Dumfries Partnership Action Group (DPAG) are working with the council and consultants Planning Aid Scotland (PAS) to create a ten year priority action plan, which will be ready to roll out by the summer. They have pledged it will bring together the views of local people, groups and businesses and be a ‘fresh and collaborative approach’.
DPAG chair Leah Halliday said: “This action plan is different to anything that’s come before. It will build on previous work, bring together the public and private sectors, and provide us all with an agreed focus and direction to move forward as a town.
“This project will ask for people’s ideas for positive change. This is the community’s opportunity for their voice to be heard so that funding can then be found to make these improvements a reality. This plan is about strengthening the can-do spirit of Dumfries and taking real action.”
She said they will be looking for public and private investment to ‘breathe life’ into the future, adding: “DPAG, is a volunteer group made up of local businesses and community organisations who, together, are actively involved in promoting change in the town centre.”
And Julia Frost from PAS is keen to get as many local people as possible involved in the making of the action plan. She said: “We are very excited to be working with the people of Dumfries, and listening to their views. Together, we can come up with a delivery plan for the town’s future which builds on all previous and current plans and activity.”
Welcoming the new approach, Councillor Rob Davidson said: “It is recognised that to address persistent challenges in the town centre an open and inclusive engagement process must be undertaken to ensure the local community are central to any future vision for the area, and this is combined with a robust evidence base to strengthen action on the ground. A delivery focus is instrumental in attracting investment to Dumfries and in identifying local priorities for action.”
Meanwhile, Loreburn Community Council will host DPAG’s first public event on Tuesday night in St George’s Church Hall from 6.30 pm, to which all residents are invited.
