Local Election Result (Duns & District North)

On a night which saw much change elsewhere in the Borders, John Elliot, from Duns, has been re-elected to serve the local ward, which covers the whole of the Cockburnspath community area, as well as Duns, Abbey St Bathans, etc. Cllr Elliot received 449 votes or 38.4% of all votes cast, while Maureen D. Ferguson (Scottish Liberal Democrats, also of Duns, came second, with 364 votes or 31.2%. She was closely followed by Gavin Calder (Scottish Conservative)from Coldstream with 355 votes (30.4%). There were no other candidates. Turnout was affected by the fact that no households in Cockburnspath appear to have received their polling cards. Although these are not required for casting a vote, the fear is that their absence may have caused people to doubt whether they were on the register. The Council are expected to undertake an enquiry as to why none were delivered in Co'path and surrounding areas.