Selkirk textile business boss wins appeal against relocation threat

Penny Burgess put in a retrospective application in November last year for change of use of the flat in Shawburn Road to allow her to base her company, Penelope Textiles, there.

That bid was rejected by Scottish Borders Council planners in February, however, as her business was deemed to be out of place in a residential area.

Before moving to that flat, her business, selling haberdashery as well as textiles, was based for four years at Riverside Mills in Selkirk until it was required to move on.

Ms Burgess, 46, lodged an appeal against the rejection of her application, and it was upheld this week by members of the council’s local review body, meeting via video-link, on the grounds that her business is not causing any issues for neighbours.

At its meeting on Monday, the review body granted five years’ temporary consent for her to trade from the flat between 9am and 5pm on weekdays.

Welcoming that decision, Ms Burgess, of Tower Street in Selkirk, said: “My reaction is that it is a tremendous weight off my mind.

“I have been waiting since November last year, so I have not been able to unpack the business and run it since then, which was difficult for Christmas trade and obviously it has been difficult throughout the pandemic to keep things going, so this is a tremendous weight off my mind and I’m absolutely delighted.

“It also gives stability as it takes my 14-year-old daughter up to the end of school, which was something I also wanted.”

Kelso councillor Simon Mountford said: “I have tremendous sympathy for the applicant and I am struck by the fact that she has been totally transparent and honest with the council about her situation and what are her needs.

“She has clearly tried to rent alternative premises, but the simple reality is that this is a one-woman business and the income from the business does not allow her to pay significant amounts on rent.

“The economic justification for having the business in her flat is because she owns it, therefore she doesn’t need to pay rent and it makes all the difference between having a viable business and an unviable business.”

East Berwickshire councillor Helen Laing agreed, saying: “I am very sympathetic to this business being able to carry on.

“I accept that it is a residential area, but it doesn’t seem to be having any impact on neighbours in terms of deliveries or working hours. It successfully co-exists.”

Hawick and Denholm councillor Neil Richards was also in favour, saying: “Yes, we worry about too many deliveries, but in this day and age, with white van men delivering virtually everything, I don’t think the volume she has will cause any concerns to her neighbours at all, so yes, I support her.”

Fellow ward councillor Clair Ramage added: “There have been no objections from the local community, so there are obviously no issues.

“The community council wants to support this lady and it has remained neutral on it and the council’s economic development team is in favour of temporary consent.”

A slightly more cautious tone was struck by Jedburgh councillor Scott Hamilton, though.

He said: “This remains a highly residential area. We have seen similar situations across the Borders but in more town centre environments, where mixed usage has now become more appropriate, whereas this is a solely residential area, and that is still my overriding concern.

“I have a great deal of sympathy, but I am still not convinced it is the right area for this business.”