New South of Scotland Cycling Infrastructure Fund Opens

Oct 7, 2023

A new £300,000 South of Scotland Cycling Infrastructure Fund has been created to support the region’s aim of becoming one of the leading cycling destinations in the world.

The Fund offers capital grants of £3,000 to £25,000 to support tourism businesses, social enterprises and community groups who own visitor facing assets to invest in cycling infrastructure.

The investments will aim to improve facilities for visiting cyclists taking part in the Kirkpatrick C2C, South of Scotland’s Coast to Coast cycling route, or riding the 7Stanes trail centres.

All applicants must be located within two miles of one of the Kirkpatrick C2C’s 22 named stop over locations or directly on the Kirkpatrick C2C route, or within five miles of the 7Stanes trail centres.

Eligible infrastructure projects include bike storage, bike racks, power charging sockets for cycle tourers, bike locks, bike washes, drying equipment and repair stations amongst others.

Full details including eligibility criteria and application form are available at www.southofscotlandenterprise.com/cyclingfund.

The Fund is being offered by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), and is supported by the South of Scotland Cycling Partnership.

The Partnership – made up of local and national organisations representing thousands of people across the region – has a ten year strategy in place, which aims to capitalise on the South of Scotland hosting the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships and recent UCI Bike Region Label title to create further economic, social and environmental benefits for local people.

Professor Russel Griggs, Chair of SOSE, said:

“The South of Scotland is one of the UK’s top cycling destinations, and in the last 12 months we have made excellent progress with our partners to ensuring it becomes a world-leading cycling location.

“To achieve this, it is absolutely crucial we have the correct facilities in place to support more visiting cyclists to enjoy our wonderful region, which is why we have launched the Cycling Infrastructure Fund.

“The Kirkpatrick C2C and 7Stanes trail centres are both huge assets for the South. By providing improved facilities for cyclists on both these routes, we can use the power of the bike to bring significant economic, social and environmental benefits to the region.”

Tourism Minister Richard Lochhead said:

“This is a welcome initiative from SOSE, supporting the development of infrastructure to help cycling tourism play a greater role in the local economy and giving a valuable boost to local businesses.

“Our tourism industry, with its diverse range of businesses, is a priority for the Scottish Government, and I am delighted to see SOSE helping to drive the ambitions we have for sustainable and responsible tourism.

“Cycling is already providing a vital boost to the local economy, and the passion for this thriving sport was evident when I launched the Scottish Mountain Biking Strategy at Glentress.

“This Fund will help to build on the interest generated from Scotland’s hugely successful hosting of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.”

Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Community and Business Development, said:

“This new fund is a fantastic opportunity for local communities and businesses to develop or expand on existing cycling infrastructure which will support riders and tourism. This really is a win-win for everyone.

“We have some of the best on and off road cycling routes and trails in the country and we must continue to capitalise on that to support and grow our local economy, and continued investment in cycling infrastructure is a key part of that.”

Councillor Ian Blake, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Communities Committee said:

“We welcome this new initiative. Anything that encourages people to get on a bike in our area of the country can only be aa positive and I hope the uptake is high and we reap the positive impacts, both short and longer term.”

Councillor Jackie McCamon, Vice Chair of the Communities Committee added:

“The new cycling infrastructure fund is a fantastic idea. We’ve seen the South-West grow in cycling stature in recent years and this new fund can only enhance our reputation and offer to locals and tourists alike.”

David Hope-Jones, Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, said:

“As the proud home of the bike, the South of Scotland is not only blessed with a rolling, rural landscape that is perfect to discover on two wheels, it is also home to countless high-quality tourism and hospitality businesses ready to offer cyclists a warm welcome.

“This new fund will help even more places to embrace the benefits of cycle tourism, as our region cements its bike-friendly reputation in the UK and beyond.”

Gordon Smith, VisitScotland Destination Development Director said:

“The South of Scotland’s reputation as a leading cycling destination has been strengthened in recent months after receiving the dual honours of hosting 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships events, and the recent UCI Bike Region Label.

