Club seeking to allay fears over its festival

Representatives of the Greenyards club were back at the latest meeting of the town’s community council last week to make a further attempt to put residents’ minds at rest over the disruption they fear will be caused by this year’s festival of rugby.

That festival will take place over four days – from Thursday, April 9, to Sunday, April 12 – and will include the main sevens event on the Saturday, preceded by a quiz and youth rugby tournament and followed by a last-night concert by alternative rock act Big Country.

Residents have spoken of their fears at recent community council meetings, telling of rowdy crowds causing havoc in the town centre during and after last year’s event, with booze-fuelled revellers allegedly urinating in doorways, noise booming out of marquees and general antisocial behaviour.

There were also complaints by residents over planned road closures they said would cut one end of the town from the other.

Club commercial director Phil Morris began his latest pitch by confirming that the stand previously proposed at St Mary’s Road is no longer required, meaning that that road will now only be closed for two days rather than four weeks.

He also promised that underage festival-goers would not be able to buy drinks in the ground as anyone under 18 would be given a blue wristband not allowing entry into the beer tent.

He also assured bosses at the nearby caravan park that a member of the club’s security staff would be placed at its gates following reports of the barrier being broken last year.

Caravan park manager John Smith is still worried about his customers being disturbed by noise, however, as Mr Morris admitted that a tent at Gibson Park would not be soundproofed.

Mr Morris said: “There are such tents available, but we couldn’t afford it.

“Our remit is to ensure the future of the rugby club, and we are trying to minimise the impact on everybody as much as we can.”

Questioned about access to the parish church for its Easter Sunday service, he promised that would not be a problem and that minister Rosie Frew was going to be given pass tickets for anyone driving to mass that day.

Community council chairman William Windram told him: “I would hope these passes will be given to anyone who needs them, not just the minister, as some people only go to that service. It’s very popular.”

Mr Morris pledged that that would be the case.

He also said that extra toilets are being planned in the triangle next to the ground to relieve concerns about urination or defecation by revellers in public places.

Noise, access and rowdiness weren’t the only concerns raised, however.

Community councillor Andrew Panter asked about the types of plastic beer tumbler that will be used, Melrose being designated as a plastic-free town.

Mr Morris said: “We’ve chosen a type of biodegradable plastic which will biodegrade in two years.

“We will clean up afterwards, and we will be talking to the council about the best place to take the empties. We are working on it.

“It’s the most pragmatic solution to a difficult issue.”

Mr Morris added that the club would hold a question-and-answer session at the Greenyards for residents in a further attempt to assuage concerns.