Dumfries And Galloway Council

TRADING STANDARDS WARNING Following complaints of rogue traders operating across the D&G area, Trading Standards are once again reminding local residents not to engage with cold-callers. We urge all householders to be aware, even if a company has a brochure and name on a van, this does not always mean they are a reliable trader. For any home improvement works, our advice is to always use a Trusted Trader. www.dumgal.gov.uk/trustedtrader. Please be mindful of elderly or vuln...erable friends, family and neighbours, and pass this advice on to them. If they need work doing, stay with them while a trader is there, removing any confusion as to what needs doing or has been agreed.
If you have been called in this way and require advice, or want to report the matter, please contact Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06, or via the ‚ÄėReport It‚Äô button the Council Website: http://bit.ly/2EcmlmR Alternatively, you can contact Police Scotland on 101. Remember: if in doubt, keep them out!
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Our Community Safety teams are working with the Police and the Fire and Rescue Service to make sure that we keep out communities safe ūüĎć

ROAD MAINTENANCE & IMPROVEMENTS: Tendering Opportunity
Dumfries and Galloway Council have published a tendering opportunity for a Roads Maintenance and Improvements Framework on the Public Contracts Scotland website. This is for a range of services and works to assist the Council in maintaining and improving our roads infrastructure across Dumfries and Galloway.
We aim to maximise access to our contracting opportunities therefore, our intention is to split the works into l...ots to allow SMEs the opportunity to apply for work. The following 5 lots have been set based on the works packages to be undertaken: -
Lot 1: Road Maintenance Plant and Operator Hire (excluding plant only) Lot 2: Carriageway and Footway Construction and Resurfacing Lot 3: Carriageway and Footway Patching Lot 4: Specialist Surface Dressings Lot 5: Traffic Management
Lot 1 is split into 2 geographical areas.
The Framework Agreement will run for a duration of 3 years with the option to extend for up to a further 12-month period.
To tender for this opportunity, contractors can access the notice and tender documents using the link below: https://goo.gl/VSBiQU
Contractors who haven’t tendered via Public Contracts Scotland before will need to register as a supplier on the Public Contracts Scotland web portal: https://goo.gl/NkEuFg There is guidance on the website on how to register.
**PLEASE NOTE** : The deadline for this opportunity is MONDAY, 5th NOVEMBER 2018 at 09:00am. Only contractors awarded on the framework will have access to these contracts.***
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South West Scotland: Case for Change The online public survey for Transport Scotland is still running, through to the 14th November. They are keen to hear views and ideas from all of those with an interest in transport in South West Scotland.
The consultation is on improvements to road, rail, public transport and active travel on the key strategic corridors: Gretna- Stranraer; Dumfries - Cumnock; South of Ayr - Stranraer; and Dumfries - Lockerbie and Moffat. Also the railway... corridors to Stranraer and Carlisle via Kilmarnock / Dumfries with a particular focus on access to the ports at Cairnryan. For further information and to take part in this online survey, please follow the link: https://goo.gl/zGhVFc
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The Merrick Leisure Centre in Newton Stewart is back in business. Following a fire yesterday, staff worked into the evening to clean up and ensure that the centre could reopen today. Unfortunately, the Health Suite will remain closed until some essential repairs can be carried out. https://goo.gl/cZjN9D

Today, there was a minor fire in a plant room at the Merrick Leisure Centre in Newton Stewart.
All customers and staff evacuated safely. The building is closed today. Staff are cleaning up so that we can reopen as soon as possible. Look out for news updates. https://goo.gl/CTwsFh

Are you worried about a child? If you're worried about a child and want to report any concern that you have, from 29 October 2018, there's a new number to phone. Phone 030 33 33 3001 and ask for "the Child MASH" [Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub]. The new phone number will ensure that all child protection calls are answered quickly and directed to the appropriate service rather than being held in the main switchboard queue. If the call can't be transferred immediately, the caller's details will be taken and somone will call back as soon as possible. https://goo.gl/GubdX7

