Galashiels election candidates have their say before May 5

Read on to meet your candidates and see what they want to achieve if they get your vote on May 5.

Four will be elected.

• Please note, Michael Banks is also standing for election in the Galashiels & District ward. He will be representing the Vanguard Party. The Border Telegraph asked for a candidate profile, but has not received one.

James Clark 

Scottish Eco-Federalist

The Scottish Eco-Federalist Party exists for two reasons. The first reason is to take in and utilise the votes of those who are concerned about climate change but won’t vote Green on account of their side policies (such as their drive for Scottish Independence). The second is to act as a unionist party that answers to the Scottish electorate and not the wishes and attitudes of the rest of the UK. We oppose Scottish Independence, but we are adamant that it should be Scotland’s decision.

Of course (whilst other parties may pretend otherwise) the issue of Scottish Independence is not particularly relevant at council level (though if I do better than the Green candidate it might send a message).

Ultimately, my priority is fighting climate change and I believe that the priority at all levels should be dealing with the biggest crisis in recorded history and my actions as a councillor will greatly reflect that. The faster we transition away from fossil fuels (and any energy companies that use them), the better (our time for gradual change has been wasted). I staunchly oppose policies that support the prolonged use of fossil fuels. I am generally in favour of windfarms (within reason). I will oppose the clearing of woodlands to make way for new buildings (especially when they don’t even materialise). I would also like to see improvements in the bus network, as well as more cycle lanes, more roadside paths and the electrification of the Borders Railway.

John 'Duck' Frater

Independent

I was born at Galashiels Cottage Hospital in 1959 and lived in Melrose for 22 years before moving to Gala. I completed my education at Napier College where I qualified in civil engineering.

Thereafter, I worked for two years with Rodger Builder's before joining the council's roads department in 1980. After gaining experience in several sections of the department, I finally settled into my preferred role as a senior roads planning officer in development control until I retired in 2017. I am married to Ina, and live in Forebrae Park with our three Golden Retrievers.

I was a decent golfer in my teenage years, winning the Borders Boys Championship at Ladhope Golf Course in1976. However, rugby soon took over, and I played at Melrose for several years, before joining Gala YM for the remainder of my career. My highlight playing for the YM was winning the inaugural Benidorm Sevens Tournament.

I am standing as an independent councillor because I believe I can make a difference to this community. I am a good listener, who enjoys meeting the public. I want to be the voice of my constituents and represent their views and concerns to the council, to the best of my ability.

I intend to get involved with local groups who deal with dog fouling and anti-social behaviour. I want to promote the use of mobile CCTV units to help address both these difficult issues.

More strategically I will commit to:-

1. Fully support the ongoing education programme throughout the Borders.

2. Progress the feasibility studies for the extension of the Borders Railway to Carlisle, and the branch line to Berwick.

3. Provide economic support for all local businesses.

4. Support improvements to the existing road and footpath network, from potholes to white lining and St Lighting.

5. Campaigning to reinstate the Sime Place to Ladhope Vale pedestrian footbridge.

6. Improvements to the landscaping schemes related to the Borders Railway have yet to be carried out, especially between Stow, Fountainhall and Heriot. This needs rectified.

Euan Jardine

Conservative

It has been an honour and a privilege to represent Galashiels & District over the last five years. During those five years, we faced what has been maybe the biggest crisis in many of our lives with the COVID pandemic. During that time, the community's resilience shone through. When I formed and led the Galashiels resilience team, I was taken aback by the volunteers that came forward to assist.

Going into post-pandemic recovery, I was one of the architects behind the £500,000 'Build Back a Better Borders' fund, which encouraged community initiatives and helped bring the community back together. Once again, community spirit shone through.

Many people will say that local government is baby politics and not at the same level as Holyrood or Westminster. I am sure in many ways that is true, but it is also Scottish Borders Council that makes the most direct impact in your community. To be chosen to represent your ward is about being a voice for the community and your region.

