May 2025 News Letter to our MP and MSP


A departure this month from my normal "even spread" of D&G Council, Holyrood and Westminster finger wagging. This time is just for our elected MP.
The consequences of continued inaction are becoming impossible to ignore. Each month of delay in receiving promised central government funding pushes Dumfries and Galloway further behind—worsening the very challenges regeneration is meant to solve.

The once named Leveling Up Grant is now the Stalled Regeneration Project!
Funding that was meant to support town centre revitalisation, safety improvements and economic development now remains in limbo. As a result, derelict spaces remain untouched, footfall for local businesses continues to decline, and vital skills development opportunities for our young people are slipping away. The knock-on effect? Private investment is also beginning to hesitate. Without certainty and leadership, progress is paralyzed.

Then take into account the Mounting Pressure on Council Services.
Dumfries and Galloway Council is already grappling with a £30 million funding gap over the next three years. Residents are facing an above inflation rise in Council Tax alongside even more visible service cuts. Yet the £20 million regeneration funding - seen by some as crucial for easing this pressure—remains in the Chancellors pocket. The silence is costing us dearly. While we talk of NHS patients knowing how long the must wait to get repaired, Dumfries is bleeding to death without a tourniquet.

The visitor economy is at Risk.
Tourism (Yes Mr. Cooper a word of little use in your vocabulary)—one of our region’s vital lifelines—is also being compromised. Visitors expect a vibrant, welcoming town with clean streets, accessible attractions, and a sense of momentum. Instead, empty buildings, stalled works, and a lack of visible progress beyond the hidden cannabis factories, send the wrong message. Reputational damage now will have long-term consequences, especially when competing with other regions actively investing in their visitor experience.

No Room for Complacency.
The Town Board cannot afford to complain—they need to retain, not alienate, public support. But that means someone with real authority must step up. A local talking shop is no substitute for national intervention. It's time for the elected big gun to call out these debilitating delays.

We Need Leadership—Now.
The longer people stay away, the harder it becomes to bring them back. The Council appears to be distancing itself from responsibility as it can pass on some responsibilities to others. Meanwhile, property values are at risk, wages will stagnate and that means public enthusiasm is draining away. Even Police Scotland seems unsure of the direction ahead - town parking, shoplifting, antisocial behaviour, littering, speeding, all to be addressed at some later date. And online? The frustration is manifestly widespread.

It’s now down to our MP to lead. Not in six months. Not after another review. But now. 
Only strong, visible action will restore confidence in this region’s future. And restore the Town Board's credibility.




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