A SELKIRK taxi company has successfully booked a new home.

R&L Taxis, currently based in Station Road, submitted a planning bid to Scottish Borders Council for the change of use of the town’s 42 Market Place into a taxi office from retail.

That premises had been vacant for some time and was last occupied by Sparkies Catering.

In his report approving the application, Alla Hassan, SBC assistant planning officer, says: “Activity associated with a taxi office has the potential to adversely affect neighbouring amenity.

“Given the town centre location, benefits of the reuse and its accessibility, and in considering the advice of the Environmental Health Service, mitigation in this regard can appropriately be achieved through control of operating hours for public access.

“These have been agreed with the applicant (having been reduced from initial proposals).”

The use shall only be open to the public between 7.30am and 10.30pm  Monday to Thursday inclusive and between 7:30am and 11am Friday to Sunday inclusive.

This is to “limit the potential risk of adverse impacts on the amenity of neighbouring residential properties”.

An R&L Taxis spokesperson said: “It’s basically just moving office to somewhere more accessible. It’s a better location for us.”