Dumfries and Galloway councillors set to agree local place plans for four communities

Dumfries and Galloway councillors are poised to approve local place plans for four communities in the region. Residents in Gretna, Rigg, Gretna Green, Springfield, and St John’s Town of Dalry have been actively involved in developing proposals for these plans over the past year. These local place plans (LLPs) are aimed at empowering communities to drive transformation in their areas through collaborative efforts with the council.

The councillors will be discussing and potentially registering LLPs for the aforementioned communities at the council’s economy and resources committee meeting. Leading the way in the development of the Dalry local place plan are Dalry Community Council, Glenkens Community and Arts Trust (GCAT), and Glenkens Community Spaces Network (GCSN). The Dalry LLP focuses on principles for positive change, aiming to make The Glenkens a connected, resilient, and carbon-neutral place.

Divided into three key areas for improvement, the Dalry LLP focuses on roads and active travel, resources, services, facilities, employment, and recreation, land use, and access to nature. Meanwhile, work on the Gretna, Rigg, Gretna Green, and Springfield Place Plan began in November 2023. This plan involves a wide range of community engagement activities, including surveys, events, engagements with children and young people, visits with businesses, and thematic sessions to reach approximately 10% of the population.

The Gretna, Rigg, Gretna Green, and Springfield Place Plan is structured around six themes: an enterprising place, a skilled place, a beautiful and safe place, an active place, a place to live, and a place to be young. As projects within these plans materialize, funding will be sourced from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, with potential additional investment required from other funders, possibly including Dumfries and Galloway Council.