I have not been shy to push against the council and other organisations to push for better standards during my time. I worked on campaigns for better cemeteries and to open the libraries. Both of which left senior officers and chairpersons calling for my head. I refused to back down as it is my role to serve the community, not help council officials reduce quality and remove provisions.

It was a steep learning curve joining the local government. Still, I hope you feel that I have been a champion for the ward in the council chamber and in the community. Now that I have learned the ropes of local government, I would love the opportunity to push forward with ideas such as forging a link with the fringe festival so the whole ward can get benefit from international tourism.

I am a man of faith, and I am also a man who has faith in this ward and its people as we push into the future. In this election, a vote for me will be a vote for a positive future.

Neil MacKinnon

Greens

Neil was brought up in Peebles and spent three years studying for a chemistry degree at the College of Textiles, and returned to Galashiels in 2001 where he has lived since.

Neil has a strong science background from working as a research chemist and then as a service engineer in the bioanalysis sector. This scientific grounding led him to recognise the seriousness of climate change and the importance of taking swift action. He joined the Scottish Greens because they are the only party that have climate change as a priority.

Having three children, Neil is aware of the need for a replacement for the Academy to be delivered as soon as possible, however, it is important that the finished building be a zero emissions building or as close to it as possible. Neil also feels an urgent review of the preferred location is required, as losing so much green space in Scott Park is unnecessary given the space available on the existing school campus.

Neil supports a sustainable Green recovery from the pandemic. Incentives are required to enable social enterprises and local small businesses to help fill gaps in the retail space in Galashiels and to make the most of the benefits the new Tapestry building can bring to the town.

Neil believes support for active and low carbon travel is vital. This includes improving investment in the existing bus services and active travel routes along with provision of on-street charging in residential areas to enable easy adoption of electric vehicles.

The current council target for net zero of 2045 is not ambitious enough. Neil would like to see this brought forward to 2030 and for the council’s progress towards this target to be reported in a transparent manner.

“I want to give something back to the local community in a town and area that I love. Having seen the number of small local groups making a difference in their own ways I am inspired by their efforts and would like to be in a position to help groups like these prosper and grow”.

Harry Scott

Independent

I was a police officer in the Scottish Borders for most of my service, and my wife runs a successful photography business, both having lived in Galashiels for over 42 years. Elected in 2017, over the past five years it has been a privilege representing community groups and individuals in the Ward with many issues, such as planning and benefit advice, complaints about anti-social behaviour, road maintenance, social landlords etc., and successfully assisting them, or directing them on the right road to finding satisfactory solutions to the issues raised.

Our children attended Galashiels Academy. I chaired the Academy School Board for several years and continue my involvement by attending parent group meetings. I support the building of the new Galashiels Community Campus which will offer excellent educational facilities to our young people, and wider benefits in the way of sports and community activities.

If re-elected, I will continue working closely with community councils and community groups, including the management committees of the Focus and Langlee Community Centres, continuing to act as their advocate, advising them on a wide range of issues, and supporting them in discussions with Scottish Borders Council and Live Borders. Promoting business opportunities, including our tourism offerings, is important, as well as selling the message that Borderers are loyal and hardworking.

Although we live in a beautiful part of Scotland, there are many issues which require attention, including poor public transport links in rural areas, and ongoing maintenance of our road infrastructure. Domestic violence, mainly affecting women and children, is increasing and I support SBC community safety dept’s work in engaging and assisting those affected. I continue to support Police Scotland’s work in keeping us safe, but will challenge its management when complaints of poor service are brought to my attention.

This election will provide an opportunity to vote to retain an independent councillor who is free from the constraints of political affiliation, and I will consider it a great honour to be re-elected to represent, and continue to fight for the improvement of the lives of the people among whom I live.

Fay Sinclair

SNP

I’m proud that my family can call this area home. We are incomers to the Borders, but through my family’s active involvement with Gala Rugby Club and Galashiels Town Band as well as joining my local community council and serving as chair of our three sons’ primary school parent council, I am constantly talking to local people about the issues that affect us all.

