The ambitious programme of improvements outlined in the city bid will still go ahead, they said.
Dumfries missed out on becoming Scotland’s eighth city to Dunfermline, which takes the accolade as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
The local campaign had been spearheaded by the chair of the city bid’s organising group, Councillor Tracey Little, who submitted the formal bid in December 2021.
She said: “While we are disappointed not to have been awarded city status, we do congratulate Dunfermline on being awarded this status.
“But this is not the end for Dumfries – far from it. The improvements that we have planned for the town featured strongly in the campaign, and they will still be going ahead. Doonhamers, the wider region and visitors deserve to see our ambition for our town sustained.
“We have had fantastic exposure as part of our campaign, and I firmly believe this has really put Dumfries on the map.
“People across the whole of Dumfries and Galloway have really supported the bid and we should be very proud of our achievements. The body of work detailed in the bid is really valuable and we’ll use that to keep the momentum going for a sustainable and bright future.”
Meanwhile, South Scotland MSP Emma Harper congratulated the Dunfermline team but added: “Of course, I am disappointed that Dumfries, affectionately known as The Queen of the South, was not successful in achieving city status this time, particularly given the hard work of the community and representatives in the local authority who submitted an excellent bid.”
And she hopes there may be opportunities for Dumfries in the future, adding: “I would love to see this potential for attracting economic input come to Dumfries and the wider region of Galloway and hope that all my elected member colleagues will get behind any future bid. “Let’s all work to support Dumfries and the whole wider region to continue to grow and prosper.”
