More than £14,000 is still to be raised before a major improvement project can go ahead at Langholm’s Buccleuch Park.
Ian Macgregor, Chairman of the Buccleuch Park project sub group, told Langholm, Ewes and Westerkirk Community Council that the work could not be done until the target of £100,000 had been raised in full.
“We have been really successful in bringing in the external money and we’re at over £85,000 but now the group is working really hard to raise the remainder from the community.
“I am very aware that people are justifiably wondering when it will be done. It’s been a long hard slog and the group is taking it badly that people are feeling disappointed.”
He said small pieces of work including the installation of four accessible picnic benches and wood carvings by Robin Waitt had been done and were attracting interest.
But Councillor George Turner questioned whether these smaller “bits and pieces” were eroding the overall total and therefore extending the time before the target would be reached.
Councillor Macgregor said the group was trying to strike a balance between doing small projects to make progress and keep people happy while also continuing to work towards the target total.
“There are so many good causes in Langholm and it is a very generous community,” he said. “The community has been amazing and we are just asking for a little patience.”
A car boot sale in the Co-op carpark on June 29 from 11am to 4pm will raise money for the park project. Cars, stalls and gazebos are welcome at £5 per pitch.
To book a pitch, contact Gary on 013873 81345 or 07891 658895.
A ‘people counter’ installed at Buccleuch Park has been stolen.
The project group raised £2,700 to install three counters to record the growing numbers of people using the park and establish statistics to help attract funding for future phases of the development.
They were installed last autumn, but one, attached to a wall near the gate at the church, was discovered missing last week.
Having immediately reported the theft to police, Councillor Macgregor said: “Someone has gone to a great deal of effort to remove this. It was very securely bolted onto the wall.
“It is of no use or value to anyone else, but worth about £700 to us. My hope is that whoever stole it might just have thrown it away and someone might spot it in a ditch or on the riverside.”
He described the counter as a grey/black, brick-shaped box.
Anyone finding this item is asked to return it to Councillor Macgregor at the Schoolhouse, Buccleuch Square, Langholm.
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