Great Tapestry of Scotland: £6m Tweedbank scheme could be shelved

An alternative home has been suggested for the Great Tapestry of Scotland, which had been set to be based at Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders.

The choice was controversial because of the six million pound cost of the scheme, and thousands of people signed a petition for Scottish Borders Council to drop its financial support.

The council had agreed to put forwards £3.5 million of the cost, and said the scheme would boost tourism.

They are still in favour of basing it in Tweedbank, but say an alternative home in the Scottish Borders is now being considered.

Buildings have recently become available in the centre of Galashiels, and the council says housing the tapestry there could help regenerate the town.

The buildings were not vacant when the decision was taken to base the tapestry in Tweedbank.

Scottish Borders Council says it continues to support Tweedbank as a location for the tapestry, pointing to the role of the Borders Railway in bringing thousands of people to the area.

In August councillors will see a detailed report, and will decide whether to proceed with Tweedbank, or pursue the Galashiels option.