As severe winter weather takes hold across Scotland, Dumfries and Galloway Council has launched a Facebook page dedicated to keeping people up to date on the weather situation here in Dumfries and Galloway.
The Facebook page – www.facebook.com/winterdg – will keep you up to date with latest winter information, including road closures, school closures and weather alerts. Everyone in the region is being urged to sign up to make sure they have the most up to date information at their finger tips.
Cllr Roger Grant, cCair of Planning and Environment committee ‘We have seen earlier than usual snow fall here in Dumfries and Galloway and some extremely cold temperatures but we are well prepared and our winter service plans are working, alongside out aims to increase community and individual resilience. By launching a Facebook page we aim to keep people in Dumfries and Galloway fully updated on the winter weather. Of course Facebook is a two way thing and we would welcome everyone to submit their pictures of the winter weather to the page.”
135 High Street, Dumfries was a busy place last week when hundreds of people came through the doors to reminisce about shopping in past decades. As part of the BBC’s Turn Back Time: The High Street, currently showing on BBC1, Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Libraries, Archives and Museums opened a shop for two days, Friday 26th and Saturday 27th November.
The former Baker’s Oven premises (facing onto Queensberry Square) hosted displays showing the dramatic changes to shops and shopping in Dumfries from the Victorian period to the 1970s. Inside a counter had typical items from shops of those times. There were books and photographs, maps and archives to look at. Staff were available to answer questions such as; what shops were there? what did they sell? where were they? what did they look like? And was my Great-Auntie Ina really an ironmonger? The staff entered into the spirit of the event by wearing costumes from different decades.
Visitors were keen to tell their own stories of what Dumfries was like in years gone by and contributed to a memorable two days.
Tomorrow`s Alba Cup Final against Ross County at Perth has been postponed by the Scottish Football League in consultation with the Police due to the weather conditions in Perth and further North.
Perth has suffered heavy snow and travelling conditions were deemed likely to be dangerous for both sets of fans. In particular parts of the A9 are extremely hazardous at the moment and more bad weather is forecast. Ross County`s players have been unable to gather today due to the weather.
There is no word on a rearranged date yet but, taking into account the weather forecast for next weekend, it is unlikely to be next Sunday.
Is your community group planning to apply to the council for a Nithsdale Area Committee Grant? The workshop will cover the new application form and criteria as well as how to apply for funding.
Due to demand we are now offering a further workshop on Friday 10th December 2010, 2pm to 4pm at The Hub, 24-26 Friars Vennel, Dumfries.
To book a place please contact: Jeanette Nithsdale CVS on 01387 269161 jeanette.murray@thehubdg.org.uk
This free workshop is funded by the FairerScotland Fund
Police are becoming concerned for the wellbeing a man who has been missing from his home in Wallamhill Road in Locharbriggs since Tuesday 16 November 2010. Michael Alcorn, 37 years, is described as being black, over 6’ tall, medium build, with a shaved head.
Police are asking for the public’s help to trace Michael and ask that if anyone has seen him, or indeed know of his whereabouts, they get in touch through 0845 600 5701.
Preparations for this year’s Nithsdale Council of Voluntary Services Charities Fayre are well underway. The event is being held at DG One Leisure Complex in Dumfries on Saturday 4th December 2010 from 11am to 3pm. This annual event is a great opportunity for local community groups and voluntary organisations to raise awareness and funds by taking a stall and selling their wares. All few stalls are still available. We are expecting a good turnout on the day. There is a free soft play area for the kids and admission to the hall is very reasonable at £1 for adults, and 50p for kids over 3 years of age.
Jeanette Murray at NCVS said “this year NCVS have a number of new organisations taking up stalls as well as our regulars and there will be a wide range of merchandise on offer, including fair-trade goods, delicious home baking and handmade crafts, bottle stalls, tombolas and seasonal gifts. So please come along on the day to support the event’. For more information please contact NCVS on (01387) 269161 and speak to either Jeanette or Suzanne.
The first practical steps in a radical streamlining of management at Dumfries and Galloway Council were agreed by Full Council on Thursday.
This has resulted in the voluntary early retirals of five Chief Officers and these senior management jobs will go from 1 April 2011. This allows further restructuring to take place.
The deleted posts are :
Director Support Services
Director Economic Regeneration
Area Manager Annandale and Eskdale
Area Manager Nithsdale
Group Manager Business Support Education and Social Work Services
Chief Executive, Gavin Stevenson explains:
“We have completely revised the early retiral process to ensure fairness and transparency for all staff. All decisions throughout the organisation are based on a business case that shows the full costs of deleting a post. In these five cases there is a total saving to the Council of £ half a million a year from next financial year, that can be part of the budget development process.”
As required by regulation, the business case also shows the full employment costs to the Council if staff had continued to work till age 65. This figure is known as the net capitalised savings and is £3,521,238 for these posts. Read the rest of this entry
Police in Dumfries and Galloway are advising motorists that the A701 will be closed at 09.00 hours for at least 1 hour due to recovery of HGV south of St Annes Bridge at Mollinburn. The driver was not injured in the incident.
Motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible and to expect delays if travelling nearby.
