News

Joan McAlpine MSP has criticised councillors in the Dumfries and Galloway Labour Group for their opposition to locating a new learning hub for Dumfries at the Crichton Campus. Ms McAlpine said their politically motivated behaviour would damage young people’s chances and job opportunities. SNP member for the South of Scotland Ms McAlpine, who has an […]

Young people in Dumfries & Galloway who haven’t yet registered to vote in the Scottish Independence Referendum are being urged to do so.   Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Electoral Registration Officer Keith Mossop said “The referendum on 18 September will be the first opportunity many young people will have to cast their vote. I’m keen […]

First Minister Alex Salmond has marked Volunteer’s Week 2014 by working with young people involved in Scotland’s Best programme. The First Minister took part in a training session at the Volunteer Scotland offices, providing advice to young people who are currently applying and searching for jobs. The First Minister also announced that applications are now […]

Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray and Dumfries and Galloway MP Russell Brown have expressed concern at the high level of fuel poverty in Dumfries and Galloway and criticised the Scottish Government for not focusing more resources in the region to tackle the problem.   The comments come on the back of a recent report by the […]

Some of Scotland’s most vulnerable households will receive help to make their homes warmer, more environmentally friendly and cheaper through a £60 million energy efficiency fund, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said today. The investment into the Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland (HEEPS) will enable Scotland’s local authorities to install energy efficiency measures such as […]

Annandale North Labour Councillor Graeme Tait has raised concerns over drivers in Lockerbie High Street using the war memorial in the town centre as a roundabout. This comes after a number of local people reported incidents to Councillor Tait of “near misses” where others drivers using the memorial as roundabout nearly caused road accidents. Councillor […]

At the High Court in Edinburgh today Andrew Brown, (DOB 11/12/1990) from Ecclefechan and Dean Melnyk (30/05/1993) from Lockerbie, were sentenced to life imprisonment with a punishment part of 20 years each for the murder of Kevin Mackay at a property in Peacock Place, Ecclefechan on 22 August 2013. The court heard that Mr Mackay […]

Minister for Parliamentary Business Joe FitzPatrick has commented on today’s Queen’s Speech which outlines the UK Government’s legislative programme for 2014/15. Mr FitzPatrick said: “This final Queen’s Speech, ahead of the referendum, underlines the growing divergence between the path of the UK Government and that of Scotland. Our focus is rightly on measures to improve […]

SNP MSP’s from across Scotland have welcomed today’s announcement that the Scottish Land Fund is backing community buyouts with grants to empower communities. The funding from the Scottish Government’s Land Fund was announced by First Minister, Alex Salmond, at First Minister’s Question Time today. South of Scotland MSP Joan McAlpine welcomed the announcement that Upper […]

As the launch of the first local TV service in Scotland fast approaches, South of Scotland MSP Joan McAlpine has lead a debate in the Parliament on fairness in local television. Members will debate Ms McAlpine’s motion welcoming the establishment of new services for Scotland but expressing concern that they will be disadvantaged by their positioning […]