Jedburgh digital gateway: sheep farming doom or bright future?

A packed Town Hall attended a major town development conference organised by pressure group Jedburgh Alliance. The Scottish Government declined to be represented, but SBC sent its top tier of officials and councillors, including chief executive David Hume and leader David Parker. And SBC bosses heard a call for Jedburgh to be used as a pilot for handing some services back to the towns.

Alliance chairman George Burt told the meeting: "Scottish Borders Council should be a more functional and focused level of government." He believed the council was planning to externalise some of the services it provides. He went on: "Instead of externalising these services … localise them, give them back to the towns.

"It would restore civic pride if services were restored to the town. Use Jedburgh as a pilot … not just for the Borders but for the whole of Scotland."

There was also a call for the town to be developed as the gateway to Scotland with a requirement for improved signage, car parking, an enhanced town centre and a large new hotel. It was revealed that many people arriving in Jedburgh from the south did not know that they had already crossed the Border.

Burt said it was important that the drive to take Jedburgh forward should be co-ordinated from within the town. Leader David Parker told the meeting: "The very fact that you are here today shows your passion and I cannot see anyone better to drive this forward." And Hume revealed that talks were taking place with communications company THUS that could make Jedburgh the digital gateway to Scotland.

The idea is for it to become the country's first Wi-Fi town – a move that would allow people to stop and have phone-free access on their laptop computers to the internet and emails. Hume said: "There is potential to have automatic text messages sent to mobile phones as people approach Jedburgh. They would get a message saying they were approaching Scotland's first Wi-Fi town."

Problems facing the town were highlighted by a number of speakers including John Davidson of the Merchants Association. He warned: "There is a huge problem … something must be done or we are doomed. Do we have to wait for tumbleweed coming down the High Street?"

And to the host of councillors at the meeting he said: "It is a sad indictment that you have all had to come here. I hope you will go away and take heed of what we have said. "There are positives and negatives in Jedburgh and we have a part to play. But the people of Jedburgh beg you to help us."

                                                                                                                      Courtesy: http://tinyurl.com/3p52je
Sheep farming at risk or recovery?
The meeting comes at a time when the borders
hill farmers begin to voice their fears that sheep
farming is doomed as a viable industry

Scottish farming leaders and politicians are warned they risked walking into the biggest disaster yet for the livestock sector unless they act now to secure a better deal from impending reforms to two key European policies, writes Joe Watson from The Press & Journal quoting former NFU Scotland president Jim Walker   at Scotsheep.

Walker is warning the planned changes to both the Common Agricultural Policy and the less-favoured area regime were dangerous, pandering too much to environmental and global trade interests and could result in further significant falls in Scottish agricultural output.
                                                                                                                       
He added: “I do not think this is a clever way forward in a period when food production and food security are becoming ever more important. He said rather than £2 per ewe and £20 per cow that have been suggested the payments should be about £150 for cows and £10-£15 per sheep.

"Investment" he urged " had to be put into agriculture Europe-wide after 30 years of cuts that had resulted in production cuts of 2.2% from 1970 to 1990 and a further 1.3% drop over the last 18 years because of poor returns. Estimates point to a further 1.2% fall up to 2017.

Policymakers globally had to wake up to the problem they had created and put support back into farming if an expected doubling in milk and meat demand by 2030 is to be met,  he concluded.

However, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead is reported as  saying that the increase in price, combined with an expected rise in exports were positive signs. "The coming year will almost certainly bring its challenges, but I believe the Scottish sheep sector has a bright future," he said. "The Scottish Government will continue to do all it can to support this vital industry."

Sources:  http://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/