 | 'I wouldn't say I've got a mandate, but I've been asked by the people of Selkirk to provide them with the services they do deserve - and that's my intention.' Old Selkirk Independent Cllr Gordon Edgar, 7 th May 2002. |  |
| 'I wouldn't say I've got a mandate, but I've been asked by the people of Selkirk to provide them with the services they do deserve - and that's my intention.' Old Selkirk Independent Cllr Gordon Edgar, 7 th May 2002. | |
A by-election was held in the Old Selkirk ward of Scottish Borders Council on the 2 nd May 2002 following the death of Independent Cllr Tom Henderson on the 14 th March 2002.
Old Selkirk is in the new Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk Westminster parliamentary seat (held by Liberal Democrat Michael Moore MP) and in the Tweedale, Ettrick & Lauderdale Scottish parliamentary seat (held by Liberal Democrat Jeremy Purves MSP).
| 2 nd May 2002 By-election Turnout 45.5 % (- 24.4 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R. Gordon Edgar |  |
Independent | 458 | 36.2 % | (+ 36.2 %) |
| Provost John Thomson | |
Independent | 444 | 35.1 % | (+ 35.1 %) |
| John Cooper |  |
Scottish National Party | 173 | 13.7 % | + 5.3 % |
| Graeme McIver | |
Borders Action Group | 115 | 9.1 % | (+ 9.1 %) |
| Morris Manson |  |
Liberal Democrat | 74 | 6.9 % | (+ 6.9 %) |
| Independent hold | |
Independent majority | 14 | 1.1 % | |
| 6 th May 1999 Turnout 69.9 % (+ 23.9 %) | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas W. Henderson | |
Independent | 897 | 45.0 % | - 23.5 % |
| William K. Gunn | |
No Ticket | 419 | 21.0 % | (+ 21.0 %) |
| Ian Galloway | |
Independent | 412 | 20.7 % | (+ 20.7 %) |
| John G. D. Bain | |
Scottish National Party | 167 | 8.4 % | (+ 8.4 %) |
| Harold A. Inglis |  |
Conservative | 97 | 4.9 % | (+ 4.9 %) |
| Independent hold | |
Independent majority | 478 | 24.0 % | - 13.1 % |
| 6 th April 1995 Turnout 46.0 % | |||||
| Candidate | Logo | Party | Votes | % | % change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas W. Henderson | |
Independent | 475 | 68.5 % | |
| Robert Gordon Edgar | |
Independent | 218 | 31.5 % | |
| Independent win | |
Independent majority | 257 | 37.1 % | |
PROVOST John Thomson summed up the feeling of Selkirk on the sudden and tragic death of Councillor Tom Henderson. 'We are all stunned,' he said.
Councillor Henderson (60) was walking the Border hills on Thursday with his good friend Arnold Henderson when he collapsed and died.
He has been described as 'Mr Selkirk' and will be a huge loss to the community.
Councillor Henderson had served the people of Selkirk in local government for almost 30 years and never lost an election.
Tributes have been pouring in since his death.
Provost Thomson, who shared Councillor Henderson's early years on Selkirk Town Council, said: 'I am shattered. Quite stunned. I knew Tom for a very long time and his death is very sad.
'He was a colleague of mine on the old Selkirk Town Council and, of course, he continued into the District Council, Regional Council and now Scottish Borders Council.
'He was also, of course, Provost of the Common Riding Trust and he put so much into the Common Riding over the years.
'He will be a huge miss, not just to the Common Riding, but to the town and community of Selkirk. His knowledge, contacts etc. He was able to get things done in his own quiet way.'
Provost Thomson felt like many of us who knew him. 'His death has not sunk in yet. He will be extremely difficult to replace.'
Former Provost Jim Newlands also paid tribute. 'I knew Tom all my life and he took an active interest in everything. He was a Ôweel-kent' figure in the town and the Borders and a ÔGreat Souter'.
'Tom served the community all of his life. He always wanted to be a councillor and he never lost an election.
'He had a deep love for Selkirk and supported everything about the town. He loved Selkirk and we will all miss him.'
