Welcome to the Heriot Community Website
Heriot
This is the community website for the village of Heriot. Heriot is a rural community of approximately 160 properties located in the Eildon area of the Scottish Borders.
Community Council Meetings
The next meeting of HCC will be held on Wednesday 15th April at 7:00pm at Macfie Hall
Download the minutes for March 18th 2026
Community Council Elections
The meeting of HCC was held on Wednesday 18th March 2026, chaired by SBC councillor Neil MacKinnon, to confirm the new council members and select the office bearers.
ELECTION OF COUNCILLORS FOR THE HERIOT COMMUNITY COUNCIL AREA The following candidates remain validly nominated for the elected Community Council for the Heriot Community Council area and as the number of candidates remaining validly nominated does not exceed the number of vacancies on the Community Council, there will be no Poll, and the said Candidates are hereby declared to be elected Councillors of the said Community Council. One vacancy remains on the Community Council.
- Helen Brinkworth
- Suzy Dun
- Claire Rogers
- Sue Sharp
- Helen White
Email List
Heriot Community Council occasionally sends out emails regarding council business such as agendas and minutes of meetings. Should you wish to receive these, please send an email request to the secretary at secretary@heriot.info with your email address and name. Also, please inform the secretary of any changes to your email, if you wish to stop receiving emails or if you do not receive expected emails. We try to keep the list current and remove emails that fail. The data collected is only used to send out emails from HCC.
Heriot Plan
The community council has produced a draft version for a Heriot plan, containing background information about the Heriot community and location, with suggestions for how Heriot would like to develop in the future. This is for submitting into the next Eildon Area plan of the Scottish Borders Council.
Comments and suggestions for changes or additions to the plan are welcome.
Consultation on windfarm funded projects
In 2011 a consultation was undertaken by Heriot Windfarm Panel. This produced results detailing projects that people like to see accomplished in the village.
Local News and Events
Regular news items, including road closures, and local events are posted to the Heriot Community Council facebook page.
Trial speed limit of 50mph on the A7
Please let us know your views, by emailing us on 50mph@heriot.info.
Scottish Borders Council has asked HCC to provide early feedback by Monday 15th April about the 50mph speed limit trial on the A7 between Galashiels and the Midlothian Border. For more information download the Community Council Briefing Paper for Trial 50mph speed limit.
The 50mph speed limit is due to the disproportionate volume of motorcycle crashes and is for a trial period for 18 months from April 2025. The SBC evaluation will take place in September 2026 including a consultation with the local communities, but meantime we welcome your first-hand impressions! Has it made any difference? Is it a good idea, or a bad idea? Should it be made permanent, or dropped? Are drivers observing it?
HCC will collate all feedback and provide this to SBC at the end of the trial period.
Shoestanes Community Park
We have created a questionnaire to help gather views and ideas from everyone in the community about the project to purchase and grow an area of community land.
The questionnaire can be accessed here
Please complete the questionnaire by Fri 3rd April. If you have already completed a paper questionnaire, there is no need to complete the online version.
We are a small community group that have been working for the last year or so on an opportunity to purchase some land at the southern end of the field north of Heriot station for community use and recreation. The aim is to create a place where people can walk, play, sit and relax - in short, a space that people of any age or ability can enjoy.
Earlier in the year, we engaged a landscape architect who has created an initial plan that includes woodland paths, boardwalks over the marsh, a sports area, play equipment, a pond and a small horticultural area.
We're now at the point where we want community input into the plans, as well as looking for volunteers who would like to get involved as the project progresses.
The thinking behind the project is to create an outside space to benefit all ages and stages within the community: perhaps somewhere to walk dogs; play sport; enjoy a picnic; safely push a buggy; grow some food... a place where people of all ages can come together. The attached plan is just a starting point and will be changed according to the views of the community. If it goes ahead, the project will be run by a new Heriot Community Trust, a group with which everyone will be invited to get involved.
Open pdf of community park concept plan version 2
Open pdf of community park concept plan
Open pdf of community park concept plan playpark area
Heriot Community Council Training or Education Grant
We are introducing a new grant for any Heriot resident (or those historically based in Heriot but temporarily away e.g. to study) of school leaving age or older.
Initially with a six week window to submit applications from 10th January to 1st March 2026.
HCC, on behalf of SSE Renewables (operators of Toddleburn Wind Farm) can distribute a maximum of £3000 in 2025-26 (year 1) and then £1500 in subsequent years as education and training grants for Heriot residents.
Grants can be a maximum of £500 per applicant, but smaller grants are encouraged. The applicant must themselves contribute 20% of the course fee or directly related costs.
The training should relate to employment, enhance employability, or develop skills for charitable outcomes, not hobbies. These grants thereby build community capacity, could develop or maintain community assets and help make Heriot a great place to live. The grant primarily aims to pay for:
- Vocational courses or training, ideally leading to some form of recognised or certificated qualification.
- Travel, subsistence, required equipment or childcare - but at the discretion of HCC.
Individuals should read the guidance and complete the short application form.