Midsteeple Quarter Learning Forum
Monday January 22
On Monday 15th January 2018 an amazingly experienced group of people from diverse walks of life assembled at The Stove in Dumfries to get an update on Midsteeple Quarter and bring together their knowledge, advice and offers of help to further the aims of the project.
The event was co-hosted by the Midsteeple Quarter Team (Melissa, Matt, Eva and Kevin) with great assistance from Phil Prentice the CEO of Scotland’s Towns Partnership.
It was an amazing room of talents and experience. As a way to keep the conversation moving, the list below is everyone who came on Monday – and also those who booked to come, but had to cancel at the last minute.
Some of the attendees took part in a Midsteeple Quarter site visit before the Learning Forum began. Photo Credit: Kirstin McEwan
We took a few key messages from the event:
The case for bringing people back to live in the town centre is well made and resonates with everyone. Achieving this will require support over and above the usual economics of development – but that additional support would be justified by the public benefit of laying the foundations for a vibrant and sustainable town centre.
The process of shaping the delivery plan for Midsteeple Quarter is complex and will involve community and professional input. It will take time, but we are fortunate to have a great pool of local and national expertise and support to draw from.
All projects within Dumfries town centre need to be connected by a ‘whole town approach’. This should not be a new masterplan coming from above – but, rather it should be a connecting up of initiatives already in development with an evidence base for their value and a plan for interconnected delivery that makes strategic sense.
The Midsteeple Quarter team are excited at the prospect of assisting in shaping a vision for Dumfries and totally support the initial moves being made by DGC and Scotlands Towns Partnership to get the process moving.
Attendees gave their knowledge, advice and provided offers of help to the project.
Photo credit: Kirstin McEwan
15.01.18 – List of attendees (including last minute apologies):
Callum Adams – Cunninghame Housing Association
Tom Armstrong – Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce
Matt Baker – The Stove Network
Graham Bartlett – Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway
Petra Biberach – Planning Aid Scotland
Ian Bryden – NHS Dumfries and Galloway (Estates)
Fiona Clandillon – Scottish Futures Trust
David Cook – Cook Creative
David Cowan – Scottish Government (Regeneration Unit)
John Dowson – Midsteeple Quarter (Board)
Jan Falconer – DGC (Head of Economic Development)
Cllr. Andy Fergusson – DGC
Tony Fitzpatrick – The Stove Network (Board)
Fraser Gilmore – Housing Options Scotland
Derek Goldman – Open University
Sharon Glendinning – Crichton Campus
Melissa Gunn – Midsteeple Quarter (Project Manager)
Billy Hewitson – Queen of the South FC (Chairman)
Gavin Leask – Shelter Scotland
Ian Leaver – Development Trust Association Scotland
Michael Leybourne – Savills
Cllr Tracey Little – DGC (Provost of Dumfries)
Joan McAlpine MSP – Scottish Parliament
John McGee – NHS Dumfries and Galloway
Eva Milroy – Midsteeple Quarter (Society Secretary)
Craig Nicol – University of the West of Scotland
Sharon Ogilvie – Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway
Jim O’Neill – DGC (Strategic Housing)
Phil Prentice – Scotland’s Towns Partnership
James Proctor – Community Shares Scotland
Kevin Reid – Midsteeple Quarter (Creative Producer)
John Ringrose – DGC (Empty Homes Officer)
Lesley Rogers – DGC (Town Centre Regeneration)
Colin Smyth MSP – Scottish Parliament
Geoff Stewart – Loreburn Housing Association
Frank Sweeney – Cunninghame Housing Association
Shirley Turberville – University of the West of Scotland (Campus Director)
Lorraine Usher – Loreburn Housing Association
Ian Wishart – Misteeple Quarter (Board)
Robin Wishart – Midsteeple Quarter (Board)