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| Great Tapestry of Scotland: Tweedbank home decision contested | Great Tapestry of Scotland: Tweedbank home decision contested |
| (1 day later) | |
| A bid is being made to reverse Scottish Borders Council's decision to help fund a permanent home for the Great Tapestry of Scotland at Tweedbank. | A bid is being made to reverse Scottish Borders Council's decision to help fund a permanent home for the Great Tapestry of Scotland at Tweedbank. |
| The Scottish government has pledged £2.5m towards the scheme at one end of the recently-opened Borders Railway. | The Scottish government has pledged £2.5m towards the scheme at one end of the recently-opened Borders Railway. |
| The local authority voted last year to allocate up to £3.5m to the project. | The local authority voted last year to allocate up to £3.5m to the project. |
| However, a petition gathered thousands of signatures against the move and councillors will meet this week to be asked to drop their financial support. | However, a petition gathered thousands of signatures against the move and councillors will meet this week to be asked to drop their financial support. |
| The council agreed the move to create what leader David Parker described as a "truly inspirational visitor centre" in December 2014. | The council agreed the move to create what leader David Parker described as a "truly inspirational visitor centre" in December 2014. |
| The tapestry has been on tour for some time but it is hoped to give it a permanent home as near as possible to the Tweedbank terminus on the new rail line. | The tapestry has been on tour for some time but it is hoped to give it a permanent home as near as possible to the Tweedbank terminus on the new rail line. |
| 'Vanity project' | 'Vanity project' |
| A council report described it as a "unique opportunity" for the Scottish Borders to have an "exhibition of national significance" with ties to the region's textiles traditions. | A council report described it as a "unique opportunity" for the Scottish Borders to have an "exhibition of national significance" with ties to the region's textiles traditions. |
| It estimated around 50,000 visitors a year would come to the facility which would bring money into the economy and create the equivalent of 17 full-time jobs. | It estimated around 50,000 visitors a year would come to the facility which would bring money into the economy and create the equivalent of 17 full-time jobs. |
| The petition, with more than 4,000 signatures, claims the cost of the centre is "unacceptable" at a time when essential services are being cut. | The petition, with more than 4,000 signatures, claims the cost of the centre is "unacceptable" at a time when essential services are being cut. |
| It asks the council to overturn its decision to back the plan. | It asks the council to overturn its decision to back the plan. |
| Among the complaints cited by opponents are: | Among the complaints cited by opponents are: |
| They claim many residents believed it was a "vanity project" rather than one meeting a "calculated business need". | They claim many residents believed it was a "vanity project" rather than one meeting a "calculated business need". |
| Councillors are due to meet on Thursday to decide whether to continue with the scheme. | Councillors are due to meet on Thursday to decide whether to continue with the scheme. |
| What do you think? Should Scottish Borders Council pull the plug on plans for a permanent home for the Great Tapestry or would that be a "unique opportunity" missed? Emailselkirk.news@bbc.co.uk. | What do you think? Should Scottish Borders Council pull the plug on plans for a permanent home for the Great Tapestry or would that be a "unique opportunity" missed? Emailselkirk.news@bbc.co.uk. |