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Friday 12 June
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.
Major Summer Programme of Road Improvements to Begin Across Dumfries
A major programme of road improvements is to take place across Dumfries this summer, with residents set to see a significant increase in maintenance activity over the coming months.
The work is part of a wider investment of more than £30 million to improve roads across Dumfries and Galloway. It will include resurfacing and other treatments on key routes, town centre streets and residential areas.
Works are planned from late June through to early September and have been scheduled, where possible, during the school summer holidays to help reduce the impact on peak-time travel.
While the improvements will bring long-term benefits, disruption is expected, including traffic management measures, diversions and potential delays – particularly alongside other ongoing works in the town.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed and plan journeys where possible.
Historic Crichton Archive Joins UNESCO Memory of the World Register
A remarkable part of Dumfries and Galloway’s heritage has received international recognition.
The Crichton Royal Institution Archive has joined the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, recognising its importance as a record of pioneering mental health care, creativity and patient voice in 19th century Dumfries.
The announcement was made on Tuesday 9 June, which is also International Archives Day – a fitting moment to recognise the importance of archives and the expert colleagues who care for them.
The archive is owned by NHS Dumfries and Galloway and cared for by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Heritage Service, with the recognition achieved through partnership working with The Crichton Trust.
It includes patient artwork, publications and records that give rare insight into the lives and experiences of people at the Crichton Royal Institution. The collection also highlights the role of creativity, including art, literature, drama and music, in the institution’s approach to care.
Drowning Prevention Week 2026
Dumfries and Galloway Council is supporting Drowning Prevention Week 2026, encouraging residents and visitors to stay safe around the region’s rivers, lochs and coastline.
The national campaign, led by the Royal Life Saving Society UK, runs from 13 to 20 June and focuses on raising awareness of water safety during the summer months.
Inland waterways such as rivers and lochs account for most drowning incidents across the UK, many of which are preventable and often linked to cold water shock, slips or unexpected entry into the water.
With Dumfries and Galloway home to a wide range of natural water environments, people are being reminded that rural locations can present additional risks, including limited access and poor mobile signal in an emergency.
The council is promoting simple safety advice, including stopping to assess risks, staying together near water, keeping a close eye on children, and calling 999 in an emergency rather than entering the water to attempt a rescue. People are also encouraged to float on their back if they fall into the water, to help control breathing and stay calm.
The council will support the campaign by sharing information and safety advice on social media over the duration of the campaign.
Bairns’ Hoose Launched
A new Bairns’ Hoose has been launched in Dumfries and Galloway, bringing key services together in one child-friendly setting to better support children and young people who have experienced trauma.
The service integrates health, social work and police support in a single location, helping to reduce the need for children to attend multiple appointments or repeat their experiences. This coordinated approach is designed to provide faster access to support while reducing stress for children and their families.
Based on an international model, Bairns’ Hoose is part of a national programme to improve how Scotland responds to children who have experienced or witnessed abuse or trauma. Dumfries and Galloway is taking part as an affiliate in the national Pathfinder phase, helping shape how the model can work effectively in rural areas.
Children and young people have played a role in shaping the new environment, while local partners have already strengthened joint working through the use of the Scottish Child Interview Model to ensure a more consistent, trauma-informed approach.
Further development is planned, including a second site in the west of the region, to improve access and ensure support is available closer to home for families across Dumfries and Galloway.
Help Shape Better School Meals Across Dumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway Council is running a series of school meals surveys to help improve the quality, choice and consistency of school meals across our region.
The surveys will also help improve children’s lunchtime experience, how we share information about menus, ingredients and prices, and how we support children with allergies or special dietary needs.
If you are a parent or carer of a child in nursery, primary or secondary school, please check your email inbox for a message from your school with a link to the survey.
Once the surveys close, we will review the feedback, identify key themes and consider actions for improvement.
Your views will help shape future improvements to school meals for children and young people across Dumfries and Galloway.
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.
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:
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Economy and Infrastructure Committee – 9 June 2026.
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Tackling Poverty, Inequalities and Housing Sub Committee – 2 June 2026.
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Climate, Environment and Biodiversity Sub Committee – 2 June 2026.
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