South Scotland policitian Joan McAlpine this week said: “This is the right decision by councillors and is good news for the town centre.
“Last week I raised concerns that a move out of the Loreburne Centre by Next would result in other major retailers following.”
She added: “That would have been bad news for the high street at a time when The Stove network’s plan for housing in The Midsteeple Quarter offers real hope of regeneration.”
And she hopes the store will have a rethink and stay in the town centre – despite stating earlier this year that they will not be renewing their current lease when it breaks in March 2018.
Ms McAlpine said: “I would encourage NEXT to rethink their plans and work with the management of the Loreburne Centre to develop their business in the centre of Dumfries just as they did in Stirling after councillors there blocked a similar proposed move.”
