc.) should be enclosed with a security fence lest anyone should fall in. This would be extended to the tops of river cliffs and steep sides of cleuchs throughout the Borders valleys. Handrails 1.1 metres high would have to be provided on all ruinous tower houses and other ancient monuments, neolithic slab bridges not excepted. One could go on ....
Since health and safety regulation was introduced, I found it necessary (I am an architect, now retired) to challenge the official recommendation when the aesthetic integrity of a historic building was at stake – in one case, a building of World Heritage class.
What I learned from this experience was that absurdities can actually be avoided. I also learned that officials in the field, once consulted, can be concerned to cover their own backs.
"I don't ever want it reported in TheSouthern that someone has drowned because I failed to give advice" may perhaps be a case in point.
Robert Maguire
Ettrickbridge
We were very disappointed about the potential withdrawal of land for allotments at Selkirk.
From newspaper reports, this appears to be because of health and safety factors – i. e. the need for a railing on the bridge and fencing to prevent people falling into the water.
The costs at £100,000 seem excessive, however, and one wonders who has quoted for the jobs?
Stock fencing with rylock can be done for under £5 a metre and if the fence needs to be higher, then posts with wire above this will cost very little extra. The bridge railing alone surely can't be a huge amount, though if the bridge also needs repair that could rack it up a bit.
My second point is that it is not correct to assume a new allotment society would not be able to find funds. Grants for community enterprises are falling off shelves at the moment, so there is unlikely to be much problem with finding sufficient money to equip a site and make it safe.
For the sake of local health (if not safety) and local demand, we challenge Mr Beattie to reverse his apparent decision and let a new society have a go. After all, what has he got to lose?
Sarah Eno
(chair)
Borders Organic Gardeners
Oliver Place
Hawick
