Under the plans the town centre would be designated as an area of Prime Retail Frontage – which would restrict any future use of properties.

A public consultation – under the umbrella of amendments to the Local Plan – is about to start.But the proposals have set alarm bells ringing with Selkirkshire councillor, Carolyn Riddell-Carre. And the head of the local Chamber of Trade is also worried.

Councillor Riddell-Carre told The Wee Paper: "I am really worried about the proposal to restrict the uses of shop properties by designating the centre of the town as Prime Retail Frontage.

"What this policy means is that shop properties would only be permitted to be used as shops.

"Two of the most recent additions to the burgh are the tattooist and the chiropodist. Both of these are in premises which used to be shops and if this policy had been in place they would have been barred from the town centre."

And she warned: "I think it is ill-judged and too restrictive. We are certainly in an economic downturn.

"This may become a worldwide economic meltdown. This is not the moment to turn people away from opening businesses in the centre of Selkirk."

Edith Scott, chair of the Chamber of Trade has also expressed concern.

She told us: "We have to think of the future of Selkirk, and if that means premises being occupied by what a few small-minded people think are not appropriate, then so be it.

"There was a lot of controversy about the bookmaker moving into the old Post Office, but I never saw what was wrong with that. It smartens up the look of the Market Place – and better the bookies than an empty, derelict building slap in the middle of the town. What suits people sitting in the council offices at Newtown does not always suit the people of Selkirk.

Councillor Riddell-Carre said that every business open in the town centre brought in more people to use the existing shops.