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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Kenny Macdonald

Dumfries garden volunteers to power on thanks to electricity supply

A group of volunteer gardeners is to power on with plans after being hooked up to an electricity supply.

The Sandside Community Gardening Project now has lighting and heating in one of its cabins at the junction of Sunderries Road near Stakeford Street in Dumfries.

But the electrical experts struck an early problem when they were unable to find a source to wire into.

Stuart Love, a senior design engineer at ScottishPower, said: “It was a routine job but the hardest part for us was to find a cable and we had to try two or three times before finding it and making a connection.

“We provided everything free from the labour to my time and resolving the situation plus the instalment.”

Another firm to give up time for nothing and help the cause was Stevie Wight Electrical from Dumfries.

Owner Stevie said: “Paul McGregor, chairman of the gardening project, just phoned me up and asked if I could help. And you don’t refuse Paul!

“Seriously though we were delighted to help out and gave the labour free of charge while City Electrical in Dumfries supplied free equipment which was great of them. Finding the cable was the hardest part so Scottish Power had that tough task.”

Dumfries and Galloway Council also helped with the project.

Kieran McCrudden, a senior technician with the authority, said: “We took road tar for the surface. Paul got in touch with us to organise something and spoke to community assets who carried out a lot of it on behalf of us.”

And Brian Robertson, a council operative and grave digger, dug out the trenches for the cables to be laid and connected to the cabin.

He said: “We took the mini digger to the job but couldn’t find the power supply at first. I did it last week and it took most of the day once everything was sorted.”

Meanwhile, chairman Mr McGregor said: “I would like to thank everyone who has helped us out including the council, Scottish Power, Stevie Wight Electrical, Councillor Andy Ferguson and Creighton Contracts.

“Now we have power points to get heaters on which will help us in the winter and also help to bring on some plants’ development.

“We also have lighting and electricity to make a cuppa as well.”

He added: “Our next project is to hopefully set up floodlights in the garden to work at night. But before that we are thinking of having an official opening for the power supply with a barbecue in the summer.”

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