Last updated at 10:09, Thursday, 29 March 2012

People will be able to settle invoices with Scottish Borders council by Direct Debit from April.

The council is phasing out payment by standing order and says Direct Debit is the quickest and easiest way for people to pay invoices.

Cookery demo

Westerkirk: WRI members enjoyed a demonstration of simple-to-make starters and savoury dips with everyone getting a taste.

Competition results: chutney 1 Hazel Johnstone, 2 Elizabeth McNeil, 3 Tracy Goodfellow; Border tart 1 Winnie Kinstrey, 2 Morag Wood, 3 Elizabeth McNeil. New members are welcome.

Bank refusal

Canonbie: The Allied Irish Bank (GB) has been refused planning permission to convert Barrascroft Barns into a house.

Part-time shock

Dumfries & Galloway: New figures show that Dumfries and Galloway has one of the highest levels of part-time workers in Scotland.

The GMB union says 18,500 people aged 16 to 64, 29.5 per cent of workers in the region, have part-time jobs, the sixth highest percentage in Scotland. The union says the “mushrooming” of part-time jobs is at the expense of full-time work and is characterised by low pay, insecurity and bad conditions.

Leader’s visit

Region: The leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Johann Lamont, has visited the region.

She met women members of the Scottish Labour party and leading voluntary sector representatives. Ms Lamont spoke of her hopes and plans for the party. Talks also took place on issues such as carers, childcare for working families and renewable energies.

Moor speaker

Ewes: Members of Ewes SWRI were pleased to have Cat Barlow from the Langholm Moor education project as their guest speaker at their recent meeting.

Cat, the education officer, gave an informative and interesting talk on her work with Scottish Natural Heritage and with the resident wildlife.

Tea was served, during which Cat judged the competitions.

Bowl of floating flowers: 1 Aileen Armstrong, 2 Charlotte Millar. WRI poem; 1 Aileen Armstrong, 2 Charlotte Miller, 3 Grace Brown.

Club results

Canonbie:The results of the public hall 200 club are: £40 No123 P Bell; £20 No102 E King; £10 No17 S McDairmant; £5 No126 H Waitt.

First published at 21:40, Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Published by http://www.eladvertiser.co.uk