“The launch of this cycling infrastructure fund will provide a further boost for the region and allow businesses to capitalise on these opportunities.

“This will in turn help support the development of the South’s cycling offer even further and inspire more visitors to the region, supporting our valuable tourism and events industry while promoting sustainable travel experiences to the benefit of visitors, communities and our environment.”

UK Government Announce Commitment To Invest In Improvements Along The A75

Oct 7, 2023

Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council Leader, Cllr Gail Macgregor, said:
“The A75 is a vital artery for communities and commerce across Dumfries and Galloway and the wider UK, and we welcome the announcement this week by the Prime Minister that there will be investment to improve the A75 following the recommendations in the Union Connectivity Review.

“This builds on the back of the A75 A77 Economic Impacts Report released in March 2023, which evidenced that upgrading the A75 will lead to reduced journey times and bring significant economic benefits and CO2 savings to our region and the UK.

“In turn, this will help us address the climate emergency and make our communities connected to the A75 safer places to live, work and visit.

“We look forward to working with the UK Government following their investment commitment, and the Scottish Government through Transport Scotland, which operates the A75.

“This is an exciting time for the region following the news last weekend of the £20m investment in Dumfries, the £18m investment from the Levelling Up Fund benefitting Dalbeattie and Stranraer announced at the start of the year, and now this investment in our main trunk road through the region.”

All eyes to the Solway skies

Oct 7, 2023

THE anticipated return of one of Scotland’s most mesmerising migration miracles is underway as the residents of Dumfries and Galloway prepare to welcome thousands of barnacle geese back to their winter wetland home.

Taking advantage of the expanse of salt marshes at the Solway Firth, these stars of the skies have begun to make their way back to South West Scotland, treating locals and visitors of WWT Caerlaverock and the wider area to one of the most arresting nature spectacles of autumn.

To celebrate the arrival of the beloved barnacles and other species including whooper swans and other wildfowl, WWT has once again joined up multiple partners to take part in the ten-day Wild Goose Festival which sees a series of nature-themed events taking paces across the region.

One of the festival’s highlights is hosted by WWT Caerlaverock when it opens early for two Dawn Flight events to give visitors the chance to witness the sensory spectacle of thousands of geese filling the skies and making a daily pilgrimage to feed on the rich and plentiful grazing fields.

David Pickett, WWT’s Site Manager, said: “A dawn goose roost walk in an ideal way to celebrate with the WWT the huge conservation success of the recovery of the Svalbard barnacle goose population. An early morning on the edge of the wild saltmarsh, a spectacle of 1000’s of birds, sunrise and a hot drink in the visitor centre afterwards – what’s not to like?”

When the site launched in 1971 the barnacle goose numbers were less than 4,000 but with dedicated conservation work up to 30,000 birds have been known to flock to the reserve, travelling 2000 miles from their summer home in Svalbard, north of the Arctic Circle.

Anna Barlow, Visitor Experience Officer at WWT Caerlaverock, said: “The Dawn Flight events are an amazing opportunity to see one of nature’s most amazing sights. It’s hard to explain just how magical it is to see and hear thousands of birds above you and watch them coming down into the reserve after spending the night on the Solway mudflats. It’s definitely something you need to experience to really appreciate its beauty.”

Along with WWT’s Dawn Flight specials on October 22^nd and 28^th, the Wild Goose Festival is running a host of activities from the 19^th-29^th including creative workshops, interactive performances, film screenings, stargazing, literary events, lectures, and opportunities for see the area’s visiting wildlife in their natural habitats.

Graham Rooney, Lead Producer of Wild Goose Festival comments,

“Wild Goose Festival is a really special event, a true celebration of nature, creativity and place. Not only does it unite so many different partners from across the region, highlighting the unique natural recourses that Dumfries & Galloway has, but it also encourages new audiences to engage, learn and interact with the natural world in new, innovative and creativity ways.”