We are aware that the ongoing closure of Ayr Station is still causing problems for people in the Stranraer area. An extended exclusion zone has been in place at the building adjacent to Ayr Station since 27 August 2018, which restricts access to the station for trains with more than four coaches, and stops any services running south of Ayr.
Further information on Ayr Station can be found on South Ayrshire Council’s Q&A section: https://goo.gl/2xFQ5p
Scaffolding works have al...lowed contractors to carry out a safe inspection of the higher parts of the building. Unfortunately this has highlighted significant concerns regarding the structural integrity of the building, with the roof found to be in a more dangerous condition than had been anticipated.
South Ayrshire Council (SAC) are currently working with their contractors to design a works programme that will address concerns and continue to support the reinstatement of rail services through Ayr station. The priority is to ensure that it is safe for rail services to run, without risk.
SAC are working with partners on alternative solutions to restore rail services south of Ayr and hope to solve the issues as quickly and safely as possible.
*In addition to the above, please be aware of the further issue of roadworks in this area of Ayrshire from today - The A714 is closed between Pinwherry and Barrhill in South Ayrshire between 0930 and 1530 from today for 8 days. This is a Ayrshire Roads Alliance closure and there will be no through route from Barrhill for this period. For further information on the road see: https://goo.gl/mfHtJR
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This rain is not dampening the spirits of the brave cyclists taking on the Cycle to Syracuse today ūüöī‚Äć‚ôāÔłŹūüöĶ‚Äć‚ôāÔłŹūüöī‚Äć‚ôāÔłŹūü öī‚Äć‚ôÄÔłŹūüöĶ‚Äć‚ôÄÔłŹ
Our catering team have met the boys in Broughton after their climb around the Beeftub. We are filling them with some hot soup and rolls to fuel them up for the next part of their cycle ūü•™ūü•£ They have definitely earned their lunch!
Well done to everyone taking part today ūüėÄ We are proud to be supporting you #CycletoSyracuse

Our Community Safety Team were out in force last week in the Castle Douglas and Crocketford ward on one of their engagement days. Officers spoke with numerous residents about the issues in their community ūüĎć
As part of the engagement day, officers visited Shawhead Primary School. The school learned about environmental issues that affect all our communities and how we can all work together to resolve them. All who took part in the visit now have a good understanding on how to c...onduct a survey to find how clean and tidy their community is ūüėä
The survey found they school grounds were reasonably tidy and the local streets found to be quite clean as well. The class then did a quick litter pick of the school grounds.
Shawhead Primary already hold five green flags, with litter being a compulsory subject. The school is now on their way to flag number six ūüĎŹ
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Our Community Safety Team recently visited the Eco Group of St Mungo‚Äôs Primary School to give them a better understanding of the environmental issues that blight their community ūüėä
The group learned about dog fouling and littering that carry an ¬£80 fixed penalty notice for the offence ūüėßūüí©ūüźē
To round off the afternoon, Dan Kirkpatrick a street scene operative arrived with the mechanical road sweepers and gave the pupils a guided tour, before getting the sweeper into action around... the school car park.
All pupils opted for a go in the driver‚Äôs seat as well as encouraging their teacher to have a go ūüėČ
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Our Community Safety Team were out in force last week in the Annandale South Ward on one of their engagement days. Officers spoke with numerous residents about the issues in their community ūüĎć
Part of the engagement day took officers to Newington Primary School. Mrs Swan‚Äôs P4 class learned about environmental issues that affect all our communities and how we can all work together to resolve them. They now are fully aware of litter, its effects on our community and wildlife as ...well as the biggest complaint ‚Äď dog fouling ūüėßūüí©ūüźē
The class had some time to complete a litter survey similar to the one done by Keep Scotland Beautiful as well as a quick litter pick of the school grounds open to the public.
To round off the visit, a street scene operative from the council arrived with a mechanical street sweeper. They pupils learned how the council keep our streets as clean and tidy as they can using machinery ūüėäūüĎć
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Our Community Safety Team were out in force last week in the Dalbeattie area on one of their engagement days. Officers spoke with numerous residents about the issues in their community ūüĎć
Part of the engagement day took officers to Dalbeattie Primary School.
The Eco Group learned about environmental issues that affect all our communities and how we can all work together to resolve them. They now are fully aware of litter, its effects on our community and wildlife as well as th...e biggest complaint ‚Äď dog fouling ūüėßūüí©ūüźē
Afterwards, the pupils completed a survey and rated their school grounds as good. Any litter found in the grounds was removed using litter pickers.
The pupils intends keep on top of the litter in the new campus, as it is not just a job for the school janitor ūüėČ
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DGC HQ has gone pink and blue to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week 2018 [9 to 15 October].
BLAW raises awareness of death during pregnancy, soon after, or in infancy.
The loss of a young child is a truly devastating event, which a parent never fully gets over.
... We're keen to show our support and encourage people to break the silence on what, for many, can be a taboo subject. https://goo.gl/cE3Vwo
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Tell us where you think we should develop inclusive parks
This is your last chance to complete our survey on where we should invest ¬£500k to develop inclusive playparks in Newton Stewart, Castle Douglas, Upper Nithsdale and Lockerbie ūüėÄ
Which of the Council owned parks in these locations should be developed? ūü§Ē
... What would you like to see developed to make the park more accessible and inclusive? ūü§Ē
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WZDT8XM< br> The survey closes on Thursday at midnight ūüĎć
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Dumfries and Galloway Council is supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week 2018.
Each year, thousands of parents across the UK are devastated by the loss of a very young child, including miscarriage, termination due to foetal issues, stillbirth, neonatal death, and postnatal death such as sudden infant death syndrome [SIDS] and sudden toddler death.
To mark the week, Council HQ in Dumfries will be lit pink and blue from 9 October. https://goo.gl/s6jnF1