The folks who miss out in 'affluent' Peeblesshire

Contrasting fortunes within a small Borders community

It is remarkable how often an internet search for information about Peebles and Peeblesshire throws up the adjective 'affluent' in descriptions of the perceived financial well-being of the Borders county's local residents.

The beautiful town by the River Tweed - home to around 8,000 citizens - and its equally attractive pastoral hinterland peppered with idyllic looking villages and hamlets all give off an aura of prosperity. Surely one of the most desirable parts of Scotland in which to live and work.

That affluent tag crops up time and again.

For example estate agents Edwin Thompson, in the blurb accompanying a property advertisement, describe Peebles as having become "a relatively affluent commuter town to the city (of Edinburgh)".

And Scottish Field magazine, in a recent feature on an upmarket local eatery under the heading Bordering on Beautiful declared "Peebles, with its affluent population of Edinburgh commuters...".

Meanwhile Montagu Evans, another property agent, tells us in an ad for premises available to rent "The town itself boasts a population in excess of 8,000 people, with an affluent surrounding catchment area".

However, it should be said not everyone living in Peeblesshire is suffering from affluence, as the recently published annual report for 2018/19 of the county-wide food bank demonstrates with a succession of alarming statistics.

Peeblesshire Food Bank, a registered charity and part of the Trussell Trust network, reported "The demand for crisis food parcels continued to surge during the year".

The number of referrals shot up by 59% from the previous year (311 compared to 196) while the number pf people fed by the food bank's volunteers increased from 330 to 523 (up 58%).

Perhaps the most shocking statistic of all concerned the number of children included in the total receiving emergency help - 131 compared to 73 in 2017/18, a monster (some might say monstrous) hike of 79% in the space of twelve months.

The value of food distributed totalled £17,278 (£14,649 in 2017/18).

And the report continued: "So far in the current year (2019/20) the increase in demand has continued, but thankfully at a lower rate, but still significant at 30% to 40% for children.

"Food donations from the generous people of Peeblesshire generally kept up with the increase in demand in the year under review. But in 2019/20 the food bank has increasingly had to purchase some essential items".