Contracts ready for £10m learning centre

Councillors will today be asked to give delegated authority for officials to sign a formal contract for the creation of The Bridge on the disused bowling green at George V Sports Complex close to the Cuckoo Bridge retail park.
Heralding the project, chairman of the children young people and lifelong learning committee Councillor Jeff Leaver said: “Our council is investing more than £71 million in phase one of the Dumfries Learning Town, which will offer first class, state-of-the art education facilities.”
The Bridge marks the final element in phase one of Dumfries Learning Town.
It is described as ‘a unique facility delivering learning opportunities beyond those offered in traditional settings such as schools, college and universities and at times outside the normal academic day and year’.
In addition to school age pupils, The Bridge will be available to individuals and groups from the community who wish to develop new skills, take forward initiatives and enterprises, meet as special interest groups or hold performances or private functions.
Councillors will today be updated on pre-construction progress and the latest designs.
They will also be asked to delegate authority to the director of children, young people and lifelong learning and the head of legal and services to sign the formal contract between Dumfries and Galloway Council and Hub South West Scotland Ltd, subject to costs being within agreed funding allocations.
Councillor Leaver said: “We are very pleased at the progress which is now being made and I have written to the education secretary, John Swinney, inviting him to visit the region to see the sites for himself and also the new Learning Campus at Dalbeattie.
“We would also take the opportunity to discuss our plans for phase two of the Dumfries Learning Town Project which we very much hope the Scottish Government will support.”
Construction of The Bridge building boasting a floor area of 4000 square metres is expected to start at the end of March, with completion and occupation in October 2018.