Once upon a time the most you could win at the Selkirk Post Office was a smile from the cashier but now the premises in the Scottish borders could be turned into a bookmakers.

Plans have been recommended for approval and it seems punters who used to go into the Post Office to post a letter and pick up their pension will now be calling in to bet on Premiership football and horse racing.

The premises in Selkirk's Market Place closed last year and the business transferred to the High Street.
 
Selkirk has a population of approximately 6.000 people and is synonymous with large swathes of important Scottish history. For example William Wallace was declared Guardian of Scotland at Selkirk.

The proposed bookmakers wouldn’t be the only venue in the town which attracts gamblers however as Selkirk is home to Scotland’s oldest horse racing track, the Gala Rig, which is located just outside the main town itself.

Bookmaker Kenneth Waugh wants to take over the former Royal Mail building and planning officials have said the change of use of the property should be allowed.

However, Selkirk Community Council has voiced concern about such a prominent site being used for a betting shop.
 
They fear the sight of a bookmakers in such a prime location may drastically change the image of the attractive town and give a false impression of the area.

However proponents of the plan say there is nothing unusual in changing a post office to a bookmakers and insists the new business will bring extra revenue to the town centre and indirectly benefit other traders in Selkirk.

The issue is one which is set to run and run though ultimately you would presume the office which once dealt in letters and postcards will soon be dealing with greyhounds and accumulators!