For more information on how to see the early morning spectacle and events programme at WWT Caerlaverock visit https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/caerlaverock/whats-on/wild-goose-festival

Resurfacing On The A75 Between Dumfries And Crocketford Commences Monday 9th October 2023

Oct 7, 2023

Amey, on behalf of Transport Scotland, are undertaking essential resurfacing on the A75 at Henderland from Monday 9^th October until Thursday 12^th October 2023, between the hours of 8pm and 6am, each night.

This scheme will benefit around 9,200 vehicles using this route each day, by improving the condition of the carriageway and reducing the need for more extensive maintenance in the future.

The work will be carried out using three overnight road closures and signed diversions will be in place. We thank road users for their patience and co-operation while this essential work takes place. Work will be carried out using full closures of the A75 to ensure the safety of roadworkers and motorists whilst it is undertaken, and due to some deeper excavations required. There will also be daytime Temporary Traffic Lights in place to facilitate the cooling of deeper sections of treatment.

The signed diversions will operate as follows:

Westbound traffic will leave the A75 at Garroch Roundabout and travel east to Cargenbridge. At Cargenbridge, traffic will be directed to turn right at the roundabout to join the A711 southbound to Dalbeattie. At Dalbeattie, traffic will turn right to join the B794 northbound and continue on to the A75.
Eastbound traffic will join the B794 and continue to Dalbeattie. At Dalbeattie, traffic will turn left to join the A711 northbound to Cargenbridge, before turning left at the roundabout to re-join the A75 at Garroch Roundabout.
Please note: there will be a Traffic Restriction Order in place to stop traffic joining School Brae Road (Old Military Road) from the B794.

Access for emergency service vehicles will be maintained throughout these works.

Please note, all schemes are weather dependent and may be cancelled or rescheduled if weather conditions are not favourable.

A free Road Work Alerts service is available from our website: https://swtrunkroads.scot/roadwork-alerts/ An email address is all that is required to sign up for the service.
To report a problem on the network please visit: https://swtrunkroads.scot/report-a-problem/
Real-time journey information can be obtained by visiting https://www.traffic.gov.scot/ or via Twitter: @TrafficScotland

Top Award For Duncan McConchie Of Laggan

Oct 6, 2023

Eleven businesses, community partnerships and individuals from across rural Scotland have triumphed at the national Helping it Happen awards,Including Duncan McConchie of Laggan, near gatehouse of Fleet, recognising their outstanding work supporting the economy, jobs and education, wildlife and the environment.

Winners include Arbikie Highland Estate who scooped the Innovation in Farming Award following the opening of their distillery nearly a decade ago and their pioneering ‘field to bottle’ model of growing, harvesting and distilling everything on-site; Leys Estate who won the Rural Business Award after providing land and buildings for a diverse range of over 150 independent local businesses, community organisations and charitable organisations; and Balbirnie Home Farms, who won the Iver Salvesen Award for Combatting Climate Change thanks to their work with AHDB over the last three years as its Strategic Cereal Farm in Scotland and an approach that has prioritised plant and soil nutrition to save money and reliance on chemical inputs.

Also recognised was Henry Graham, who won the Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Scotland. Henry has been involved in land management all his life – a farmer himself, he was also an advisor to the Scottish Agricultural College before becoming a senior figure in agricultural banking and then holding non-executive positions with SRUC, Forestry & Land Scotland and Lantra as Chairman for Scotland. The Rural Rising Star Award went to Claire Taylor, a specialist in communications within agriculture, food and the rural environment, and a Nuffield Scholar.

Now in its seventh year, the Helping It Happen Awards have become firmly established in recognising the role of estates, rural businesses and community groups who are helping rural Scotland thrive. The awards are organised by rural business organisation, Scottish Land & Estates, and sponsored by NatureScot.

A full list of the winners across the 11 award categories is shown below. There were also an additional two commendations made by the judging panel.

Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said:

“Huge congratulations go to our Helping It Happen awards winners who exemplify everything that is great about rural Scotland. The independent judging panel took their time to deliberate over the awards after some hugely impressive shortlists were drawn up. All the winners and nominees make a considerable contribution to Scotland’s rural communities, economies and environment, often spending their own time and resources to be able to do so.

“The Helping It Happen awards are designed to publicly recognise these often unsung heroes in rural Scotland and it enables us to share positive real-life examples of action on climate change, education about the outdoors and work on promoting affordable rural housing. Their help and influence is vital in sustaining flourishing rural communities and motivating and encouraging others to follow their lead.”

Claudia Rowse, NatureScot’s Deputy Director of the Green Economy, said: “We love supporting the Helping it Happen Awards; each year they remind us to celebrate the hard work being done across the country that boosts the rural economy and protects the environment. In this year’s winners we have seen projects encouraging young people to connect with nature, inventive paths to farming success and different ways to keep our native species safe. Congratulations to all the inspiring nominees and winners!”

The winners were announced during a gala awards ceremony held in Edinburgh on Thursday evening (5 October).

The 2023 winners are as follows. Full case studies can be accessed by clicking on the hyperlinks.

The Award for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Scotland

Henry Graham – Henry has been involved in land management all his life. A farmer himself, he was also an advisor to the Scottish Agricultural College before becoming a senior figure in agricultural banking and then holding non-executive positions with SRUC, Forestry & Land Scotland and Lantra as Chairman for Scotland.

The Conservation Award sponsored by Anderson Strathern

East Neuk Corn Bunting Project – The Corn Bunting is one of the rarest birds in Scotland and one of its last strongholds is East Neuk where there is a remnant population of about 200.

The Education Award sponsored by SRUC

The Cairngorms National Park Junior Ranger Project – The Cairngorms National Park Junior Ranger Project is a fun and exciting way for young people aged 11-18 to learn about the outdoors.

The Enhancing Our Environment through Land Management Award sponsored by NatureScot

Scottish Invasive Species Initiative – The Scottish Invasive Species Initiative is an exciting and ambitious partnership project providing an innovative, community-based, strategic approach to the management of invasive non-native species at a landscape scale along the rivers of northern Scotland.

The Innovation in Farming Award sponsored by Douglas Home & Co

Arbikie Highland Estate – Owners of Arbikie, the Stirlings, have been farming for over 400 years, and since the three brothers who currently run it, Iain, David and John, added the distillery to their operation nearly a decade ago, they have made it their ambition to develop a ‘field to bottle’ model of growing, harvesting and distilling everything on-site.

The Iver Salvesen Award for Combatting Climate Change sponsored by Murray Beith Murray

Balbirnie Home Farms – Balbirnie Home Farms has been working with AHDB over the last three years as its Strategic Cereal Farm in Scotland, and an approach that has prioritised plant and soil nutrition to save money and reliance on chemical inputs has the potential to reduce variable costs across different crops, around £200 per hectare.

The Rural Business Award sponsored by Shepherd + Wedderburn

Leys Estate – Leys Estate is the historical home of the Burnett of Leys family and has been within the ownership of the family since 1323. As well as traditional rural activities, Leys Estate provides land and buildings for a diverse range of over 150 independent local businesses, community organisations and charitable organisations in addition to operating a number of Group businesses.

The Rural Property Award sponsored by Bidwells

Active Kids Adventure Park – From small beginnings, Active Kids Adventure Park has grown to become a destination venue for families. It provides educational play for children up the age of 12 years and now includes a full restaurant and kitchen providing home cooked meals for all to enjoy.

The Rural Rising Star Award

Claire Taylor – Claire Taylor is a specialist in communications within agriculture, food and the rural environment, and a Nuffield Scholar. She grew up on a farm on the West coast of Scotland, going on to study politics and International Relations at Edinburgh University.

