The UK government recently announced a £20m funding package for seven Scottish towns, a move which has been criticized by some as a mere political ploy. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended the 10-year deal, saying that it would put “funding in the hands of local people”. The funding is aimed at revitalizing town centres and encouraging community-led regeneration. But what impact will this have on towns such as Dumfries, which is already involved in such work?
Dumfries has been carrying out community-led regeneration work, such as bringing the old Baker’s Oven building back into use as part of a wider project in the historic heart of the town. The building will become an enterprise space on the ground floor with meeting spaces above and seven two-bedroom flats at the back. Around £7.2m in funding was provided from various sources for this initiative alone. Meanwhile, an action plan entitled “Dynamically Different Dumfries” has been drawn up for the town’s development.
Despite the criticism that some of the seven towns are undergoing community-led regeneration, Dumfries Partnership Action Group (DPAG) chairman Rod Cowan believes that Dumfries is in a good position to benefit from the funding. The charity was set up to drive forward the vision for the town’s regeneration, and Cowan is hopeful that the funding will provide the “fuel” required to drive this project forward. Matt Baker from The Stove Network is also optimistic about the funding, saying that it is “enormously welcome” and could unlock more investment in Dumfries.
One of the key goals for the town’s regeneration is to encourage more people to live in its centre to give it a more vibrant feel, particularly after its shops close. Other objectives include bringing back a cinema to the town and improving independent shopping streets off of the main thoroughfare. Talks are ongoing to determine how the funding will reach the town and how it can be invested.
Ultimately, time will tell how successful this £20m funding package will be in raising the profile of Dumfries and reviving its town centre. However, those involved in the community regeneration efforts are hopeful that the funding will provide the necessary resources to turn their vision into a reality, and that they can serve as a model for other places aiming to undergo similar initiatives
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