'Nobody should be going up to Edinburgh to do any shopping' - Borders council leader warns
Local authority approves plans for free parking throughout December
Last updated 17th Nov 2020
Nobody from the Borders should be doing their Christmas shopping in Edinburgh this year - at least, not while the city remains in Level 3 restrictions.
That's the message from councillors, who've agreed to drop charges at all council-run car parks in the Borders throughout December.
It's hoped the move will give local businesses a boost over the festive period, many of which have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
But concerns were raised it could have the opposite effect - if motorists abuse the scheme, by abandoning their cars in the region's pay and display car parks all day to take the train into Edinburgh.
Scottish Borders Council leader Shona Haslam told this morning's Executive committee: "Edinburgh is currently in (Level) 3 and nobody should be going up to Edinburgh to do any shopping - so, please, stay in the Borders and shop local this Christmas; our High Streets need our support.
"Park for free, do your shopping, have a coffee, have lunch, and then go home and be safe."
Members stopped short of extending the free parking scheme to the end of March, amid concerns it could cost the local authority more than ÂŁ80,000 in lost revenue. It will instead run from December the 1st to January the 4th, which is expected to cost less than ÂŁ15,000.
Galashiels, Hawick, Melrose, Peebles and St Abbs are the communities set to benefit.
Tweeddale councillor Robin Tatler backed the scheme - but admitted he had some reservations.
He explained: "We're surrounded by areas that have a higher prevalence of Covid-19 - and that is challenging from the point of view of travel. There are no (statutory) restrictions as we know but still we might not want to be seen to be encouraging people to come in from outside the area.
"However, I don't want to be seen as the Grinch, or Scrooge, so I would be quite supportive of a temporary removal of the restrictions."
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