A Dumfries community group is asking fellow citizens to respond to an emergency request and come together, as a town, and buy two High Street buildings that are set to be traded amongst speculators in an auction. The group is looking to local people to help raise a stake to bid in the auction on behalf of the town, against the property speculators.

n October 2018, we were delighted at Dumfries & Galloway Council’s decision to transfer the former Bakers Oven to community ownership through the Midsteeple Quarter Project. Since then, our Creative Producer, Kevin Reid, has been working hard at creating an exciting programme of activity in The Oven which includes exhibitions, workshop spaces and event – all of which will be open to the public! 

We’ve recently received some great news at the Midsteeple Quarter Project from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF) and are delighted to share the news with you! SLF is the national funding pot that supports communities to buy assets like land and buildings that are underused in their area.

We are delighted at Dumfries & Galloway Council’s decision to transfer the former Bakers Oven building into community ownership through the Midsteeple Quarter Project. It has been a long journey towards this moment after all the hard work the Midsteeple Quarter have put into the project over the last two years, and we are thrilled that the members of the Council saw the potential in our ideas for this building; the first building block of our town centre regeneration project.

A few weeks ago, MSP Colin Smyth raised the Midsteeple Quarter Project as an excellent example of community led fightback to secure the future of Town Centres.

We are absolutely delighted to announce that we will be having a stall at the very first Dumfries Makers Market as part of this year’s Christmas Lights Switch On in Dumfries Town Centre on 2nd December. Dumfries Makers Market is a project by The Guild Dumfries C.I.C which has been working extremely hard to bring their vision of a monthly curated street market festival to life in Dumfries town centre.

On Tuesday 16th October, we held our first AGM for the Midsteeple Quarter Project at The Oven on Dumfries High Street, which offered members of the community the opportunity to find out more about the progress of the project as well as discuss ideas for the future uses of The Oven and view initial plans.

All welcome to come along to the very first Midsteeple Quarter AGM! Our first Annual General Meeting will be help on Tuesday 16th October at The Oven (135-139 High Street, Dumfries). The meeting itself will commence at 7.30pm, but you are also invited to join us for a reception beforehand from 6.00pm.

We need your help! Please come along armed with a cameraphone and an canny eye on SUNDAY 30th September (anytime between 10am and 4pm) to take part in a citizen’s survey of the condition of the buildings on the High Street.

THE MIDSTEEPLE QUARTER NEEDS YOU!! Want to have your say on what makes Dumfries town centre attractive? Have you got an opinion on bringing homes back into use in Dumfries town centre? Want a house on the High Street? Now is the chance for Doonhamers to have their say!!