The Tourism & Visitor Management Award sponsored by GLM

Duncan McConchie, Laggan – Duncan is Chief Executive of Laggan, a rural destination of excellence with tourism, hospitality and sustainability at its core. He is a board member of South of Scotland Enterprise and Chairman of the Scottish Wedding Industry Alliance.

The Working with Communities Award sponsored by Hampden & Co

Communities Housing Trust – Communities Housing Trust engage with local communities throughout Scotland with particular reference to the Highlands to promote, support and develop affordable housing plans and the wider benefit these bring to the local communities.

Two commendations were also awarded by the independent judging panel:

Highland Cinema – Located in Cameron Square in the heart of Fort William’s High Street, the Highland Cinema replaced a dilapidated 1980s building on the site of the old town hall. The town had been without a cinema for 15 years. The client had a vision to improve the social life and the environment of the town through a new development. Over two years, the designs were developed, the existing building was demolished, and a bespoke cinema building and cafe bar were constructed.

Pick-ups For Peace – A charity set up to send vital aid to Ukraine to support them during their conflict with Russia. The charity sends used 4×4 vehicles loaded with useful items such as medical equipment, generators, clothing, food, hand tools, spare tyres, motor oil etc. donated by the rural farming community directly to where they are needed in Ukraine.

93 Year Old Man Dies In Crash On A710

Oct 6, 2023

Police Scotland is appealing for information following a death which occurred on the A710 near to Islesteps, Dumfries, on Thursday, 5 October, 2023.

Emergency services were called around 11.55am to reports that a black Land Rover Discovery Sport had left the roadway, and a 93-year-old man was found unresponsive within.

He was taken by ambulance to Dumfries and Galloway Royal infirmary, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Sergeant Neil Moffat from Road Policing said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with the family of the man who died and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collision.

“We believe the black Land Rover Discover Sport was travelling northbound on the A710 at the time and are appealing for any motorists, particularly with dash-cams, who were on the road and may have seen the vehicle involved.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 1371 of Thursday, 5 October, 2023.”

Students learn ‘life-hacks’ from college graduate

Oct 6, 2023

An alumni of Dumfries and Galloway College (DGC) recently returned to the campus to give students an illuminating insight into the world of cyber security.

Stephen Broadbridge started his career path at DGC on the Intermediate Computing and Computing HNC course – and it wasn’t long before his aptitude in this field was acknowledged by lecturers, who quickly moved him up from level 5 to level 7.

After graduating from DGC, the 30-year-old is now studying Ethical Hacking BSc at Abertay University and is currently in his third year, while at the same time he is working for the Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland as part of their Ethical Hacking Team.

Stephen was delighted to be asked back to where it all began, speaking to current college students about his work and demonstrating the wide range jobs available to graduates within the industry.

He said: “The wonderful staff at Dumfries and Galloway College provided me with the guidance and resources I needed as soon as they noticed I had a particular interest in cyber security.

“From suggesting online resources and extra tuition… to helping me gain a place at Abertay, the tutors were incredibly supportive during my time at DGC.”

Joanna Campbell, Principal and CEO, Dumfries and Galloway College, said: “All of our staff and students at Dumfries and Galloway College were delighted to welcome Stephen as a guest speaker.

“His recent visit was a fascinating and inspiring insight into his journey so far — as well as showing students how gaining qualifications in this field can be a fantastic gateway to future careers.”

The Ullswater Droving returns to Welcome the Wolf starting the Droving Festivities

Oct 6, 2023

It’s that time of year again when the residents and visitors of Penrith set their clocks back four centuries, wear a mask and join the Drovers in welcoming in the coming Winter. An extraordinary addition this year sees the dramatic return of the Ullswater Droving, as festivities for the Droving season commence on Saturday 21st October by ‘Welcoming of the Wolf’ in Glenridding and Pooley Bridge.

Eden Arts will be working with colleagues at the internationally renowned outdoor arts organisation Walk the Plank with a unique opportunity to participate in creating a magical artwork in Pooley Bridge using Geolights as featured on BBC Countryfile. The unique technology of the Geolights was developed and used last year for the Green Space Dark Skies project with thousands of people across the UK creating magical light patterns in rural locations captured on film.

