Two Borders builders’ merchants avoid closure but third is not so lucky

The firm’s sites in Kelso’s Spylaw Road and Newtown St Boswells’ industrial estate are safe from closure, meaning around a dozen workers at those sites can breathe a sigh of relief.

Those are the Peebles branch are facing a more uncertain future, though, as the Dovecot Road site has been named as one of the 165 UK-wide which will not reopen after lockdown.

The group, with 645 branches in the UK including 30 in Scotland, said jobs will be lost within its distribution, administration and sales functions as it expects to make redundant around 9% of its workforce.

Customers of the Peebles site received an email from Travis Perkins stating that their local branch would not be reopening.

The company said the decision comes as it expects the impending recession to hit trade for at least two years.

Managing director Kieran Griffin said: “Over the last few months we have focused on doing the right thing for our colleagues, customers and communities in which we trade. Whilst our operations are stabilising and there are some early signs of recovery - we must prepare for the challenge ahead.

“These changes include a number of branch closures and the scaling back of some of our activities to ensure that we have a healthy, sustainable business that meets the needs of our customers now and in the future.

“This decision has not been taken lightly and in all cases we will look to redeploy displaced colleagues as much as possible - and we will support those affected through the process every step of the way.”

The firm closed its branch in Selkirk’s Whinfield Road around two years ago.