South Scotland MSP Joan McAlpine said she was “delighted” to sign up to the “Dumfries Pledge” at The Stove last week. Ms McAlpine has been a long-term supporter of The Stove’s vision for engaging the local community and sung their praises in a letter to the housing minister which has resulted in him planning a visit to Dumfries.
Commenting, Ms McAlpine said:
“I was delighted to sign up to The Stove’s “Dumfries Pledge” to bring social and economic activity back to the town centre by developing what is being called the “Midsteeple Quarter”. The project is at an early stage, but The Stove has already begun consulting with the public. If the project attracts the necessary support and investment, the vision arising from this stage of engagement will be piloted in an initial overhaul of The Bakers Oven building which the community is looking to acquire via asset transfer.”
“But I’m clearly not the only one impressed by this regeneration development – I’m pleased to announce that the housing minister Kevin Stewart MSP has responded positively to my invite to visit Dumfries in the new year. He is particularly interested in the Stove’s “Living on the High Street” project, as he recently committed to increasing housing supply with over £3 billion investment during the lifetime of this parliament.”
Last week Ms McAlpine MSP also lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament praising The Stove for their success in the creative regeneration category at a national regeneration awards ceremony.
Ms McAlpine said:
“The Stove are a huge asset to the future of Dumfries town centre. Matt Baker’s team has a proven track record in delivering opportunities that integrate the creative community with the local economy and wider society. That’s why I was delighted to put a motion to parliament last week congratulating The Stove’s win in the creative regeneration category at the 2016 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration.”
Matt Baker of The Stove said:
“When Joan was first elected an MSP one of her first constituency visits was to The Stove – at that time we were effectively squatting 100 High Street and it meant the world to us someone believed in us and could see the potential in our vision.”
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