The streets are soon to be paved with gold (panners), thanks to the World Gold Panning Championships, and the ‘gold’ rush is on to get the Ladyknowe road fixed before the August 7 start date.
Last year council bosses admitted to owning the cratered road, which is the entrance to the town’s caravan park.
But they say they passed the responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of the road to those who were granted access rights. After a year of upsets, finances which are partly from stakeholders and council contributions are finally coming together to fix the road.
Councillor Stephen Thompson said: “We’ve been working for some time towards getting Ladyknowe road repaired this summer, and had managed to agree a way of getting it done with the help of the community council, stakeholders, elected members and council officers that respected the complex nature of the land ownership and burdens.
“This sits well with Ladyknowe being one of the ‘gamechangers’ for Moffat in the recently published Moffat Community Action Plan.”
He added: “With funds already being pledged on the basis of that agreement, the community council decided on a different way forward presented at the June meeting.
“The World Gold Panning Championship is nearly upon us and time is very tight both to get the work done and to manage any disruption for the likes of the caravan park at a busy time.
“It’s going to be a real challenge but resolving the future maintenance of the road will remain a priority.”
