Council agrees to include Hornsehow in Hawick ward boundaries

Scottish Borders Council is to include Hornshole in it's boundary commission submission following a public campaign.

The Council initially failed to oppose plans to remove the historic battleground from the Hawick and Denholm ward as part of revised local government boundaries.

But Burnfoot Community Council Chairman Michael Grieve started petition calling for the area to remain as part of the Hawick ward.

It has now been confirmed that the council has changed its position and will now include the historic site in its entry to the Local Government Boundary Commission.

A row has broken out in the Scottish Borders over plans to redefine council ward boundaries. Under the proposals, rural areas surrounding Hawick have been included in a new Jedburgh ward.

Local people say it will break long standing ties to areas, including an historic battleground that shapes Hawick's annual Common Riding festival. Jenny Longden reports.

A petition has begun calling for Hornshole to remain as part of the Hawick ward.

Burnfoot Community Council Chairman Michael Grieve has started the petition after Scottish Borders Council failed to oppose plans to remove the historic battleground from the Hawick and Denholm ward, in revised local government boundaries.

Under the proposals, the battle site, which is central to the town's common riding festival, will be part of a larger Jedburgh ward.

The plans are part of a national review by the Local Government Boundary Commission of Scotland, who want elected representatives in council to reflect the distribution of voters.

Councillors say there are many rural areas that face joining a different ward under the proposals.

Michael Grieve says the community must fight the plans: