New groups to tackle Dumfries regeneration

Nov 11 2009 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

TWO new groups have been set up to shape the regeneration of Dumfries.

The creation of a town centre management forum and a development trust were approved by councillors yesterday. Both have emerged from the Town Centre Steering Group which has now been disbanded.

It is hoped they will provide a new way forward for the town that has had its regeneration hopes up in the air since developer Centros Miller pulled out of a £50 million scheme in 2008.

The new groups will be given far more powers than the former body which was seen as having limited capabilities.

According to a report which went before a planning committee yesterday, the management forum will act at as the “interface” between the council and stakeholders; will advise the council on what is needed for town centre maintenance; come up with ideas for thing like marketing and promotion; and “refresh the town centre vision and masterplan”.

“This would represent a considerable change from the remit of the former steering group in that council services would bring to the forum details of specific work programmes relating to the town centre in order that wider stakeholder views could inform service delivery and the co-ordination of services and support,” council regeneration boss Tony Fitzpatrick told councillors.

The development trust will be linked to the forum and could potentially make the biggest impact as it will be tasked with “creating and delivering physical change in the town centre”.

It will recommend projects to be funded and “develop and deliver projects on the ground through a lead partner role”.

One possibility being looked at is allowing the trust to have control of potential development sites which are currently owned by the council and liaise with interested parties over their usage.

Mr Fitzpatrick said it would “have an operational focus, bringing together the necessary professional and technical skills from council services and partners where appropriate and to design and deliver projects”.

The creation of the two bodies was welcomed by members of Loreburn Community Council who will be heavily involved.