John Wassell, Co-founder and Creative Producer, Walk the Plank said, ‘it’s great to be partnering with Eden Arts to produce a special Ullswater Droving event celebrating the countryside using our award-winning Geolights – participatory event technology. The landscape around Ullswater is the perfect setting for this next development of the technology. We look forward to meeting and working with the participants on this unique light-based artwork”.’

Adrian Lochhead, director of Eden Arts added, ‘this partnership with Walk The Plank is a fantastic opportunity for people to participate in something very special. It’s a real coup to bring this evolution of Green Space Dark Skies to Ullswater and to create this unique event which will mark the opening of the Droving festivities. We have been following the development of this project and it feels like the perfect fit for the Winter Droving – light, magic and mystery paired with cutting edge technology. And to top it all off Spark! will be returning!’

Lumenators, the name given to the people carrying the magical Geolights, are urged to apply to be part of this event by Wednesday 11th October. Individuals, groups and families with older children can participate in this unique event where they will be directed by Walk the Plank to create a large outdoor artwork to Welcome the Wolf. The name Ullswater comes from the old norse word ‘Ulfr’ meaning ‘wolf’, so the location of Glenridding and Pooley Bridge offer the perfect location to welcome this revered beast.

For those that join us at the event the inimitable Spark! drummers will grace the shores of Ullswater kicking off the event with light, sound and mystique when they process through the streets of Glenridding, sail onto the water with Ullswater Steamers and up the lake where they will disembark at Pooley Bridge Pier. From here visitors will be able to watch the spectacle of the drummers lead a procession from the lakeside and up through the village of Pooley Bridge followed by the hoards of Lumenators who will depart for their Geolight performance. The Geolight performance is not a spectator event, it is a participatory experience so signing up to join in is essential.

This will be the fourth year the Ullswater Droving has taken place, with its first incarnation in 2016 offering a ray of hope after the floods of Storm Desmond washed away the bridge in Pooley Bridge with two more Droving events taking place in 2018 and 2019.

After the Welcoming of the Wolf at the Ullswater Droving event the Winter Droving will return to the streets of Penrith, Cumbria on Saturday 28th October in a celebration of light, fire and rural life. The festival, whose motto is “turn your clocks back 400 years”, is a staple of the autumnal calendar in the north of the north of England, with its tones of Samhain, its fire and animal effigies and masks.

The Winter Droving offers up an array of masked musicians, street performers, giant animal lanterns and locals dressed in elaborate costumes in a unique celebration steeped in tradition. The day begins at 12.00 pm with a fancy dress competition for dogs, while the rest of the town blossoms, showcasing live musicians, street performances, drumming bands and carnival street shows before the eagerly awaited parade. All of this and a diverse range of market stalls offering food, gifts, mulled wine and charity stalls with traditional village fare games.

Want to become a Lumenator at the Ullswater Droving? Deadline for applying is Wednesday 11th October. Apply here: https://www.edenarts.co.uk/projects/ullswater-droving-2023

Participation is free. The event is on Saturday 21 October with rehearsals from 14.30. You will be completely finished by 19.15. Those that can’t make it for 14.30 can still take part with arrival at 16.30 but may have a smaller ‘role’.

There are opportunities for a lucky number of people to carry a torch in the procession which can be found at https://www.edenarts.co.uk/projects/winter-droving.

Participants will not need any previous experience to take part in the Ullswater Droving event – just enthusiasm and time. Eden Arts and Walk the Plank are seeking 500 people to participate. Adults can apply for children under 16yrs but must be advised the Geolights are 1.5kg and anyone participating will need to hold them to take part in the event. If participants have any access needs they are advised to contact Eden Arts.

