IT’S safety first at a Borders school after approval was granted to provide a new fire escape route.

A proposal has been rubber-stamped for the new route from the staff room at Burgh Primary School in Galashiels by an opening in an existing boundary wall which is Grade C listed.

The staff room has re-located back to its original location just off the Assembly Hall.

The staff room has direct access by an external door to a courtyard at the rear of the school and this is to be the designated fire escape route.

In his report approving the application, Carlos Clarke, Scottish Borders Council’s lead planning officer, states: “The opening is required to provide a fire escape route to a relocated staff room, and other alternatives have already been considered.”