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Friday 12 December

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.

Council Approves Whitesands Flood Protection Project; Work to Start Spring 2026

Dumfries and Galloway Council today (Thursday 11 December) voted to proceed with the £68.6 million Whitesands Project in Dumfries, combining major flood defences with significant public realm improvements.

The decision by elected members at today’s Full Council meeting in Dumfries unlocks £54.9 million in funding from the Scottish Government and paves the way for construction to begin in spring 2026.

The Whitesands Project is a key initiative to safeguard Dumfries from the River Nith flooding while revitalising the riverside area. 

The town has suffered regular flooding for centuries, damaging property and deterring investment, with risks expected to worsen under climate change. 

The project aims to deliver a permanent 1-in-75-year flood protection standard – a flood that has a 1.3% chance of happening in any given year – for Dumfries, safeguarding homes, businesses and key infrastructure.

It will create a revitalised riverside corridor at Greensands, Whitesands and Dock Park, with new walkways, landscaping and public spaces.

At today’s Full Council councillors considered the Full Business Case, developed in line with HM Treasury Green Book guidance, which sets out the strategic, economic, management, commercial and financial cases for the project. 

The total project cost of £68.6 million – an increase from the 2023 estimate of £37.5 million due to design development and inflation – now provides financial clarity. 

Councillors agreed to allocate £13.7 million (20%) of the project cost, securing £54.9 million (80%) in match-funding from the Scottish Government. 

To date, £5 million had already been allocated by the council; today’s decision approves the additional £8.7 million required to green-light the project.

Max Has the Winning Design

This year’s council Christmas card has been designed by Max, a P7 pupil at Springfield Primary.

Max impressed the judging panel by bringing together the local angle of the anvil (located a stone's throw away from the Springfield Primary playground) and the local village hall in his card alongside a festive scene involving Santa, a snowman and a Christmas tree.

The council card is an e-card again this year, which cuts down on paper and printing. The card is issued to council staff, stakeholders and community groups all over the country.

Well done Max on a superb design and thanks to everyone at Springfield Primary for hosting the competition this year.

Help and Support is Always Here, Even During the Festive Season

The council wants you to know that support doesn’t stop for the holidays. If you need help with social work or housing, we’re here for you.

You can always get support by calling 030 33 33 3001.

• During office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), you’ll reach the Social Work team.
• Outwith these hours, including public holidays, the Social Work Out of Hours team answers the same number and will help with urgent needs.

Our Housing Options and Homeless service will be closed on Thursday 25 December 2025, Friday 26 2025, Thursday 1 January 2026 and Friday 2 January 2026.

Contact within the dates above will be answered by the Out of Hours team on 030 33 33 3001 (24 hours). If you need housing advice or emergency accommodation:

• Call 030 33 33 3001 any time – day or night, even on Christmas and New Year.
• Our Out of Hours team will make sure you get the help you need.

Have Your Say on our Customer Service Centres

Dumfries and Galloway Council has launched a new survey to help shape the future of its customer service centres across the region.

We want to make sure our services meet current and future customer needs, remain sustainable and continue to deliver value for money. To do that, we're asking residents to share their views on how often they use our services, how well they work and what might encourage more people to use them.

Customer Services includes our Libraries, Registration Services (births, deaths and marriages), face-to-face support for council enquiries and the Heritage Service (for example, local studies and archives).

The survey is anonymous and takes around 10 minutes to complete.

The survey is open until Friday 16 January 2026.

Sign Up Now for Dumfries and Galloway’s 2026 Garden Waste Collection Service

Dumfries and Galloway Council is inviting residents to register for the 2026 Garden Waste Collection Service, offering a convenient way to manage garden waste from March to November.

For £40 per bin permit, households can benefit from regular kerbside collections, making it easier to keep gardens tidy and reducing the need for trips to the recycling centre. 

Residents who apply by 31 January will enjoy uninterrupted service from the start of the collection period. Those who register after this date will have their collections begin six weeks after signing up, so early application is encouraged to make the most use of the service. 

The service has received high praise from over 3200 residents, who have highlighted its convenience, cost-effectiveness and positive environmental impact. Many users have noted that it helps them manage garden maintenance more efficiently, reduces car journeys to distant recycling centres and supports independent living for those who might otherwise struggle with waste disposal. 

The council has recorded a significant increase in garden waste collected, contributing to a more sustainable region. By diverting garden waste from general bins, the service ensures proper composting and recycling, supports the production of peat-free compost and advances the area’s circular economy goals. 

Residents can apply online or visit their local customer service centre or library. Assisted collections are available for those who need extra help. Don’t miss out – register early to make the most of this service.

Cinderella Comes to Dumfries

The Dumfries ARC Drama Group will bring the magic of Cinderella to the Theatre Royal on Friday 30 January 2026.

Doors open at 1.30pm and the show begins at 2pm. Tickets are £8 and can be booked by calling 01387 273902.

This seasonal pantomime is created and performed by talented service users from the Activity and Resource Centre, which supports adults with learning disabilities. It promises to be a joyful celebration of creativity, inclusion and community spirit for all ages.

Funding Available for Active and Sustainable Travel Projects

Community groups, charities, social enterprises and public sector bodies are invited to submit Expressions of Interest for the 2026–2027 People and Place Fund.

Administered by SWestrans and supported by Transport Scotland, the fund offers financial support for projects that make walking, wheeling or cycling and other sustainable travel options – such as bus travel and car-sharing – more accessible.

Current initiatives include local activities like the Heathhall Treasure Hunt and region-wide programmes such as the iBike project, which builds confidence through group rides and training.

A proportion of funding is ring-fenced for community-led projects (up to £25,000), with larger grants available for regional schemes.

From left to right: Karen Robertson (Physical Activity Officer – Older Adults), Lynne Mann – (Lead Allied Health Professional – NHS), Ryan Kerr – Active Lives Practitioner – NHS Chris Topping (Health and Wellbeing Specialist), Lee Seton (Leisure, Culture and Wellbeing Manager), Peter McCormick – (SWESTRANS), Sally Fingland – DG1 Team Leade,r Tina Lockhart – Health and Wellbeing Team Leader.

Joint Partnership Steps Up to Win Award

The Active Lives Pathway programme has won the prestigious Campbell Christie Public Service Reform Award, presented last week at an event in the Scottish Parliament.

Launched in November 2023, Active Lives Pathway is a preventative initiative led by Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Health and Social Care Partnership. It provides a single referral route for adults who are inactive or not meeting strength guidelines. Health professionals can refer or signpost people to community programmes based on their confidence and motivation.

Active Lives Pathway is the first system-wide pathway in Scotland to embed muscle-strengthening guidelines into the referral process. This change increased the proportion of adults eligible for referral from 36% to 75%, creating more opportunities for prevention and early intervention. The approach supports both local and national health outcomes.

There has been a significant impact across the region:

• Over 1500 referrals in the first 18 months. This is a 74% monthly increase compared to pre-launch.
• Since April 2025 around 75 new weekly classes and walks have started in towns and villages.
• 97% of referrals had one or more health conditions.
• 47% were aged 65+ and 13% came from our most deprived communities.

Health and Social Care professionals can refer people to an initial free local programme of physical activity. Programmes are organised into a tiered framework, helping people choose the right level of support.

16 Days of Action Against Gender Based Violence

Dumfries and Galloway Council joined other organisations across the Public Protection Partnership in recognising 16 Days of Action Against Gender Based Violence between 25 November and 10 December.

16 Days is an opportunity to raise awareness of the issues that affect women and girls worldwide and to signpost to some of the support services that can help women and girls who are experiencing or are at risk of harm.

Dumfries and Galloway Council is proud to play a role in preventing gender-based violence. As a key partner in the Public Protection Partnership, the council works across multiple agencies to help support and raise awareness of initiatives that can help.

Programmes like the Caledonia System, delivered by our Justice Social Work Team, aim to support men with a history of abuse to change their behaviour, while offering parallel support to women and children affected by abusive behaviours.

The team was recently recognised for its excellent practice after contributing to a panel event in France, which has helped to shape the direction of French policy on coercive control, a form of abuse recognised in Scotland since 2018.

In addition, staff across the council are also offered regular opportunities to attend training to learn more about the ‘White Ribbon’ campaign, which encourages men to call out sexist and misogynistic behaviour when they encounter it.

The training empowers staff to deliver ‘White Ribbon talks’, helping to raise awareness. The council’s Chief Executive, Dawn Roberts, is  a White Ribbon Ambassador. 

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:

• Funding Available for Active and Sustainable Travel Projects.

• Dumfries and Galloway Council Welcomes New Opportunities for Nature and Economy.

• Council Approves Whitesands Flood Protection Project; Work to Start Spring 2026.

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:

• Local Development Plan 2: Kirkcudbright Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan (CACAMP).

Recent consultations (now closed) include: 

• Budget Consultation 2026-2027.
• Visitor Levy.

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:

• Dumfries and Galloway (Full Council) – Thursday 11 December 2025.
• Social Work Services Committee – Tuesday 9 December 2025.
• Dumfries and Galloway Licensing Board – Wednesday 3 December 2025.