People’s Project launched by Dumfries businessman

Aug 6 2008 by Iain Pollock, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

A DUMFRIES businessman is seeking support for a “People’s Project” to help rejuvenate the town.

Mark Jardine is proposing to launch a major fundraising appeal to provide a new leisure facility or visitor attraction.

He would like to see a prominent building such as the Loreburn Hall or Greyfriars Church brought back into public use.

The creation of a multi-plex cinema, 10-pin bowling hall and Robert the Bruce-themed visitor centre are among his ideas for the project.

And he is prepared to start the ball rolling with a £1,000 donation if there is sufficient interest in the scheme.

Mr Jardine said: “I have thought for some time that Dumfries needs a feel good initiative, something that we can involve ourselves with and feel as if we are all making a contribution.

“The council’s hands are tied by budget constraints but the People’s Project might just set the heather on fire.”

He added: “The idea is to give the people of Dumfries an opportunity to invest directly in a scheme to improve the quality of life within the town and the region.

“Rather than waiting for a private investor to suddenly appear, like a genie out of the bottle, could we not all contribute? I would be happy to pledge £1,000 to start it off.”

“For example, people have been pleading for years for a 10-pin bowling alley and multi-plex cinema. Through the People’s Project, could we not provide these types of facilities for them?

“I’m of the opinion that if we have something on the go and it’s vibrant private investors out there may look at Dumfries and think: ‘That’s the place to invest’.”

Mr Jardine, owner of Wm Jardine, funeral directors, hopes to garner enough support for the scheme to set up a steering committee to take it forward.

Initially, he wants to gauge interest in his proposal by inviting people to write to him c/o 3 Crowns Court, Dumfries, DG1 1HU.