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Friday 20 March

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.

Bank Holiday Waste Collections

We are pleased to let you know that our Waste Services Team will collect both refuse and recycling as normal over the Easter weekend, Friday 3 April 2026 (Good Friday) and Monday 6 April 2026 (Easter Monday), and the May Day holiday on 4 May.

The exceptions are that food waste will not be collected on Good Friday, Easter Monday or May Day and there will be no bulky uplifts on those dates. 

Household Waste Recycling Centres will be open as normal.

Safe Use of Mouse and Rat Poison

Residents are being urged to take extra care when using mouse and rat poison after reports of domestic pellets being found scattered in Parkhead park, Noblehill in Dumfries, resulting in two dogs becoming unwell.

Council officers investigated and confirmed that the material involved was a domestic‑use rodenticide, which must never be used in open public areas such as parks, paths or playing fields. These products are designed only for secure, enclosed bait stations on private property. Only suitably qualified pest control professionals can bait open areas. 

Using poisons outdoors poses a serious risk to children, pets, wildlife and livestock, and incorrect disposal can lead to contamination of shared spaces – if in doubt, seek the help of a professional pest control operative.

We are reminding residents that:

• Rodent poison should only be used in appropriate, enclosed bait stations.
• Poison must be placed where pets, wildlife and the public cannot reach it.
• Any spills or unused bait must be cleaned up and disposed of safely.

If you discover poison or suspicious pellets in a public area, please report it to the council immediately.

May Day Customer Service Closures

All Customer Service Centres and Registration Offices in Dumfries and Gretna will be closed on Monday 4 May.

If you have an urgent registration matter or other urgent business, you can telephone 0300 33 33 3000.

Election Update

Polling letters for the upcoming Scottish Parliamentary Elections will be landing through letterboxes in the coming days.

These letters replace the traditional 'polling cards' for this election. Please be assured these have been issued by our Electoral Registration Office and are genuine. To find out more about the upcoming election see: www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/SPE2026

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.

• Councillors consider next phase of 20mph programme as progress continues across region.

• Committee to consider three year capital investment programme for Dumfries and Galloway.

• Update on Active Travel Programmes.

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:

• Enabling and Customer Services Committee, Thursday 19 March.
• Stewartry Area Committee, Wednesday 18 March.
• Planning Applications Committee, Tuesday 17 March.