Workshop and home given the go-ahead on appeal

Scottish Borders Council's Newtown headquarters.

Erlend Milne’s plans to set up both a home and his saddlery business on land east of Castlelaw Tarf House were widely supported by locals but Scottish Borders Council officers rejected them, ruling there was no ecomonic need for a new home there.

However, members of the authority’s local review body, meeting via video-link on Monday, overturned that decision on appeal, citing the addition of Mr Milne’s nearby equine yard and business in the application as making “all the difference”.

East Berwickshire councillor Helen Laing said: “We had difficulty with this application last time around.

“The addition of the horse-riding facility makes all the difference here.

“There’s the animal welfare and support aspect rather than just the two businesses last time around.

“The leather and saddlery are all connected and the house being nearby to serve the animals’ needs makes a huge difference.”

The application received 13 notices of support from nearby residents but was still refused in January.

Welcoming the U-turn this time around, agent Tim Ferguson, of Galashiels-based Ferguson Planning, said: “This project has been a long time in the making.

“We are thrilled with the outcome which will bring the family’s saddlery and wider equine businesses back to the Borders.

“It also means our clients can remain local to West Linton where they have struggled to find suitable premises and have seen a huge level of support for their rural enterprises. It will be a great asset to the area.”