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Friday 3 October

Welcome to Council News, your fortnightly update from our council.

Our team is always keen to give you updates on the things that matter the most to you.

We also want to share positive stories about things that are happening in your community.

If you have news that you'd like to share – shining a light on an individual, community group or event – we would love to feature them in our Community bulletin.

Please email us at communitybulletin@dumgal.gov.uk with feedback or story ideas and one of our reporters will get back to you.

Storm Amy – Community Preparedness Update

Storm Amy is forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain across western Scotland from Friday evening into Saturday. Dumfries and Galloway currently remains under a Yellow Weather Warning, indicating a low likelihood of medium impacts. Council teams are actively monitoring the situation and working with partners to ensure community safety.

Several ferry sailings between Cairnryan and Northern Ireland have been cancelled due to high winds. Travellers are advised to check directly with Stena Line and P&O Ferries before travelling to the ports.

Residents are encouraged to:

• Follow official updates from the Met Office and SEPA.
• Avoid unnecessary travel during peak storm hours
• Report power outages by calling 105
• Check local travel alerts via Traffic Scotland

The council’s Resilience Team continues to work closely with local and national partners to support preparedness across the region. Further updates will be shared as needed.

Garden Waste Collection Service Grows Greener – Have Your Say

Dumfries and Galloway Council is inviting residents to share their views on the Garden Waste Collection Service as its first season draws to a close.

Since launching in March 2024, the kerbside collection service has made it easier for households to recycle garden waste such as grass clippings and leaves. In just six months, the council has collected over 960 tonnes of garden waste directly from residents’ doorsteps. This represents a significant increase of 746 tonnes compared to the same period last year.

Dumfries and Galloway Council is encouraging residents to take part in a public feedback survey to identify areas for improvement and shape future developments – as it prepares for the next season of the Garden Waste Collection Service.

The survey is open now to all members of the community regardless of whether they used the service this year.

Lifelong Learning Officer Susan Brown receives her award from Stephen Jack, the Council's Lifelong Learning Manager.

Celebrating Susan’s Journey in Lifelong Learning

Recently, Lifelong Learning celebrated a remarkable milestone with Susan Brown, their fantastic Lifelong Learning Officer, who has reached 25 years of service with Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Susan’s dedication, passion and hard work over the years have made a real and lasting difference to learners and colleagues alike. Her commitment to supporting others and creating opportunities for growth is truly inspiring.

Susan began her career with Dumfries and Galloway Council as a Clerical Assistant in Community Resources, based in Whithorn. Since then, she has supported learners across a wide range of areas, including ESOL, Adult Learning and Family Learning. She always has a focus on helping people grow and thrive.

Her background in Community Learning and Development has been a consistent thread throughout her career. She continues to make a positive impact through her work in the Lifelong Learning service.

Now working in the west of the region, Susan’s experience, dedication and approachable nature are deeply valued by both colleagues and learners. Her commitment to supporting others remains as strong as ever. She continues to play a key role in helping people build skills and confidence in their own communities.

Congratulations Susan and thank you for 25 years of outstanding service.

What You Can Do as Part of Climate Week 2025

As part of Climate Week 2025, we are encouraging residents, businesses and communities to take proactive steps to prepare for emergencies.

With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, from flooding and high winds to heatwaves and wildfires, being ready is more important than ever.

This summer was the hottest on record, with drought warnings and wildfire alerts issued across Scotland, including a significant fire near Newton Stewart. Many areas in our region rely on private water supplies, making drought preparedness critical. Learn how to Keep Safe in Hot Weather and protect your household during heatwaves.

Flooding remains a concern, especially in coastal and riverside communities. The council supports nature-based solutions and property flood resilience. Residents can access flood recovery support and explore the subsidy scheme for flood resilience products.

But it’s not just floods. High winds have caused prolonged power outages across our region in recent years. That’s why it’s important that you know what you can do. Visit prepare for emergencies for practical advice on creating emergency kits, making household plans, and staying informed.

You can also sign up for alerts from the Met Office and SEPA to stay ahead of weather and flood warnings. The Ready Scotland website offers a wealth of guidance for individuals and communities.

Councillor Willie Scobie Retires After 37 Years of Service

Dumfries and Galloway’s longest-serving councillor, Willie Scobie, has stepped down after nearly four decades of dedicated public service. Representing Stranraer and the Rhins, Councillor Scobie officially retired on Monday 30 September.

First elected in 1988, Councillor Scobie has served the region in various roles for 37 years. His career began with Wigtown District Council, where he served alongside his father, and continued through the transition to Dumfries and Galloway Council. He was elected eight times, initially as a Labour representative and more recently as a non-aligned councillor.

Throughout his time in office, Councillor Scobie championed causes that supported vulnerable communities. He played a key role in securing a full refurbishment for Belmont Primary School in Stranraer, helped protect local day centres, advocated for improved housing and consistently called for better educational support and regeneration of Stranraer’s East Pier.

Despite stepping down, Councillor Scobie remains committed to public service and community life. He is a member of the A75/A77 Lobbying Action Group and has most recently served as part of the Democratic Alliance Group.

A by-election to fill the vacancy in Stranraer and the Rhins will take place on Thursday 20 November.

In the News

We publish all of our press releases from the last 12 months on our website so you can keep up-to-date.

Recent releases include:

• Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Garden Waste Collection Service Grows Greener.

• £50 Million Secured, Thousands Supported: Council Mid-Term Report Recognises Community Impact.

• Bus Network Changes – Your Questions Answered.

Have Your Say

We welcome your feedback and hold public consultations and information days so that you can take part in decisions that affect you.

Current consultations include: 

      • Engagement, active travel route: Crossmichael to Castle Douglas.

      • Statutory Consultation on the Review of Education Provision at Palnackie Primary                School.

      • Statutory Consultation on the Review of Education Provision at Carsphairn Primary              School and Nursery.

Watch Council Meetings

We stream videos of a wide range of council meetings on our YouTube channel.

You can still watch previous meetings to find out the key issues being discussed. Recent meetings include:

        • Full Council 2 October 2025.

        • Kirkcudbright Common Good Fund Sub-Committee 17 September 2025.

        • Wigtown Area Committee 22 August 2025.