Councillor Gordon Edgar, chairman of Selkirk Community Council, paid his respects. 'I was shocked to hear the news.
'Tom had Selkirk in his heart and he did his very best for the town. That was his life and his death is a blow for the town because he had so many interests. He will be a big miss.'
Tom was to have chaired a meeting of the Eildon Area Committee last night. His vice-chairman, Bill Lamb, said: 'I was shocked when I heard the news. Tom was a great friend and colleague.'
Councillor Bill Hardie, Independent Group Leader on Scottish Borders Council, said: 'Tom was a genuine and warm-hearted man and his sense of humour and dedication will be sorely missed in the Council Chamber. I send my heartfelt sympathies to Tom's wife Cath and all his family.'
Councillor John Scott, Leader of Scottish Borders Council, added: 'Tom was a great friend and colleague, much respected and admired by all his fellow-councillors. He was a staunch supporter of Selkirk, where he was born and raised and a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
'I know that he will be sorely missed by all his family and many friends and everyone with whom he came into contact in his long career on the Council.'
Former Council Leader, Drew Tulley, who served with Tom on the District Council, said that, like his fellow-councillors, he was deeply shocked by the news. 'He had always been very active and only the previous night attended a meeting in Galashiels.
'Tom worked very hard for Selkirk. He also worked hard to try and put textiles back on a sound footing, and his knowledge in this field was invaluable.
'He had many special interests and he had the town at heart.
'He will be sadly missed.'
His fellow-Selkirk councillor, Chris Renton, added: 'I thought a lot of Tom. With his great wealth of experience, he was a great help to me. I will miss him.'
Tom's funeral service will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) at 11.45 a.m. in Selkirk Parish Church followed by interment in Shawfield Cemetery.
WITH the death of Councillor Tom Henderson, followed less than a week later by the passing of Councillor Bob Jack, Scottish Borders Council now finds itself three down in strength with more than a year to run until the next election.
Ian Waddell, one of two Eyemouth councillors resigned last month in protest at the proposed cuts, and that by-election is due to be held next month.
Whether SBC will want to rush through elections on the same date in Selkirk and Kelso is yet to be decided, but the question on everyone's lips is who will be the next member for Old Selkirk be?
Hon. Provost John Thomson would appear to be an early leading choice.
His fellow Community Councillor Kenneth Gunn, who came second to Mr Henderson at the last election, hasn't entirely ruled himself out, although he has a new job, one which has said would make him 'doubtful' for the post.
Chairman of the Community Council, Gordon Edgar, isn't so sure. He had already made noises that he might stand at next year's full election, but says it's too early yet to make a decision.
SWIMMING pools in the Borders will close, according to the Borders Action Group candidate for the Old Selkirk Ward.
Graeme McIver poured cold water on the Leader of Scottish Borders Council's pronouncement that no pools would close when he addressed a Hustings meeting in Selkirk last night (Monday).
Councillor John Scott proposed extra cash for pools and guaranteed the Borders' recovery in a 12-point plan, which was announced last Tuesday.
Mr McIver said: 'The new Council Leader's guarantee is worthless and I will promise you now that if the present programme is not thrown out, pools in the Borders will close.'
More than 60 people attended the Hustings meeting and the topic of conversation centred on recent budget cuts and the proposed recovery plan.
Also discussed was whether councillors should be trained before standing as a candidate, or receive higher salaries to attract a better quality of personnel.
There was also said to be a need for a voice for young people to be heard on the Council.
Mr McIver (No Ticket) will contest the seat for Old Selkirk on Thursday, with John Cooper (SNP), Gordon Edgar (Independent), Morris Manson (Liberal Democrat) and John Thomson (Independent).
Voting takes place in the Victoria Halls between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
The results of all three Borders elections, Kelso, Selkirk and Eyemouth, will be announced on Friday.
There are three local government by-elections in Scotland today, in the Borders Council area.
They are in the wards of Old Selkirk, Eyemouth & District, and Kelso Central.
