Unveiling of the Norwegian Stone of Friendship will take place at Whitesands, on the grass between Devorgilla Bridge and Buccleuch Street Bridge. Time: 4:30pm on Saturday 16th September 2023.

The Scottish Norwegian Connection (SNC) group are gifting a 1.5 tonne ‘Stone of Friendship’ to the town. This will be a permanent reminder of the gratitude felt by Norwegians, for the people of Dumfries and Galloway, when over 2000 were stationed in and around the area during World War 2. Their land was invaded and overrun but, here in Dumfries, they found a home and a place to train for the eventual liberation of Norway.

The townspeople of Dumfries welcomed the men and women of Norway, treating them as their own. The humanity shown them, in their time of trouble, was never forgotten. Friendships, formed during these times, were continued and expanded through the generations, to where we are today.

This visiting group of 35 Norwegians, along with friends in Dumfries, formed the recognised association Scottish Norwegian Connection (SNC) in 2017. The intention was to maintain and promote the links already formed.

SNC wanted to ensure that the gratitude of their forebears was not forgotten. The idea of gifting the Town of Dumfries a piece of their country, in the form of an engraved stone, resulted in this ‘Stone of Friendship’ being created and brought to Scotland.

Aslak Wahl, Chairman of SNC says,” Our Scottish Representatives, Beverley and Michael Thom of Dumfries, have organised a very full and interesting weekend of events in and around Dumfries.”

“They have both worked closely with Dumfries and Galloway Council to coordinate the public events – especially all the detail around placing the ‘Stone of Friendship’ in a suitable position.”

“Our tour begins with a Flag Raising Event at the Midsteeple on Friday 15th September at 10.00am. This is followed by a visit to what was Norges Hus, opposite Burns’ statue to view the plaque erected by D&GC in 2005. These events are open to the public.”

“On Saturday 16th September at 4:30pm we gather in Dumfries, at the Whitesands, in preparation for the all-important unveiling of the ‘Norwegian Stone of Friendship’ by Captain Pål Hope, Norwegian Defence Attaché to UK. This will begin with a parade, starting at the Robert Burns Centre, crossing Devorgilla Bridge and finishing at the Stone of Friendship. The Buccleuch and Queensberry Pipe Band will lead the parade.”

“Sunday 17th September, we are invited to take part in a special commemorative service at St Michaels’ and South Church at 11.00am.”

“Dumfries and Galloway Council honour us with a civic lunch before we proceed to Troqueer Cemetery War Graves to lay wreaths, in a Service of Remembrance to the Norwegians who lost their lives while stationed in the Dumfries area. This will take place at 3:00pm.”

“Along with all the Public Events, we are delighted to be welcomed to Private Visits including, Duncow Primary School, Newlands House, Maxwelton House, Maxwelton Chapel, Dumfries Museum and Drumlanrig Castle. All of these places have a strong Norwegian connection and we are looking forward to fulfilling this busy schedule.” His Majesty, King Charles lll, will be represented by The Lord Lieutenancy at each of these public events, as will King Harald V of Norway, who has appointed Captain Hope and Honorary Norwegian Consul General, Prof. Julian Jones, as his representatives.”

Beverley Thom, Organiser of the Norwegian Visit says, “This is a very important and emotive occasion for our community. Who could have thought that the simple, basic, acts of friendship and kindness, shown by our predecessors, could have led to such long lasting relationships through the generations. To have the Town and its’ people recognised, and honoured, for doing what comes naturally, is praise indeed. My hope is that these links continue and grow as we move forward.”

A substantial solar farm project, equivalent in size to 120 football pitches, has received the green light for development near Borgue.

The renewable energy initiative, situated at High Nunton Farm, has stirred a divided response within the local community and narrowly secured approval recently following a close vote.

The planning application for the project was presented to the Dumfries and Galloway Council’s planning committee, where councillors themselves were split in their opinions regarding its approval.

The proposal, submitted by landowner Robert Maitland, outlines the installation of nearly 45,000 solar panels on metal arrays, accompanied by a battery storage facility designed to store renewable energy. This extensive development will occupy a 49-hectare section of agricultural land.

In addition to the solar panels and storage facility, the project includes various auxiliary components, such as an energy storage container, a communication cabin with a tower, a customer substation, a temporary works compound, security fencing, and CCTV cameras mounted on three-meter-high poles.

The council received a total of 27 objections to the proposal, primarily from residents residing in Borgue. However, 29 individuals from various addresses within the region, as well as from London, Liverpool, and Edinburgh, voiced their support for the project through written letters.

During last week’s pivotal planning committee meeting, a number of concerned residents attended in person to express their views in the hopes of influencing the councillors’ decision-making process.

Ultimately, the vote among councillors resulted in a 9-9 tie, with two councillors opting to abstain from voting. In this deadlock, Committee Chairman Councillor Jim Dempster exercised his casting vote, ultimately leading to the approval of the application.

Monthly delayed discharge figures continue to show large numbers of people in Dumfries and Galloway waiting in hospital

Figures released by Public Health Scotland on Tuesday show delayed discharge continues to be a concern in the Dumfries and Galloway.

When comparing July 2022 with July 2023, the figures in the region rose by 21 per cent and are a massive 88 per cent higher than pre-pandemic (July 2019).

Delayed discharge is when a patient is medically cleared to go home but cannot leave hospital, often because a social care package is not in place or there is a lack of places in care homes or sheltered housing.

Across the region thousands of hours of assessed care is not being provided in homes because of a lack of carers.

Colin Smyth MSP said: “Month after month we continue to see how much of an issue delayed discharge is in Dumfries and Galloway, with figures rising by over 20 per cent compared to 2022. And these are not just statistics: we all know someone personally who has been affected by this.

