Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Community Assets and Roads Service Teams will be carrying out a package of improvement works across Dumfries High Street and the wider town centre over the coming weeks.
The programme will focus on making the town centre cleaner, safer and more welcoming for residents, visitors and local businesses. This includes:
• Replacing missing or damaged paving slabs.
• Removing redundant pillars and posts, including former hanging basket columns and other obsolete street furniture.
• Updating visitor information signage to reflect where some facilities have moved or closed.
• Refreshing key public realm features to support the appearance and accessibility of the area.
Following the agreement of the council’s 2026/27 budget on 26 February, additional investment will also be delivered to retain limited floral planting within Dumfries Town Centre for the coming spring and summer seasons. Around 9,000 plants – covering both spring and summer bedding – will be purchased, planted and maintained across the raised beds at Queensbury Square, the beds around Burns Statue and the two large round planters on the High Street to bring colour and vibrancy through the warmer months.
Discussions are under way between the council’s Community Assets Team and local groups and stakeholders to adopt, plant and maintain the remaining planters that were due to be removed – and therefore these will now remain in place.
In addition, a five year cleaning programme for the Robert Burns Statue on High Street is being procured, ensuring this important landmark continues to be preserved in line with conservation requirements.
Cllr Andy Ferguson, Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said:
“Dumfries High Street is at the heart of our regional capital, and these works underline our commitment to keeping the town centre attractive, accessible and well maintained. By addressing long standing issues such as damaged paving, outdated signage and redundant street furniture, we are improving the day to day experience for everyone who lives, works or spends time in Dumfries.
“These are practical improvements that support our wider regeneration ambitions and reflect the pride our communities rightly take in their town centre.”Cllr Tony Berretti, Vice Chair, added:
“This is a positive, forward looking package of works that responds directly to what local people tell us they want to see: a cleaner, more attractive and better maintained town centre. Small but visible improvements – such as refreshed planting, repaired paving and clearer visitor information – make a big difference to the overall feel of the High Street.
“Alongside longer term regeneration plans being developed with partners, these actions show our determination to keep improving the experience for residents, businesses and visitors and to support Dumfries in remaining a thriving regional hub.”
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