GALASHIELS Community Council chairman Ian Purvis claimed there is a “complete lack of interest” in moving one of the country’s biggest tourist attractions to Tweedbank.

In June, Scottish Borders Council voted to spend £40,000 commissioning a business case to bring the Great Tapestry of Scotland to the region.

That study will consider the design, building and revenue costs of providing a dedicated visitor centre on local authority-owned land in Tweedbank.

But, speaking at this month’s meeting of Galashiels Community Council, Mr Purvis said: “From the people I have spoken to, there seems to be a complete lack of interest in it going to Tweedbank.” Former Scottish Borders Council Leader Drew Tulley added: “It would be better in Gala than stuck out in the wilderness.” Their comments follow a plea from the Callants Club to consider a site in Hawick.

Councillor Bill White, who represents Galashiels and District on Scottish Borders Council, said: “I’m getting a lot of grief from a lot of individuals in Gala about this. My own personal view is it should be here.” Local authority leader David Parker revealed the council is looking at two sites - one on land next to the new rail terminus building and another on the site of the neighbouring Eildon Mill, with plans to demolish the “not particularly attractive looking building”.

He told last month’s meeting of Tweedbank Community Council he hoped to return with a preliminary report to their meeting in October before they are presented to Scottish Borders Council.

Councillor Parker said: “A lot of work is being done at the moment to find additional funders and in the not so distant future we hope to make an announcement.” But, referring to a bid to house the tapestry in Hawick, he added: “There is no prospect of it going to Hawick. It needs to be next to a major transport project and if it wasn’t next to the Borders Railway it wouldn’t come here at all.”