Friday 17 May 2024

Welcome to Community, your Dumfries and Galloway community bulletin. 

We are always keen to hear of any positive stories about things that are happening in your community and would like to feature them in Community – please email us at communitybulletin@dumgal.gov.uk and one of our reporters will get back to you.

A Marvellous May of Events

The length and breadth of Dumfries and Galloway always looks spectacular in spring, and this May there are some wonderful festivals and events to look forward to.

On Saturday May 18, the Gralloch Gravel Cycling World Cup will take place in Gatehouse. This event only took place for the first time in 2023, but already has secured a leading position in the new market for high quality gravel cycling events. Close to 2000 competitors will take part in a gruelling 70-mile challenge through the Galloway Forest Park, and start
and finish in Gatehouse’s Garries Park.

Two of the region’s best loved and highest profile events take place in late May – Spring Fling and the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival.

Spring Fling has enjoyed a superb recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic, and posted strong results for the 2023 Open Artists’ Studios Weekend. This year a record breaking 104 artists and craft makers are throwing open their studios to the public. It’s an inspiring weekend, full of high quality work and a glimpse into the creative process of very talented people.

Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival celebrates its 45th anniversary this year. The
2024 programme is rich with great theatre, comedy, live music and much more. The festival has so much to see and enjoy, and helps position Dumfries and Galloway this time of the year, with Spring Fling, as one of the most creative regions of Scotland.

Galloway Mountain Rescue Team Takes on the Ring of Fire

On Thursday 23 May at 6pm, 11 team members from Galloway Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) will embark on a formidable challenge – the Ring Of Fire – to raise funds towards a new team base in the Newton Stewart area.

The Ring of Fire encompasses 30 summits in the Galloway Hills, spanning the three hill ranges of Minnigaff Hills, Rhinns of Kells, and the Awful Hand – starting and finishing at Bruce's Stone, Glentrool. The team aims to complete the course of approximately 50 miles with an ascent of approximately 4500 metres in 24 hours.

Galloway MRT provides search and rescue services in Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire. They are a team of highly trained volunteers operating from a base in Newton Stewart. Since forming in 1975, the team has responded to hundreds of incidents across southwest Scotland.

As a Scottish Incorporated Charitable Organisation (SCIO) – Charity Number SCO20065 – the team is reliant on the generosity of the public, local businesses and other organisations to fund the maintenance of vehicles, equipment and support the regular training programme.

The team extends its heartfelt gratitude and thanks to all who have already donated. If you would like to support Galloway Mountain Rescue Team, please donate using the button:

Cottage Hospital Consultation

A consultation is about to take place on how to make best use of four of the region’s cottage hospitals – running from 17 May to 18 August.

Options have been developed through engagement with stakeholders for the cottage hospitals in Moffat, Thornhill, Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart and these are now the basis of the consultation.

Ultimately, the consultation outcomes will be brought to Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board, which will make any decisions on their future roles.

More information is provided in the briefing document, which includes details on the in-person drop-in events taking place across the region. Full details on the consultation are available here: https://dghscp.co.uk/rcrp-consultation/

Local Development Plan Roadshows Start 

Work on preparing the next Local Development Plan for Dumfries and Galloway, LDP3, has started. The first stage of the new plan is the production of an evidence report, and the council's Development Planning Team is asking people what they think at a series of roadshows in towns and villages during May and June.

The team would like to know people's views on where they live and the region as a whole. The team is also keen to understand what people think about play provision in their local community including the quality, quantity and how easy it is to access. The roadshows are an opportunity to provide information on the next Local Development Plan and the issues that are considered in its preparation.