£120,000 Regional Events Growth Fund Announced

Oct 6, 2023

Dumfries and Galloway Council has announced that more than £120,000 will be available for festivals and events grants in financial year 2024/25, as part of the Dumfries and Galloway Events Strategy 2023-2027.

At the meeting of the Council’s Communities Committee on 3 October, councillors agreed to introduce the Regional Events Growth Fund and continue the Major Events Fund. Events organisers can apply to the two funding programmes from Monday 16 October with a deadline of Friday the 24 November.

The Regional Events Growth Fund is being established to provide finance for the most ambitious community events to grow into regional attractions.

Councillor Ian Blake, Chair of the Council’s Communities Committee said: “Our long-standing events strategies have always been welcomed and embraced by the region’s events sector. We have a terrific partnership with the region’s events organisers, and the two funding programmes we have announced will lead to many great projects being supported, to the benefit of local communities and businesses.”

Councillor Jackie McCamon, Vice Chair of Communities Committee said: “Despite the difficult challenges of the cost-of-living crisis and COVID-19, the region’s events sector has proved to be resilient and innovative. The Regional Events Growth Fund can help our events sector go from strength to strength and lay down the foundations for many great eye-catching events of the future.”

Full details of the Regional Events Growth Fund 2024/25 and Major Events Fund 2023/2024 are available on the Council’s website or organisations can email [email protected] to request the application forms.

MSP Moves Holyrood Motion To Welcome Special Lockerbie Air Disaster Exhibition

Oct 6, 2023

MSP MOVES HOLYROOD MOTION TO WELCOME SPECIAL LOCKERBIE AIR DISASTER EXHBITION

South Scotland MSP Emma Harper has raised a motion to the Scottish Parliament to welcome the installation of a new and permanent special photography exhibition at Lockerbie Academy for the commemoration events as part of the 35^th anniversary of the Lockerbie Air Disaster which claimed 259 passenger lives and 11 lives of members of the Lockerbie community.

In her motion, Ms Harper, who attended the ceremony to launch the exhibition at Lockerbie Academy on Saturday (October 23rd), recognises that the exhibition was created by Emeritus Professor of Photography, Larry Mason, of Syracuse University in New York State. The exhibition consists of a selection of photographs taken between 1996 and 2019 to display how the community of Lockerbie has adapted, evolved and healed, while remembering all of those who lost their lives, on the 21^st of December 1988.

The South Scotland MSP’s motion additionally thanks Professor Mason for gifting the exhibition to Lockerbie Academy, as well as thanking Lockerbie Academy Head Teacher, Brian Asher and local councillor Carolyne Wilson, for their speeches. Ms Harper also gives recognition to the students who were in attendance from Syracuse University and welcomes the lasting and enduring ties between the communities of Syracuse and Lockerbie.

Commenting, Ms Harper said:

“It was a privilege to be invited to attend the launch of the and permanent special photography exhibition at Lockerbie Academy for the commemoration events as part of the 35^th anniversary of the Lockerbie Air Disaster. I remember the 21^st of December 1988 well – I was working at DGRI as a theatre nurse and was called to Theatre as we were told to expect people and prepare for triage and emergency surgery. It was a shock when we were stood down as our Theatres were not required. That night will always stay with me.

“At the launch event, it was inspiring to hear from Professor Mason – who kindly gifted the exhibition to Lockerbie Academy – about his journey with the community of Lockerbie from 1996 until now, having visited over 27 times. Professor Mason, now an Emeritus Professor at Syracuse University, took us through the story behind each photograph, each a story of hope and of how Lockerbie has adapted, evolved and healed, while remembering all of those who lost their lives.

“I have marked the exhibition by moving a motion to the Scottish Parliament in which I thank all involved, including the students present from Syracuse University and members of the Lockerbie Community, for the strong and enduring ties between Syracuse and Lockerbie. Anyone interested in seeing the photography selection can do so by purchasing a copy Professor Mason’s book, ‘Looking for Lockerbie’.”

“The South of Scotland is one of the UK’s top cycling destinations, and in the last 12 months we have made excellent progress with our partners to ensuring it becomes a world-leading cycling location.

