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Thursday 2 April

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

We have published Council News on Thursday this week, as our team will be having a well-earnt break tomorrow. 

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.

List of Candidates Now Available

Nominations for the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections closed on 1 April.

We have listed all candidates and agents on our dedicated webpage at https://www.dumfriesandgalloway.gov.uk/SPE2026 for the Dumfriesshire constituency, the Galloway and West Dumfries constituency and the South Scotland regional list.

Also on the webpage is information about where your polling place is located, how to register to vote and how to apply for proxy and postal votes ahead of the election on Thursday 7 May.

New Way to Report Road, Pavement and Streetlighting Issues

Dumfries and Galloway Council has introduced FixMyStreet Pro as the new single way to report road, pavement and streetlighting defects across the region.

The new system makes it quicker and easier for residents to report issues and see what is already being dealt with. Using an interactive map, users can pinpoint the exact location of a problem, upload photographs and view issues that have already been reported nearby, helping to reduce duplicate reports.

Residents can also sign up for email updates to track the progress of reported issues without needing to contact the council for further information. The service is mobile‑friendly and can be added to a phone’s home screen for quick access when out and about.

FixMyStreet Pro also provides clearer information about how defects are assessed and prioritised. All reported defects will appear on the map; however, P4 and P5 defects do not meet the threshold for repair. These lower‑priority issues will continue to be recorded, monitored through inspections and managed within the council’s asset management system.

Residents are reminded that reporting the same issue multiple times does not affect repair times. Repairs continue to be prioritised based on safety and asset management criteria.

The council encourages residents to use FixMyStreet Pro to report concerns and check the status of existing issues. Although repair priorities and available resources remain unchanged, the new system improves transparency, reduces frustration and enhances the overall customer experience.

Register for Easter Study Support

All young people across Scotland studying for Senior Phase qualifications have access to free online Easter Study Support. 

The webinars provided by e-Sgoil are delivered by secondary teachers covering multiple subjects over National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher levels.

Registration for the extensive programme of webinars is now open, with sessions scheduled to run throughout the week beginning 6 April.

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.

Celebrating Outstanding Contributions to Our Communities

We’re pleased to share a range of recent achievements from across Dumfries and Galloway. These updates recognise national awards, school success and community learning that supports inclusion and wellbeing.

Emma Currie, Facilities Assistant at Cargenbridge Primary School, was selected to attend the prestigious Local Government Reception at St James’s Palace on 3 February. The event, hosted by His Majesty, The King, recognises frontline local government staff who make an exceptional contribution to their communities.

Emma was nominated in recognition of her outstanding commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children across Dumfries. In memory of Emma Ross, a pupil at Heathhall Primary School who sadly passed away following a cardiac arrest ten years ago, Emma led a remarkable fundraising campaign. Through her determination and sustained effort, she raised £33,000, which enabled defibrillators to be installed in all 23 primary schools across Dumfries.

Her work has been widely recognised both within the community and across the council, with colleagues nominating her for several awards over the past year. Emma’s compassion, initiative and dedication to safeguarding children reflect the very best of public service.

Kirkcudbright Academy is the latest school to be awarded Gold status by UNICEF UK’s Rights Respecting Schools programme, the highest level of recognition for schools that embed children’s rights into everyday practice.

Fewer than 650 schools across the UK currently hold this award, making it a significant achievement.

The Gold Award reflects several years of work by pupils, staff and partners to ensure that children’s rights are understood, respected and actively promoted across the school. Assemblies, themed learning and pupil‑led projects have helped create a culture based on fairness, equality and respect.

During the assessment, pupils shared that they feel listened to, valued and able to influence positive change within their school. They now play a more active role in shaping school policies, campaigns and community projects, with their feedback continuing to inform learning, wellbeing and school improvement.

A local lip‑reading group, delivered through the council’s Lifelong Learning Service, has received national recognition at an annual awards ceremony held on Thursday 29 January 2026.

The group was recognised for the positive impact it has on learners’ confidence, communication skills and overall wellbeing. The classes were developed following the long‑running success of the council’s British Sign Language (BSL) provision, which has been operating locally for almost 20 years.

Although BSL meets the needs of many learners, there is a growing demand for additional support to help people communicate more easily in everyday situations. The lip‑reading group helps learners feel more comfortable taking part in conversations at home, at work and within their communities, helping to reduce isolation and improve quality of life.

Finally, we wish all our readers Happy Easter. The Community Bulletin will return next Friday 10 April. 

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.

• Dumfries and Galloway Councillors Designate Stranraer as Region’s “Oyster Town.”
• Council Sets out Dumfries and Galloway Priorities for National Infrastructure Plan.
• Dumfries and Galloway Council Decides No Additional Bank Holiday for Council Employees on 15 June.

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:

• SWestrans Board Meeting - Friday 27 March 2026.
• Dalbeattie common Good Fund Sub Committee - Wednesday 25 March 2026.
• Dumfries and Galloway Full Council - Thursday 26 February 2026.