A PARK revamp project in Lockerbie is expected to start early next year.
However, yet another public consultation – the project’s fifth in total – into the proposed development of McJerrow Park is needed before then to ensure the views of the community “are fully captured”.
Dumfries and Galloway Council has been asked by the Lockerbie Trust to deliver the £500,000 plan, which includes McJerrow Park and King Edward Park.
It comes after the Trust members sensationally announced the project would be shelved in September.
They then made a u-turn after a deluge of criticism from the community and handed the work to the local authority with the caveat they would maintain the parks after their development.
Now a couple of months has passed and officials say they have taken on board the feedback from previous engagements and have further developed the plans to reflect the views of the community – and it’s believed that the inclusion of a contentious memorial cairn has now been dropped.
Following the changes, they will be holding another consultation to see what townsfolk now think.
It will open on December 4 and run until January 5. In addition, an engagement event will take place at Lockerbie Town Hall on December 4.
A council spokesperson yesterday said: “You said . . . we have listened.
“To ensure the views of the community are fully captured, we will undertake further engagement on the updated project plan.
“The engagement will open on December 4 and run until January 5 ensuring everyone has time to submit their views.
“Furthermore, we will have an engagement
event whereby we would very much welcome the Lockerbie community to come along and give their views.”
A publicly available report will be then be submitted to Lockerbie and Lochmaben Common Good Sub Committee, including the consultation feedback, for the elected members’ consideration.
This meeting is likely to take place last week of January or early February.
The council spokesperson added: “Officers are keen that any agreed works for this project are started early in 2024 and delivered to the Lockerbie community.”
