Flower towers in Galashiels’ Tapestry Way

At Wednesday night’s Zoom meeting, Judith Cleghorn revealed her ambitions to make a floral gateway for visitors alighting from the train and making their way to the new building which will house the tapestry at the end of Channel Street.

She said: “Tomorrow evening there will be a group meeting for those interested and want to be involved in improving and making beautiful the area which will become known as Tapestry Way, from the Interchange, through Douglas Bridge, and up to the tapestry building.

“I don’t think this is good enough.

“I think we as a town should aim higher, as high as we can and as high as we deserve.

“I think we should still start at the Interchange, but also look at all the main areas of the town centre.

“I think we should flood the place with flowers, florally decorate the three central town bridges, the fences around the old Fiori’s restaurant and beside Argos, do something with Market Square, and various places around Channel Street and a floral tower by the triangular area by Dalgetty’s [in Bank Street].

“I know this project will cost a lot of money and I know it’s unlikely we will get this from the council, and I know we can’t ask our volunteers to cover all the work this project will bring, so the cost of local contractors would be built within the costs.

“I think we should take on this project, not because the tapestry is coming, but for us, for the people of this town who have had to – like so many other towns – put up with miserable streets, no flowers and empty shops.”

She added to the attending community councillors: “I would ask your approval this evening to set this project in motion.”

It’s a grand idea, but funds are scarce, with the community council already having to downscale planting in Bank Street Gardens.

Secretary Tracey Alder said: “We are looking into whether the community council could become a registered charity.

“Scottish Borders Council is not saying no, so we’ll see where we get from there.”

Mrs Cleghorn also mentioned that community funds could be made available for such projects.

Councillor Harry Scott said: “I think you are quite right to aim high, I don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t apply to the community fund.

“The Scottish Government is going to make well over £100m available to various bodies in Scotland for town regeneration.

“So I think there is a case for some optimism.”

Mrs Cleghorn added: “We have a glorious town here and we’re not making the best of it.

“I took John Gray on a walk from the station today, and when you face Douglas Bridge, it’s really miserable.

“We can do so much to make it better.

“Like I said it will cost a lot of money, but let’s see what we can do ... give us a chance to make this town something that we can be so proud of.

“We are preparing collection boxes, which we hope can go into shops.

“If everybody in this town gave £2 a year, we would have enough money to do this with no problem whatsoever.”

Councillor Euan Jardine said: “I think it would be good to start a countdown, so that the public can get engaged in it, and really get behind the campaign.”

Community councillor John Gray said: “I think it has to be emphasised the amount of work the volunteers on the ground are expected to do already.

“Over the past few weeks, the Thursday Group, which started off only looking after Old Gala House grounds, are now down into Bank Street and Dalgetty’s Garden.

“We’re now into the Interchange, Stirling Street car park and the area in front of the library for weeding,

“There are not enough officers to do the work that is required to be done.

“We have so much landscape, we have created a massive problem for maintenance.”

Mrs Cleghorn said: “That is why there will be money set aside for contractors ... we don’t expect volunteers to do it all.

“I’m hoping, that come the day we get this done, we may be able to get some of it sponsored, with some shops taking over the floral towers in channel Street.

“I think it’s really exciting because we have a blank canvas, quite literally.”

Community councillor Bill White said that if the work was costed, there may be some way of Energise Galashiels providing some of the cash.

He added: “I’ve been walking up Channel Street and noticed the roan pipes ... there are some black ones, grey ones, navy blue ones, broken ones and rusty ones with bits falling off.

“It wouldn’t take a lot of money to have them painted all one colour, which would improve the look.”

He added that another good idea would be to put something in place near the tapestry building so that visitors could take a selfie.

He said: “Could we consider using Gala’s coat of arms, with the foxes looking at the plum tree as a statue?

“It would be different, and if people take their selfies there, it’s on social media, and it would be free advertising.”

The community council agreed to look into costs for the project.