“This problem is not unique to our region, people across the whole of Scotland are suffering and while our amazing local NHS are working as hard as they can to get people out of hospital, they can’t work miracles.

“When you look at the 2019 figures, it really puts things into perspective – in 2023 we have thousands more people languishing in hospital without an appropriate care package in place to get them home or into care homes or sheltered housing.

“Delayed discharge must be eradicated as soon as possible.

“We need long term investment, including tackling the woeful low level of sheltered housing locally, but the Government could start by backing Labour’s plans to not only pay care workers a fair wage of £12 an hour immediately, but rising to £15 which would help with the recruitment crisis.”

The Southern Uplands Partnership has announced the appointment of Katrina Dick as the new South West Scotland Coastal Way Project Officer. 

Katrina comes from a varied background including conservation work, community development and project management, both in Dumfries & Galloway and locations across Scotland. This has involved everything from visitor management engagement and invasive species control to developing community planning tools. When not working Katrina can be found climbing hills or hiking in the woods, with her Labrador Splash.

Working in partnership with the People’s Project and Dumfries & Galloway Council the Southern Uplands Partnership has made great strides in moving forward the idea of a continuous coastal way between Gretna and Rhins of Galloway, linking the King Charles III England Coastal Path and the Ayrshire Coastal Path.

Recent developments have seen funding received from Paths for All, Dumfries & Galloway Council. Robin Rigg Communities Fund, Dumfriesshire East Community Benefit Group and FCC Communities Fund for core path improvements and upgrades.

The removal of gorse bushes on the Sandyhills – Rockcliffe section has already started with great help from the Criminal Justice Scheme, whilst further sections will be undertaken in November.

The Southern Uplands Partnership is a rural development charity, started by local people keen to keep the communities and countryside of the south of Scotland alive and healthy. The Partnership represents all sorts of people, as well as government bodies, agencies and Councils. Since 1999, the Partnership has initiated over 60 significant socially and environmentally sustainable projects and secured and invested well-over £4m of project funding, including the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, UNESCO Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, South West Scotland Environmental Information Centre (SWSEIC) and Ride Scottish Borders.

Katrina said, “I am looking forward to continuing on the great work already started on the development of a coastal way between Gretna and The Rhins of Galloway and excited to be able to use my skills in the further development of the project but also to discover those hidden gems along the Solway Firth. Being able to work with great organisations such as the People’s Project and Dumfries & Galloway Council as well as local communities and landowners makes the job even more worthwhile and I cannot wait to get started.

Use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in Public Buildings

On Thursday, 31st August 2023, the UK Department for Education (DfE) issued an announcement that has garnered significant media attention. It stated that any space or area in schools, colleges, or nurseries confirmed to contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) should no longer remain open without the implementation of necessary “mitigations.”

In response to this national directive, Dumfries and Galloway Council initiated an examination of their local school buildings earlier this year. Like many other local authorities across the UK, they identified that some of their properties may contain RAAC. Subsequently, consulting engineers were commissioned to carry out detailed inspections of nine schools on an urgent basis. These inspections aimed to confirm the presence of RAAC panel systems, assess their dimensions and condition, and quantify the number of panels. All this work adhered to guidance provided by the Institution of Structural Engineers.

The results of most of these surveys have now been obtained by the Council. Out of the nine schools inspected, three have been identified as having RAAC panels within Dumfries and Galloway:

1. Laurieknowe Primary School, Dumfries.
2. Carrutherstown Primary School, Nithsdale.
3. Dumfries Academy, Dumfries.

To address the findings, any recommended remedial work will be carried out outside of regular school hours. There are currently no plans to close these schools while the necessary work is undertaken.

Here is a breakdown of the actions the Council is taking:

Laurieknowe Primary School: RAAC panels were identified within the building, and some were found to be cracked. Immediate work is recommended to install additional support to a small number of these panels within the school. Further work to replace panels is being planned over the next 12 months. These actions align with the advice of structural engineers. An enhanced monitoring and inspection regime by a qualified structural engineer will be implemented until the work is complete, with initial work planned for the October break this year.

Carrutherstown Primary School: RAAC panels have been identified within the building, and they are in good condition. Remedial work to install additional support is recommended within the next three to six months. This work will not disrupt school operations. An enhanced monitoring and inspection regime by a qualified structural engineer will be in place until the work is complete.

Dumfries Academy: RAAC panels were identified within the building. The recommendation is to implement a six-monthly monitoring inspection regime by a qualified structural engineer. Additionally, a small number of panels are recommended for replacement within the next 12 months.

Further inspections by structural engineers are awaited at Kirkcudbright Academy, with similar investigations scheduled for Gatehouse Primary School this week (week beginning Monday 4th September) to check for RAAC panels. UPDATE: Checks have now confirmed its presence at Gatehouse Primary.

These inspections will involve some investigative work, with the in-house team collaborating with structural engineers. Updates on the findings will be promptly communicated to parents, pupils, carers, and staff at these two schools.

Safety remains the utmost priority for the Council. On the advice of structural engineers, an enhanced inspection regime has been implemented at all three sites. Regular condition surveys and Lead Occupier inspections by the Council’s clerk of works team are ongoing. The Council is also conducting survey work across its broader estate to identify any other buildings potentially fitted with RAAC panels, applying the same structural engineering inspection and reporting protocols.

The Council commits to providing regular updates on this matter to keep the community informed.

For further information and detailed discussions on this topic, please refer to the committee paper scheduled for the upcoming Education and Learning Committee meeting on 14th September.