SELKIRK community council has now formed a group which will begin forming a proposal for a heritage centre in the town.

As previously reported, the suggestion of a ‘museum of memorabilia’ – which would feature items of historical significance not currently on display publicly – was made by community councillor Aileen Firth.

At the November meeting of the community council Ms Firth said: “There’s a mass of stuff living in people’s lofts and houses, and I wondered if there’s an appetite collectively for Selkirk councillors, flag associations, clubs and things, for some kind of museum of memorabilia.

“There is so much stuff kicking around that’s in storage.”

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And at Monday’s meeting of the council members agreed that a small group should get together to get the ball rolling.

Community councillor Alisdaire Lockhart said: “If there is an interest in setting up some sort of centre which records the history and the heritage of Selkirk, both looking forward and looking back, then I think the best way to do that would be to set up a little group and think about it.”

During the meeting calls were made to ensure that a heritage centre would not duplicate what is already available in Halliwell’s House and Sir Walter Scott’s Courtroom.

Fellow community councillor Ian King said: “We’ve already got a locus in Halliwell’s Close, we’ve got the sheriff court building, and we’ve got what might happen in the Cross Keys space in due course.

“We can’t necessarily say now what sort of future commitment we can make, and I’m pretty sure the councillors will be a bit wary about taking on additional responsibilities for properties which are currently empty and therefore liable to deteriorate, we’ve got to think very seriously about a business plan and how much it would cost.”

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David Deacon, also a member of the community council, added that the two current museums and a future heritage centre should be a “joined up affair”.

Mr Lockhart, alongside Mr King, Ms Firth, and Scottish Borders councillor Caroline Cochrane will form the initial group to discuss what a heritage centre for Selkirk would look like. Lindsay Neil will also be invited to join the group.

The group will report back to the community council at a future meeting.