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Friday 2 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.

Andy is Highly Commended for his Contribution to Equality and Diversity

Andrew (Andy) Margerison, one of our Principal Teachers for Inclusion, was recently awarded a prestigious education award.

Andy was given the Highly Commended award for his contribution to equality and diversity in education by the Saroj Lal Award for a Pioneering Spirit in Equality and Diversity, which is supported by The Herald as part of the newspaper’s wider commitment to enhancing Scottish education.

The Vineet Lal Award recognises teachers and school children for their work in promoting equality and diversity. It was established in memory of Saroj Lal, a pioneering teacher and race relations campaigner. The award celebrates the efforts of educators who actively challenge discrimination and foster a culture of equality and diversity in their classrooms and communities. The award is named after Vineet Lal, who is the son of Saroj Lal and a judge for the award.

Well done, Andy, on receiving the recognition for your efforts and dedication. 

rLearners Take on CPR and Defibrillator Awareness

Yesterday was Restart A Heart Live Day – where schools across Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland and the UK were invited to Fill Our Schools with Lifesavers.

On Thursday 1 October, classrooms, families and communities came together for a free, interactive livestream, teaching CPR and defibrillator awareness. There were 40 schools from across Dumfries and Galloway taking part which allowed young people in each school to learn simple life-saving skills that could one day help save a life.

Restart A Heart Live is designed to make CPR learning easy and accessible. There’s no specialist equipment required – pupils and staff practised using cushions, folded jackets and even teddy bears while following along with the live session.

Every year, thousands of people in Scotland experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and the actions taken in the first few minutes before an ambulance arrives can make a crucial difference. Learning CPR gives people the confidence to act when it matters most.

As part of the CARE Zone programme, all schools in Dumfries and Galloway are encouraged to offer CPR training for pupils and staff. This training helps build confidence, life-saving skills and awareness from Primary One onwards. School CPR and AED familiarisation is one of the five levers of the CARE Zone used to increase awareness, bystander CPR and defibrillation in the council area.

By taking part in Restart a Heart Live each school automatically qualified for a silver level award.

Check DG Schools Training and Defibrillators to see information for each school.

For further information on defibrillators in the community, check Defibrillators in the community.

Common Good Improvements in Castle Douglas

Dumfries and Galloway Council is carrying out a programme of investment and maintenance works to help protect and preserve a number of important Common Good assets in Castle Douglas.

As part of this work, Clience Studio on King Street will temporarily relocate from 7 November while improvements are carried out to the building. During the works, the studio will operate from the Castle Douglas Art Gallery and Library at Market Hill, King Street. The temporary move will remain in place until the project is completed.

The works include essential maintenance to the historic shop front, refurbishment of the flat above the premises and maintenance works to the Castle Douglas Clock Tower. Together, these improvements will help safeguard these valued Common Good assets and maintain the historic character of the town centre streetscape for future generations.

Scaffolding will be erected while work is underway and signage will be in place directing visitors and customers to the temporary Clience Studio location further along King Street.

Business will continue as normal throughout the works, with artist Angela Lawrence continuing to welcome customers and visitors from the Castle Douglas Art Gallery and Library.

Make Your Wee Read Pledge

On 7 October 2026, people across Scotland will come together to celebrate the simple joy of reading by supporting Wee Read. All we're asking is that you make a pledge to take some time out of your day to read something you enjoy.

You can get involved by making your pledge to read on 7 October and spend a few minutes reading something you enjoy. Whether you pick up a book, newspaper, comic, magazine or recipe, it all counts. You can read for five minutes or fifty, on your own or with someone else.

You can also join in with the Dumfries and Galloway Library Service Live Bedtime Story at 6.15pm on Wednesday 7 October.

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 Invited to Take Part in Wee Read on 7 October.
• Council Agrees Principles for Engagement on Public Service Reform

Have Your Say

We publish all of our consultations and engagement on our website. Open consultations and engagements include:

• Dumfries and Galloway Bus Network Development Engagement.
• Whithorn Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan Consultation.
• Statutory consultation on the discontinuation of education provision at Dalry Secondary School.

Watch Council Meetings

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

Council meetings resumed on 20 August. You can watch previous meetings to find out about the key issues being discussed. Recent meetings include:

• Planning Applications Committee – Wednesday 30 October 2026.
• Audit, Risk and Scrutiny Committee – Tuesday 29 September 2026.
• Dumfries and Galloway Council – Thursday 24 September 2026.