Two of the contests are due to the death of councillors but the third, in Eyemouth, was precipitated by the resignation last February of Ian Waddell, the independent councillor, over budget cutbacks.
The votes will not be counted until tomorrow morning.
A former Tory MEP has won a Scottish Borders council seat held by theLiberal Democrats.
Alasdair Hutton won the Kelso Central ward by a majority of 97 from the LibDems in one of three council by-elections in the Borders which took place at the same times as the English polls.
The Eyemouth & District South ward was won by Michael Cook, who had no party label but was a members of th Borders Action Group which campaigned against the £5m budget cuts enacted by the council earlier this year.
Gordon Edgar, and Independent, won the Old Selkirk seat.
The Tories won a council seat from the Liberal Democrats in the Borders yesterday in the wake of the recent financial crisis which prompted severe cutbacks to services.
The former South of Scotland MEP, Alasdair Hutton won the by-election in Kelso after the Liberal Democrat vote collapsed.
The Lib Dems, who had controlled Scottish Borders Council in a coalition with independents until recently, have been implicated in a budget overspend of £4 million in the education department which has led to job losses and the closure of facilities.
The Scottish Tory party chairman, David Mitchell, said: "I warmly congratulate Alasdair on an excellent victory.
"He has the ability and experience to represent the people of Kelso."
Another by-election, in Eyemouth & District South, was won by an independent, Michael Cook. The poll was precipitated by the resignation last February of Ian Waddell, another independent councillor, over cutbacks. In a third by-election, independent candidate Gordon Edgar won the Old Selkirk council seat, beating the Lib Dems by 458 votes to 78.
The political turmoil in the Borders reached a peak in March when the controversial council leader, Drew Tulley, resigned, causing the ruling group to collapse.
Mr Tulley, 64, stepped down after a loss of public confidence in the council over budget overspend. He quit a day before Lib Dem councillors were due to table a motion of no confidence in him.
GORDON Edgar has been elected to represent Old Selkirk on Scottish Borders Council.
The Independent candidate was selected over Provost John Thomson, also Independent, with a slight majority of 14.
Mr Edgar, who runs his own electronics business in the town, will stand down from his post of chairman on Selkirk Community Council as a result.
Speaking to the 'Border Telegraph' he said: 'I am really pleased with the result. It was a very close fight. Johnnie was an excellent candidate, but I am really pleased that I won it.
'It's an encouragement for me. I wouldn't say I've got a mandate, but I've been asked by the people of Selkirk to provide them with the services they do deserve - and that's my intention.'
A by-election was held on Thursday following the recent death of Councillor Tom Henderson.
Mr Thomson was previously reported as favourite to win the seat, which included candidates John Cooper (SNP), Morris Manson (Liberal-Democrat), and Graeme McIver (No Ticket, Borders Action Group).
Councillor Edgar has vowed to work constructively with both the Administration and Opposition members on the Council for the benefit of Selkirk.
He made a promise before the election to fight for Borders jobs, securing leisure and community facilities, better communications, improved transport and a cleaner, safer environment.
'The first thing I will have to do is organise surgeries to make sure they (the voters) can tell me what they want,' he said.
'That is what my intention is - to give them what they want - to be open with them and be available for them.'
The Independent councillor has been a staunch campaigner over the financial management at Scottish Borders Council and of the budget cuts which ensued.
He said: 'I want to get information on the closure of the facilities and the Continuing Education cutbacks. I want the information because that's what's been missing in our campaign. We've never been given this information.
'I also want to find out what the budgets are because one of the things in business is you always keep an eye on your budgets and the levels of expenditure.
'I'll find out about that so I have a grounding because there is a meeting on May 8 that I am getting the papers for just now,' he added.
Sir, - Through the courtesy of your columns, I would like to say thank you to everyone who gave me support and encouragement during the recent Scottish Borders Council By-Election.
Also to all those in the Old Selkirk Ward who voted on Thursday, May 2, many thanks. I now look forward to delivering my promises. - I am, etc.,
Gordon Edgar.
