26/10/2025
Hi folks. Long post incoming!
There’s a big few weeks ahead for the town with decisions due to be made by SBC that will impact the old library building, the pool and the town hall. The Jed Eye will be keeping on top of all those decisions in due course to report to you in the December magazine. Meantime updates on the library bid can be found on the ‘jedbugh Carnegie building’ page and the CC page will be the place to check for anything on the pool and hall.
Meantime, here’s a couple of updates we’ve been asked to share from Jed Community Council.
25th October 2025
Laidlaw Memorial Pool
Update on Laidlaw Memorial Pool Reopening Efforts
Progress of the Steering Group
A steering group was established by the Community Council to thoroughly assess whether a sustainable business model could be developed to enable the reopening of the Laidlaw Memorial Pool under a different management structure. The group has been meeting frequently and has engaged in a number of positive discussions with both Scottish Borders Council (SBC) officers and local councillors.
Submission of the Business Plan
At present, the steering group has produced a sustainable business plan, which has been formally submitted to SBC officers. This plan will be considered as part of the ongoing review into the provision of sport, leisure, and cultural services across the area. As the pool is an SBC-owned facility, it has been included in this comprehensive review, alongside the town hall.
Next Steps and Anticipated Decisions
The review’s findings and recommendations are scheduled to be presented to elected members on Friday, 20th November. Until then, the Community Council (JCC) and the steering group believe there is no reason to delay preparatory actions, so that should the decision be favourable, the community will be ready to move forward promptly with reopening arrangements.
Call for Participation
With future preparations in mind, the steering group is seeking to expand its membership and welcomes interest from anyone who wishes to contribute. Those interested are encouraged to email their details in the first instance to [email protected]. OR send as a DM via our page.
Clarification on Group Structure
It is important to note that this stage is not about forming a new “trust”; rather, it is about ensuring a greater diversity of perspectives are involved in discussions about the most suitable body or structure to manage the pool going forward.
25th October, 2025
Jedburgh Carnegie Library Project
Jedburgh Community Council were pleased to have Dean, Anthony and Alison to attend the recent meeting to answer questions on their draft plan which had been circulated to Councillors in advance to allow time to digest. Dean did remind the meeting that some of the important details around community support hadn't been able to be included as responses to the most recent questionnaire were still coming in and yet to be collated.
Given that evidencing community support for the project as laid out in the business plan is a vital part of whether it will be successful or not, and this not being fully available when discussed at the meeting, the Community Council have found themselves unable to be certain that this project does have the level of community support required to ensure sustainability and are therefore unable to provide a letter for the project at this time.
Whilst the Community Council appreciates the work and effort put into this draft plan and underlying goals of this project, we are genuinely impressed by the vision demonstrated by JCLC. We look forward to receiving a complete business plan that includes the community support evidence that has been integrated into the final business plan.
