Autism centres approved in Dumfries and Stranraer AUTISM centres are to be created in Dumfries and Stranraer – and will be opened sooner rather than later.

Dumfries and Galloway councillors have now rubber-stamped plans to set up dedicated centres in the east and west of the region by refurbishing current council buildings, as well as repurposing/refurbishing spaces in a number of secondary schools.

This will cost around £2.4m of capital investment to get up and running, along with £470,000 annual staffing costs.

At the council’s education committee last Tuesday, Abbey Councillor Davie Stitt said: “I know this is welcomed, but it could be a long time if this a standalone (building).

“Have we any idea at present how long this would take?

“I know we have wee hubs in different school, but to have this in the west, it’s going to be essential for this to be quick.”

Larann Foss, the council’s schools’ property manager, said: “Whilst I haven’t named any locations in Stranraer, it would be fair to say we have a location identified that’s an existing facility that wouldn’t take a huge amount of change to make it appropriate to operate as a standalone facility.

“So, it wouldn’t be the same timescale as a new build coming completely out of the ground with a brownfield site needing to be identified.

“So, this could be relatively quick.”

Councillor Richard Brodie, a former chair of the education committee, asked for reassurances that both Dumfries and Stranraer would receive equal provision.

Larann Foss responded: “I absolutely look to have equity and fairness of provision across the authority.

“The one thing that we do all have to recognise is that our secondary schools are all different. They are all of a different age and construction method.

“But what we’ve looked to do is apply the specification within this (autism provision) report across an area within secondary schools, and try to match that up as best as we can.

“There will be consistency of approach, there will be consistency of finish around the textures, colours, sensory elements that are key triggers and things we need to adjust.”

Mr Foss then said he “won’t give too much away”, but that the identified location in Stranraer is a council-owned building between Stranraer Academy and Rephad Primary School.

“It’s walking distance between one and the other, which actually provides the perfect location to not only work independently as a separate building, but can also support Stranraer Academy and Rephad Primary School.”

Scottish Government funding of £3.5m has been made available to support this improved autism learning provision.