A statue of the Hawick-born founder of The Economist magazine could be erected in the town by August.
It is understood that the statue of James Wilson, who was born in Hawick in 1805, is to be delivered to the town over the next couple of months and could be located in Wilton Lodge Park near to the Elliot Bandstand.
The news was announced at the Hawick Common Good Fund meeting on Tuesday afternoon in the lesser town hall by Scottish Borders Council property officer Frank Scott.
Members of the committee agreed in principal that the Common Good Fund would pay for the plinth for the 12-foothigh marble statue, with the cost of delivery picked up by the Standard Chartered Bank, which now owns The Economist.
It was revealed in The Hawick Paper earlier this month that the statue, which has been based in the London headquarters is to be donated to Hawick due to the bank moving to new premises.
James Wilson founded The Economist and became an MP for Westbury and Wiltshire in 1847.
Frank Scott said: “I wouldn’t expect the cost of a plinth to be any more than £2,000. The idea would be to decide on an appropriate location so the statue could be delivered straight off the back of the lorry and onto the plinth.
Responding to the plans, Councillor Davie Paterson said: “This is an opportunity we certainly should be doing everything to accommodate.
This will be a huge asset to the town.” Council officials are currently seeking clarification regarding future maintenance costs of the statue.
But the plan was given full approval at the meeting.
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