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Council to pull the plug on Borders abbey lighting

News imageSteve Wyper/SBC Melrose Abbey pictured at night light up by floodlighting, it is an imposing sandstone building with various towers jutting up into the dark skySteve Wyper/SBC
The council is ending its floodlighting agreements for the historic Borders abbeys

A council is to end its floodlighting agreements for three historic abbeys in the Scottish Borders in a bid to cut costs and meet carbon reduction targets.

The contracts for the sites in Jedburgh, Kelso and Melrose will come to an end in June 2027 unless alternative funding can be found.

The abbeys are managed by Historic Environment Scotland, which collaborates with Scottish Borders Council (SBC) on local heritage property management.

Kelso councillor Euan Robson said he had heard the news with "utter dismay" especially ahead of the 900th anniversary of the town's abbey.

He now hopes the community can rally round and raise funds to ensure a new lighting system can be put in place.

"The timing could not be worse for Kelso with the upcoming 900th anniversary of Kelso Abbey in 2028," he said.

"The council is to give a year's notice in June this year so unless funds can be raised from elsewhere the lights will go out in June 2027.

"As chair I have put the item on the agenda for the next Kelso common good committee to explore what might be done."

He said the current floodlighting was "completely obsolete and should really be replaced".

News imageStuart Cobley/SBC Jedburgh Abbey lit up in blue lighting for a special eventStuart Cobley/SBC
The council said it was aware of the importance of the abbeys to their areas

"It costs too much for the council to maintain the lights which are not particularly energy efficient compared to modern alternatives," he added.

"At least we have a year in which to rectify the position.

"I strongly suspect we will need to start a fundraising campaign because it's not just a question of just replacing the equipment. A survey and new lighting scheme will need to be developed by specialists."

He said he would speak to HES but was certain the community would "rise to the occasion and meet this challenge too".

A spokesperson for SBC said it fully recognised the "cultural, historical and visual importance of the abbeys to the communities".

"For that reason we wish to make communities or interested organisations aware that should any group wish to explore taking on responsibility for the lighting in the future this can be discussed with HES," the spokesperson added.

Reporting by local democracy journalist Paul Kelly.