DISCUSSIONS are underway about how a promised £20m investment from the UK Government should be spent in Dumfries.
The talks have already begun between officials from both Dumfries and Galloway Council and Westminster after the £20m windfall was confirmed six weeks ago.
The UK Government announced that 55 towns would be given £20m endowment style funds each over ten years to invest in local priorities. Dumfries, Clydebank, Coatbridge, Elgin, Irvine, Greenock and Kilmarnock are the only places in Scotland to benefit.
They will receive a ten-year fund, while each town will have a board to bring together community leaders, employers and local authorities to deliver the plan and put it to local people for consultation.
The investment in Dumfries will be discussed at the council’s economy and resources committee next Tuesday.
A Dumfries Town Plan report, due to be tabled at the meeting, details how the government-funded project is expected to work. It reads: “It is understood that a full toolkit will be published, guiding towns through the range of powers and levers available to them, including specific information for long term plans for towns in Scotland.
“Discussions have commenced with government officials and further details will be reported to committee.
“With this emerging initiative further guidance is required from the UK Government for our own consideration of what this means for the town’s established action plan and for the scoping of a long-term plan.
“Key objectives include regenerating high streets, securing public safety and improving transport and connectivity.
“It is anticipated at this stage that this work will also allow for proper consideration of housing requirements for key workers, and provision of sheltered care within Dumfries to also be aligned with ongoing work being carried out to develop the HNDA (Housing Need and Demand Assessment).”
