Save our nursery! Walkerburn mum fights back tears as meeting exposes reality of mothballing plans

It's feared families will have no choice but to leave Walkerburn - if Scottish Borders Council pushes ahead with plans to close the village nursery.

Around 50 parents and young people packed into last night's community council meeting to voice their concerns.

And a number had to fight back tears as emotions ran high.

WATCH: Click on the link below to hear from some of those who attended...

Scottish Borders Council's Executive Member for Education, Julie Pirone (Conservative), was among the councillors in attendance - and says only eight children are currently registered at the Tweed-side nursery, which is staffed for 16 - although campaigners argue that figure is closer to 11.

The meeting in the Public Hall heard staff only found out their jobs could be at risk through a post on social media.

Fellow Tweeddale councillor Marshall Douglas (SNP) explained his decision not to support an amendment to a council report which would have guaranteed the seven nurseries under threat of being mothballed due to low numbers stayed open, at least for another year - centre on concerns any delay to the review would only lead to further anxiety.

That was after he highlighted the dangers of the local road at Tuesday's meeting of SBC's Executive.

But he stressed a final decision is yet to be taken.

Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio after the meeting, community council chairman Colin Kerr said: "I was at the Executive meeting and I was astounded at what unfolded. It didn't make sense.

"You wouldn't have had all this emotion in the room tonight if they had given us a year to consult. The community council was never consulted, we only found out about it second-hand and that's not right.

"The reason they want to shut the nursery is to try to keep the numbers up at Innerleithen."

But he added: "We need to keep Walkerburn open, because it's the beating heart of our community."

WATCH: Click on the link below to hear more from last night's meeting...

Channelkirk, Cockburnspath, Ednam, Fountainhall, Walkerburn, Westruther and Yetholm are all said to be operating at half their capacity or less, and within seven miles of a suitable alternative.

A four-week consultation will now take place with affected communities, in a bid to save the local authority £400,000.

Councillor Pirone refuted suggestions that Walkerburn Primary School would close if the nursery is realigned with St Ronan's in Innerleithen but, addressing the community council meeting last night, she added: "I need to hear from you why your nursery should stay open."

Reflecting on the meeting, Tweeddale councillor Robin Tatler (Independent) said the message from the community was "loud and clear".

"They will fight tooth and nail to hold on to the nursery here," he added, "because they realise as well they've got to do that in order to hold on to the school, which is equally important."

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