There isn’t a day that goes by when we’re not faced with more evidence that the Tories are completely out of touch. From the Prime Minister’s lockdown parties, the escalating cost of living crisis and the billions the SNP Scottish Government has to spend mitigating cruel policies like the bedroom tax, to a disastrous Brexit and failure to provide real, quick help to those fleeing war in Ukraine, people are rightly angry that their concerns are not being listened to.

While I believe independence will deliver the powers Scotland needs to address the big issues going forward, people need action now.

Local government decisions impact on so much of our daily lives, from providing schools and sports facilities, to filling (or not filling) potholes and emptying bins. On May 5, you have the chance to elect a new cohort of councillors to deliver local services.

My previous career as a journalist gave me the communication skills to engage with people and counselling training helped me to improve what I believe are the most important qualities required of your local representative – the ability to listen, identify the real issues and proactively seek solutions.

If elected as your local councillor I will stand against cuts that harm our communities, fight for action to tackle rising household bills, support Borders families as we emerge from COVID restrictions and work to make this area a better place to live and the best place for our children to grow up.

On May 5 you have the opportunity to elect an SNP councillor who will put compassion and community at the forefront of council decisions, and work hard to build a fairer, greener, better Borders we can call home.

Hannah Steel

Liberal Democrat

I live in Stow and have my whole life meaning I am familiar with the issues that face our local area. I also know what makes it such a great place to live and that it is the community who constantly want to better the area.

If elected I want to represent those of us who care about our local area, from potholes to schools and our local health and social care services.

Iʼm currently in my fourth year at the University of Edinburgh studying politics. I love the outdoors and am very lucky to have three horses which I spend a lot of my free time with, I also enjoy walking in our beautiful Borders countryside. I am passionate about the environment and doing all we can to reduce the effects of climate change.

I also care deeply about education in our local area as it is very important for young people to have a good learning environment to set them up for a successful future.

I would also like to support local businesses that have suffered through lockdowns to bring back a strong local economy. The past couple of years of the pandemic has shown the need for strong mental health support so I would really like to fund more mental health services, especially for young people who have lost a lot of important formative milestones due to lockdowns.

As a young, local person, I can represent the young people of the Borders who are so often underrepresented in local politics. I can also empathise with and understand the main local issues and want to represent the views of the community to ensure key problems are dealt with.

I hope to be able to allow a young voice to be heard and taken into account at Scottish Borders Council.

Bill White

Independent

I am standing as an independent councillor as I believe that the role of local councillors should be to reflect the needs and provide the essential services for the benefit of the local people.

I will pursue all the areas of concern in your best interests without having to follow what one particular party dictates.

I am married to Fiona and we have lived in the Borders all our lives and Galashiels for over 40 years where both our children were educated. I have a clear understanding of what goes on in Galashiels and the challenges the town centre is suffering. My greatest privilege is my current presidency of the Braw Lads' Gathering.

I was chairman of Galashiels Community Council for 10 years and still an active member and was involved in arranging the funding and maintaining the floral fountains in the town last year. We need to ensure we have clean and tidy streets if we are to encourage visitors.

I currently chair the Gala Local Relief fund which helps people struggling with living costs something that will become a bigger issue as we see continuing inflationary costs.

As chairman of Live Borders since 2018, the last two years have been very challenging. I worked with the board and senior staff to make available vaccination centres throughout the Borders and put in place a COVID recovery plan. This involved being in constant dialogue with the NHS and senior directors at Scottish Borders Council and has given me an understanding of the pressures the NHS and council face. If elected, I feel this experience would be highly beneficial to the council and the people of Galashiels & District.

I will continue to support better sport and culture facilities in the Borders.

I will continue to lobby for improvements in Galashiels town centre and along the railway corridor.

We need to engage with the public and businesses to solve parking issues in Galashiels. I will campaign for a new hotel in Galashiels to kickstart further economic development.

And finally I will continue to campaign for road improvements north of Galashiels on the A7.