THREE new councillors have been elected to serve on Scottish Borders Council.
Gordon Edgar (Independent), Alasdair Hutton (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party), and Michael Cook (No Ticket, Borders Action Group), last week won the by-elections in the Old Selkirk, Kelso Central and Eyemouth and District South wards respectively.
They will be sworn in when the full Council meets tomorrow (Wednesday).
All three winning candidates were anti-cuts campaigners, opposed to the financial management at the Council and the budget cuts which followed.
Mr Edgar said: 'The fight starts here to get the services that the Borders deserve.'
With vital social amenities still threatened, voters turned out in their hundreds to register their disapproval.
The result from Thursday's polls has further reduced the slight majority held by the recently formed Liberal-Democrat-led Administration at the Council.
Mr Hutton is the only winning candidate to confirm his allegiance to the ruling group.
But he warned: 'I hope that the Council will hear the message that this result will send. The people have said that they are unhappy with the way the Council has behaved.
'I am quite sure that this result should be interpreted as the people wanting councillors to be closer to the wishes and the voices of the people of the Borders.
'And I hope that this message will be heard by all the councillors of Scottish Borders Council.'
Perhaps of greater distinction, only one year from the full quota of local government elections, the Borders Action Group candidate in Eyemouth received more votes than all three Liberal-Democrat candidates put together.
Mr Cook said: 'The voters have given us a massive endorsement. That endorsement sends a huge message to Scottish Borders Council and I hope the Council is listening.
'It is a message which says: 'We are dissatisfied, and we are deeply unhappy with what has been happening'.
'It is now time for the Council to start listening to our message and take on board our message because it has been delivered in unequivocal fashion. I hope they will take note,' he added.
Ironically, the first task faced by those newly elected councillors will be to vote on the Council's proposed Recovery Plan.
Reacting to the results of last week's by-elections in Selkirk, Eyemouth and Kelso, former Council Leader Drew Tulley said that he was not surprised at the results.
Councillor Tulley said that it mirrored the 'wrong' decision by the new Administration to promise an immediate recovery plan.
He said: 'They are just creating more problems for next year.'
THE result of the polls at the three by-elections to Scottish Borders Council on Thursday were as follows:
Old Selkirk
Gordon Edgar (Independent), 458.
John Thomson (Independent), 444.
John Cooper (SNP), 173.
Graeme McIver (No Ticket, Borders Action Group), 115.
Morris Manson (Liberal Democrat), 74.
Turn-out: 45.5 per cent.
Kelso Central
Alasdair Hutton (Conservative), 328.
Peter Logan (Liberal-Democrat), 231.
John Dawson (Independent), 186.
Natasha York (SNP), 104.
Turn-out: 33.6 per cent.
Eyemouth
Michael Cook (No Ticket, Borders Action Group), 567.
William Herd (SNP), 229.
Elspeth Baird (Liberal-Democrat), 225.
Michael Norcott (Conservative), 50.
Turn-out: 44.5 per cent.
FOLLOWING the recent election, there has been rapid promotion for the Independent councillor for Old Selkirk, Gordon Edgar.
He takes on the difficult task, along with Hawick councillor David Patterson, of overseeing the transport portfolio.
This is the department which was headed up until last year by John Ross Scott, who became the leader of the council after deposing Drew Tulley and who himself was defeated at the polls on May 1.
With almost a single-handed approach to the re-introduction of the Waverley Railway Line and a standstill to spending on the sadly neglected A7 road up Gala Water to Edinburgh, there is massive scope for a whole new approach to the infrastructure of the Borders, especially with Edinburgh apparently still on course to introduce a toll system for entering the city.
It is hoped Councillor Edgar will put forward the case for massive expenditure on the A7 if efforts to attract industry to the Selkirkshire area of the Borders is to have any success.
In a surprise move, Councillor Edgar and his Liberal-Democrat opposite number, Vicky Davidson in the Forest ward, have agreed to work together even although they are on different sides on the Council.
The two have pledged to work together for the good of Selkirk and her hinterland and are even holding joint surgeries in the town.
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