“To achieve this, it is absolutely crucial we have the correct facilities in place to support more visiting cyclists to enjoy our wonderful region, which is why we have launched the Cycling Infrastructure Fund.

“The Kirkpatrick C2C and 7Stanes trail centres are both huge assets for the South. By providing improved facilities for cyclists on both these routes, we can use the power of the bike to bring significant economic, social and environmental benefits to the region.”

Tourism Minister Richard Lochhead said:

“This is a welcome initiative from SOSE, supporting the development of infrastructure to help cycling tourism play a greater role in the local economy and giving a valuable boost to local businesses.

“Our tourism industry, with its diverse range of businesses, is a priority for the Scottish Government, and I am delighted to see SOSE helping to drive the ambitions we have for sustainable and responsible tourism.

“Cycling is already providing a vital boost to the local economy, and the passion for this thriving sport was evident when I launched the Scottish Mountain Biking Strategy at Glentress.

“This Fund will help to build on the interest generated from Scotland’s hugely successful hosting of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.”

Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Community and Business Development, said:

“This new fund is a fantastic opportunity for local communities and businesses to develop or expand on existing cycling infrastructure which will support riders and tourism. This really is a win-win for everyone.

“We have some of the best on and off road cycling routes and trails in the country and we must continue to capitalise on that to support and grow our local economy, and continued investment in cycling infrastructure is a key part of that.”

Councillor Ian Blake, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Communities Committee said:

“We welcome this new initiative. Anything that encourages people to get on a bike in our area of the country can only be aa positive and I hope the uptake is high and we reap the positive impacts, both short and longer term.”

Councillor Jackie McCamon, Vice Chair of the Communities Committee added:

“The new cycling infrastructure fund is a fantastic idea. We’ve seen the South-West grow in cycling stature in recent years and this new fund can only enhance our reputation and offer to locals and tourists alike.”

David Hope-Jones, Chief Executive of the South of Scotland Destination Alliance, said:

“As the proud home of the bike, the South of Scotland is not only blessed with a rolling, rural landscape that is perfect to discover on two wheels, it is also home to countless high-quality tourism and hospitality businesses ready to offer cyclists a warm welcome.

“This new fund will help even more places to embrace the benefits of cycle tourism, as our region cements its bike-friendly reputation in the UK and beyond.”

Gordon Smith, VisitScotland Destination Development Director said:

“The South of Scotland’s reputation as a leading cycling destination has been strengthened in recent months after receiving the dual honours of hosting 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships events, and the recent UCI Bike Region Label.

“The launch of this cycling infrastructure fund will provide a further boost for the region and allow businesses to capitalise on these opportunities.

“This will in turn help support the development of the South’s cycling offer even further and inspire more visitors to the region, supporting our valuable tourism and events industry while promoting sustainable travel experiences to the benefit of visitors, communities and our environment.”

The 2023 winners are as follows. Full case studies can be accessed by clicking on the hyperlinks.

Sergeant Neil Moffat from Road Policing said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with the family of the man who died and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collision.

“We believe the black Land Rover Discover Sport was travelling northbound on the A710 at the time and are appealing for any motorists, particularly with dash-cams, who were on the road and may have seen the vehicle involved.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 1371 of Thursday, 5 October, 2023.”

He said: “The wonderful staff at Dumfries and Galloway College provided me with the guidance and resources I needed as soon as they noticed I had a particular interest in cyber security.

“From suggesting online resources and extra tuition… to helping me gain a place at Abertay, the tutors were incredibly supportive during my time at DGC.”

Joanna Campbell, Principal and CEO, Dumfries and Galloway College, said: “All of our staff and students at Dumfries and Galloway College were delighted to welcome Stephen as a guest speaker.

“His recent visit was a fascinating and inspiring insight into his journey so far — as well as showing students how gaining qualifications in this field can be a fantastic gateway to future careers.”

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