A ceremony has been held to mark the opening of the Galashiels Transport Interchange (TI) in Selkirkshire.

Councillor David Parker unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion alongside David Houston of the Galashiels Roads Consultation Group.

The £5.2m Transport Interchange opens to the public on 10 August and will provide the gateway to the Borders Railway, which opens next month.

The Galashiels TI will form the town's new bus station while also containing passenger amenities such as tourist information, bus/train times and a railway ticket machine.

Other facilities include showers, changing places, disabled toilets and bike lockers.

In addition, there is also seating and a cafe on the ground floor, with two additional floors of office space and conference facilities.

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Galashiels TI has been delivered by the council's development partner Hub South East Scotland and its appointed contractor Morrison Construction.

The project has been part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Councillor Park said: "Excitement is building with just one month to go before the opening of the Borders Railway, and I am delighted to mark the countdown with the completion of the Galashiels Transport Interchange.

"This is a landmark building for Borderers and visitors using the new railway from 6 September, and will also play an important role in helping the Council achieve its long term aim of promoting better connections between all means of sustainable transport."

Derek Scotland, Project Director at Morrison Construction, added: "We are pleased to have completed this project on behalf of Hub South East for Scottish Borders Council and delighted that this project has played an important role in giving both local people work opportunities and local businesses prospects for the future."

In addition, a plaque to mark the creation of a time capsule buried at the site by TD1 Youth Hub was also unveiled by Councillor Gordon Edgar.

(LM)