DUMFRIES and Galloway has so much more potential and its people deserve better, a former council leader has insisted.
Linda Dorward, right, has spoken out in the aftermath of a year where a housing emergency was declared, child poverty reached record levels, and domestic abuse continued to rise.
The Labour politician knows plenty about crime, justice, and reform, having previously served as governor of Dumfries Prison before being elected to serve as a councillor for the Lochar ward three years ago.
And she was in a strong position to lead some change when she became co-leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council alongside the SNP’s Stephen Thompson in 2022.
However, the coalition administration fell apart amidst political disagreements, and now Linda and her colleagues are in opposition to the Conservatives administration.
Over the past year, they have continually pushed for Dumfries and Galloway Council to demand more financial support from both the UK and Scottish Governments – stressing that this local authority is in dire need of much more assistance.
Councillor Dorward said: “Dumfries and Galloway is a poor region with the lowest mean hourly wage in Scotland, high levels of fuel poverty and the twin challenges of depopulation and an increasingly ageing demographic.
“It is a beautiful place with a proud history, but I believe we need to think bigger and be more ambitious as a region, pushing Scottish and UK Governments to recognise the potential we have.
“We are slap bang in the middle of the UK and have a deep-water port that provides access to Europe but is under-utilised due to under investment in the trunk routes of the A75 and A77 that serve it.
“I know we have much more potential, and sometimes I feel citizens have to embrace this more. I believe we must encourage and actively welcome presented opportunities for inward investment and change, whilst retaining our unique character and culture.
“Public sector investment should be welcomed and of course scrutinised, as it precipitates private sector confidence and investment which in turn attracts higher paid jobs, people to come and live here and increased taxes.
“This additional investment improves infrastructure, housing, amenities and crucially staffs our public sector, which in turn makes for a healthier population.”
Maintaining the status quo “is not an option” as we move into 2025, otherwise the region will only grow smaller, as will our public sector services, according to Councillor Dorward.
She said: “This region and its people deserve better than the deal they are currently getting.
“My job is to work alongside other elected members to help it grow and its people to thrive through having better homes, better jobs and better prospects that encourage them to stay here and encourages others to move to our region.
“I firmly believe this is achievable, and if we work hard we can ensure Dumfries and Galloway has a bright and prosperous future.”
