A 10-year action plan for Dumfries town centre through community-led regeneration has been signed off by the council’s economy and resources committee.
Extensive public engagement has gone into the Dynamically Different Dumfries project – named by pupils at Loreburn Primary and Dumfries Academy, along with the logo design. The action plan documentation, backed by councillors, is the result of two years of work involving residents in the community, businesses and other stakeholders with key themes of inclusivity and diversity, net-zero carbon, innovation and creativity.
It has been spearheaded by Dumfries Partnership Action Group – a collaboration of businesses, community organisations and social enterprises – with support from council officers and the specialist consultancy, Planning Aid Scotland.
A DPAG spokesperson said: “The plan identifies some key drivers that show the overall approach and in real terms some 56 projects, half of which have either started (such as Midsteeple Quarter and Flourish) or are in the planning stages. The remainder, all of which were identified through the engagement process, have yet to be actively explored.
“One important message is, however, that this is a live working document which will change as projects are completed, new projects come on stream or perhaps prove too difficult or expensive to deliver at this time.”
A new group, with Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation status, will now co-ordinate the vision and seek funding opportunities.
An open recruitment process will take place in coming weeks.
The DPAG name will be retained but the aims and membership will be quite different. Archie Dryburgh, vice chairman of the economy and resources committee, said: “This is valuable work to revitalise our town centre in Dumfries which has been impacted by changing shopping habits as people migrate to shopping online, resulting in the need to
re-imagine our town centre for the future.
“It’s your town, please get involved and help shape the future you want.”
