Ballot over community hostel bid

A community bid for the Coldingham hostel is being considered

A ballot is being organised to establish the level of support for a £425,000 community buyout of a youth hostel in the Borders.

The Coldingham site was one of seven earmarked for closure by the Scottish Youth Hostel Association last year.

Residents in Coldingham and nearby St Abbs have formed a community company under "right-to-buy" legislation.

However, a vote has to take place in the area to ensure a majority of locals are behind the scheme.

The hostel has been put on the market by the SYHA and an independent valuer, appointed by the Scottish Government, ruled the building was worth £425,000.

A local community company believes it could obtain 95% of the money needed to buy the building from lottery funds.

That would mean at least £27,000 would need to be raised locally to buy the building.

It is estimated that about £500,000 would then be required for repairs and refurbishment.

Open market

In a bid to gauge local support for the scheme, a community ballot has been organised for later this month.

In order for the ballot to be valid 50% of eligible voters must take part and the majority must back the scheme, otherwise the building will be sold on the open market.

Coldingham Village Hall will be open for three days, starting on 18 October, to allow locals to have their say.

Postal votes will then be given out and door-to-door calls made in order to ensure as high a turnout as possible in the community ballot.