LAST week's excitement over Sainsbury's being given the go-ahead for a new store in Commercial Road has been somewhat tempered over the last few days with the news that the Camping and Caravanning Club has decided against pursuing plans to develop a site in Wilton Lodge Park.

Citing "investment market conditions", the club, which has a membership of more than 400,000, is "unlikely to revisit the proposal in the foreseeable future", according to council leader David Parker.

Here at the paper, we had been concerned for several months over the inordinate amount of time it was taking to progress the plans and the lack of dialogue from either the club or the council. Admittedly, the scale of the project was such that it was always going to be a fairly lengthy process, but unfortunately our concerns have not been without foundation and have been borne out by this week's gloomy announcement.

Gloomy indeed. But charged with helping lift the economic gloom in the town is the much-trumpeted Hawick Development Sub-Committee, of which Mr Parker is chairman. And presuming that the caravan park wasn't the only iron in the fire, efforts need to be redoubled as the Sub-Committee's focus shifts to other projects. Projects which have never been more vital if the economic impetus of Sainsbury's (and Commercial Road) isn't to be lost.

Over to to you, Mr Parker . . .

SET to deliver a significant boost to the local economy while also challenging the dominance of other stores in the town, Sainsbury's new supermarket in Commercial Road means the renaissance and regeneration of Hawick is finally gathering pace.

And by pledging to bring new jobs and investment to the town, Sainsbury's should be congratulated on its commitment to Hawick. A commitment which is underlined by the firm's impressive track record over the last year, during which it has generated 5,000 new jobs at 11 new supermarkets and 20 new convenience stores across the UK. And all this in the face of what has been widely recognised as the harshest economic period in living memory. But far from resting on its laurels, the firm's recession-busting expansion plans are set to continue well into next year with a further 6,500 jobs set to be created, as well as a mind-boggling 28 new supermarkets and 55 new convenience stores.

And when building a new supermarket, the benefits regulary extend far beyond the store itself. With development programmes often including investment in local roads, pedestrian access to the site and support for community projects.

Locally-sourced products are also flying off the shelves at Sainsbury's up and down the country. And Hawick will be no different as the firm looks to identify local suppliers to work with. There's already more than 3,500 local firms supplying Sainsbury's at the moment, and the company is aiming to increase this number.

Let's not forget the spin-offs for local contractors too. Their knowledge of the area could be invaluable and lead to them being awarded some of the building work and, in the process, providing a further boost to the Hawick economy. An economy which has taken a battering over recent years, but one that has just been given a real injection of hope . . .

Testing times

FOR some Teries taking their driving test will be one of the most stressful events they ever experience. And it's about to get a whole lot worse for Hawick's learner drivers with the news that the North Bridge Street test centre is earmarked for closure at the end of March.

As if getting your licence wasn't nerve-racking enough, anyone aiming to do so will soon have to pass their test in Galashiels, currently ravaged by roadworks, or face the body-jarring experience that is the cobbled streets of Kelso. And you'll have to pay extra for the privilege with Hawick-based instructors forced to charge their pupils more for taking them back and forwards to Gala or Kelso!

However, the financial burden about to be imposed on local learner drivers has been compounded significantly by the very real threat to the jobs of Hawick-based instructors, many of whom are fearful that potential drivers will simply take all their lessons in Galashiels or Kelso. They're right to be concerned, their livelihoods are at risk. But to at least try and alleviate this risk, why didn't the Driving Standards Agency manage to find alternative premises in the town? Or, as seems more likely, did it give the DSA the perfect 'out' with the rental agreement on the current premises in North Bridge Street coming to an end?

The bottom line is that once again Hawick has been hit by the loss of services, and I can only hope that the move doesn't lead to job cuts.

GO GREENS!

TRAVELLING more in hope than expectation, Hawick RFC's vociferous band of supporters were richly rewarded for making the 190-mile round trip to Stirling on Saturday.

It was edge-of-your-seat stuff at Bridgehaugh, but the Greens battled as if their lives depended on it. And their stunning 26-24 victory was no more than they deserved after a rip-roaring performance - summed up perfectly by a clearly delighted coach, Gerry McGuinness: "It's attitude, technique and desire and the boys have got that in buckets."

Typifying that desire in the Hawick ranks was scrum-half Rory McPherson. The former Quins man was down receiving treatment in the closing stages and it looked as if he'd have to be replaced. McPherson had other ideas, though, and, showing great determination and bravery, he was soon back on his feet, carrying the fight into Stirling territory.

But McPherson was just one cog in a well-oiled Green Machine. And McGuinness was quick to point out that Saturday's opening victory was "a big team effort". Herein lies the key to Hawick's season. The coming weeks and months will no doubt throw up some stern tests, but if the Robbie Dyes can reproduce that "big team effort" week in, week out - there's absolutely no reason why the club's somewhat ignominious sojourn into premier two shouldn't be just that. A temporary stay, before they're back where they belong - the top tier of Scottish Rugby.

C'mon Hawick!