Friday 7 October 2022

Welcome to the new-look edition of Community, your Dumfries and Galloway community bulletin. COVID-19 changed the ways we all live our lives, and in the post-COVID recovery period we are as committed as ever to providing local information that will support the many communities that make up our wonderful region.

As always, if you have any positive stories about things that are happening in your community and would like to see them featured in Community – please email us at communitybulletin@dumgal.gov.uk and one of our reporters will get back to you.

Week-Long Programme of Activities to Mark Challenge Poverty Week 2022

This week has been the annual Scottish Challenge Poverty Week. 

Supported by the Dumfries and Galloway Poverty and Inequalities Partnership, there have been various activities and information releases – including videos, podcasts and downloadable factsheets – across the region.

For more information on tackling all forms of poverty and inequalities in Dumfries and Galloway, please contact challenge.poverty@dumgal.gov.uk

Council Co-Leaders Back New DGHP Cost-of-Living Campaign

A new cost-of-living campaign by DGHP has been welcomed by our Council Co-Leaders Stephen Thompson and Linda Dorward. The councillors met with tenants who will be helped by the ‘Here for You’ campaign and other support services already offered by Wheatley Group.

DGHP, part of Wheatley Group, launched the campaign at an event in north west Dumfries on Monday 3 October. Supporting over 20,000 tenants, the ‘Here for You’ campaign will help to address the cost-of-living increases.

The Co-Leaders met with tenants who will be helped by the campaign and other support services already offered by Wheatley Group.

Active Schools and Community Sport FREE
October Holiday sessions

Looking to try a new sport or improve your skills?

Or would you like to take part in a family activity?

Then why not come along and get involved in our Active Schools and Community Sport FREE October Holiday sessions!

Work Begins on Historic Fountain Restoration in Dumfries

Much anticipated work to restore the historic Grade B Listed fountain on Dumfries High Street begins on 4 October with the aim of it being fully operational for next spring.

The fountain is an important part of the social history of the town. It commemorates the introduction of fresh water to Dumfries and Maxwelltown that provided a turning point and symbol of hope for the people of Dumfries following the devastating cholera epidemics of 1832 and 1848. The restoration of the Fountain will be one of the first projects identified in Dynamically Different Dumfries, the community-led vision and action plan for the town centre to be completed.

This fountain is a combined cascade and spray fountain, made in a complex assembly of over 100 dismountable cast iron parts. Work is needed now because the fixings that hold the fountain together are corroded and need to be replaced to ensure the fountain’s future. There is also a need to ensure that the water flowing through the fountain meets modern safety standards, so a new water treatment and pumping system is required. These restoration works will bring the fountain back to its former glory and safeguard its future for many decades to come.

The restoration project is being led by award-winning engineering consultancy Industrial Heritage Consulting Limited with the works being undertaken by Wigan-based Lost Art. These companies are among a handful of specialists in the UK with a successful track record in restoration of fountains of this type. 

People are encouraged to stop and look at the Interpretation boards that form part of the safety hoarding around the site. The boards will tell the history of the fountain, provide useful and interesting information, and display artwork produced by schools and the wider community during Phase 1 of the Community Engagement Process. The boards will also have letterbox slots at varying heights to enable people to peek through and to see what is happening on site.

Once the site is fully operational, work will begin on the dismantling and removal of the fountain to Wigan where restoration work will be undertaken on each part before being brought back to be reassembled on site.

If you have questions or knowledge you would like to share on the history of the Fountain please email: dumfriesfountain@dumgal.gov.uk

Rhins of Galloway Coast Path Guides

A series of free guides have recently been published to help walkers explore, identify and enjoy some of the natural and cultural heritage highlights that can be seen along the developing Rhins of Galloway Coast Path.

Last year three digital Archaeology guides were launched alongside a Lighthouse and Clifftop Flower guide. A further four guides have now been developed – about coastal birds, shoreline flowers, the strandline and local stories. The guides made their first appearance at the recent Stranraer Oyster Festival and the feedback was very positive, with many locals and visitors now busy planning a walk when the route is completed.

The guides have been developed with our Rhins Coast Path partners, Solway Firth Partnership and AOC Archaeology and printed with funding from the Regionwide Coastal Benefit Fund.

You can keep up to date on the Rhins Coast Path at the  website News (RGCP) – DG Trails and our Facebook page @Rhinsofgallowaycoastpath

The ring-bound booklets are available at information centres across Dumfries and Galloway and are available as downloadable pdfs from the Rhins of Galloway website.