Press Release

Dumfries will get £2.7 million over the next three years as part of the Scottish Government’s Smarter Choices, Smarter Places Initiative. This will be match funded by £2.7 million from local sources. The announcement was made today by Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change that Dumfries, along with 6 other Scottish communities, will receive a share of £10 million funding from the Scottish Government to become a Sustainable Travel Demonstration Town.

The money will be used to develop a variety of measures to encourage people to consider more sustainable transport choices. The measures will include increased investment in the bus network, improvements to walking/cycling facilities, development of green commuter routes as well as information and marketing campaigns. The project is closely linked to a number of other initiatives including the Dumfries Town Centre Strategy and Action Plan.

The £2.7 million is being match funded on a partnership basis by local funding from the South West of Scotland Transport Partnership (SWestrans), Dumfries and Galloway Council, NHS Dumfries and Galloway and the Crichton Development Company.

Welcoming today’s announcement, Councillor Brian Collins, Chair of SWestrans, said: “Sustainability is a central theme of our Regional Transport Strategy and Dumfries now has unique potential as a Sustainable Travel Demonstration Town. There were 39 proposals in for this funding and Dumfries still won through. This reflects a growing confidence in Dumfries which is being recognised elsewhere.”

Councillor Roger Grant, Chair of Planning, Housing and Environment Services said: “Dumfries has an opportunity to be a leader in sustainable regeneration. We all need to change our travel habits in the face of economic/climate changes. This funding will enable us to help people to make those changes, and demonstrate that it can be done.”

Minister for Transport and Climate Change Stewart Stevenson said:
“With more cars on our roads, increasing levels of congestion and rising emissions, it is time for us all to look at our travel behaviour.

“We need to look at new ways to persuade people to consider more sustainable forms of travel. The proposals for Dumfries are impressive, in particular the plans to create a bike rental scheme which will allow people to pick up a bike at a rail or bus station, use it for free for half an hour, and then pay a rental fee at an hourly rate thereafter. Overall, the GoSmart Dumfries scheme has the potential to improve travel options for thousands of residents.

“This initiative could also be used as a template for other local authorities to follow, showcasing the very best examples of sustainable travel initiatives from across Scotland, resulting in a catalyst for change throughout the whole country.”

ENDS