TRY ACCENTUATING THE POSITIVE

May Hirst’s letter regarding the siting of the great Tapestry of Scotland (Letters, January 2016) is quite negative and echoes the naysayers of the reintroduction of the Border Railway to Tweedbank which, since its opening in September, has been a very successful enterprise.

The Borders have a rich heritage in textile design and manufacture, with Heriot-Watt University’s School of Textile and Design in nearby Galashiels, the Textile Museum in Hawick and a wealth of fabric artists and designers living in the area, not to mention local mills such as Lochcarron, a mere five miles from the proposed site of the Tapestry building at Tweedbank. Work has already begun on the proposed site for the Great Tapestry of Scotland, which is opposite the railway terminal, and a short train journey from Edinburgh.

As an Edinburgh lass I’m a regular user of the Border railway, which has made a huge difference to people living and working in the Borders. Sir Walter Scott’s home, Abbotsford House, is within easy walking distance of both the station and the proposed Great Tapestry of Scotland Centre, as is Melrose Abbey. The good bus links will also help this well-chosen location become a popular destination for tourists.

Like May, I had reservations about the trams but am now an enthusiastic user and think they will prove to be a financial asset to the city. As for the parliament building, now that’s a different story.... Beth Barclay, Melrose, Roxburghshire