Managed by Dalbeattie Community Initiative (DCI), Rocks and Wheels is a project which aims to create an activity centre where it will bring Dalbeattie’s former Primary School back to life, a facility which will be unique in Dumfries & Galloway, and which will contribute significantly to the economic, physical and social health of the town and its surrounding area.
The DCI was established as a local community group in 1997 in response to local concerns over the economic decline and closure of several key businesses within the town. Since its establishment, the organisation has been committed to promoting and encouraging the physical, social, and economic regeneration of Dalbeattie and surrounding area. Currently the DCI has been successful in supporting and managing 19 local projects with the help from their amazing team of volunteers. The DCI is an investor to the people of the town, by offering learning and development opportunities with the focus to move things forward by working together, the Rocks and Wheels project will recreate a sense of identity and purpose back to the community. The site is ideally positioned between Colliston Park, the town, and Dalbeattie forest connecting people across generations.
After extensive consultations the DCI identified that the community wanted a sports and recreational facility, to improve employment opportunities, activities for all ages and abilities, and increase trade from visitors to the area. With immediate access available to Dalbeattie Forest and the woodlands of the Solway coast, it will exploit the surrounding landscape, and both complement and enhance existing facilities across Dumfries and Galloway. The project will encourage locals and visitors to explore the region and visit many points of interest with the objective of encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle for all ages leading to improvement in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of those who use it. A place to socialise, be active and recharge.
The core activities will be based around the region’s cycling and bouldering opportunities and will include a pump track and indoor bouldering wall. The actual list of activities on offer will be extensive and could include photography, painting, and craft workshops to name a few, something for everyone. In the design there will be a refectory, wet room, drying area, exhibition space and meeting rooms for local community groups to hire, affordable self-catering accommodation of varying types to accommodate families, couples, small groups, individuals, community organisations and school parties.
Rocks and Wheels will be a subsidiary company of the DCI, to have continued support due to the DCI’s strong record of developing and supporting local enterprise. It will offer new business opportunities and employment while working with the businesses in the town, provide equal opportunities by working to ensure that access is available to all young people regardless of ability, location, or financial circumstances.
More information can be found on the Rocks and Wheels website www.rocksandwheels.org
This is an exciting project for Dalbeattie and the surrounding communities, creating new opportunities from employment, training, and learning new skills/activities.
If you can spare a few minutes to complete the quick survey that would be great as we would love to hear from everyone in your household.
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