Menu
 
Home | News | Two vital elements to promote quality of life: Town’s tourism and health and social care are in the spotlight
 
News | 31st October 2019
 

Two vital elements to promote quality of life: Town’s tourism and health and social care are in the spotlight

 
 
 

THE Langholm Alliance steering group recently held a public consultation and, as a follow-up, its sub-groups have submitted summaries of the work they have been doing in preparing for the launch of the community action plan.
Tourism
John Galloway
IN EARLY 2019 the tourism sub-group set out to develop a plan specifically to promote and develop tourism for our area as part of the overall community action plan being developed by the Langholm Alliance.
From the offset, the group wanted to develop a strategy to address some of the difficulties faced in trying to make the most of what the area can offer to locals and visitors and develop a plan in a way which would be deliverable within a reasonable space of time.
The time we hoped for the first phase was six to 12 months.
The group has worked tirelessly for nine months to get to the stage where we have almost realised our plan in full.
The plan stated that we needed to develop a brand identity for Langholm to use under many of our attractions such as heritage, nature, sporting, food and drink, crafts and arts.
We have achieved this by engaging a specialised marketing company Ospray which did extensive research into what connected people with place.
Several options were shortlisted and the sub-group, along with support from the wider group, decided on the best option for the brand identity.
The group has successfully helped to finish a new website by a local trust, designed to inform and promote what Langholm offers residents and visitors looking for a new destination.
This was shown to many people attending the consultation in the Buccleuch Centre and received positive comments on the work completed so far.
The group has done a marketing strategy to promote the area’s many attractions and events.
This will be achieved by engaging with potential visitors through targeted campaigns on social media and through extensive networking with likeminded groups, industry organisations and representatives to ensure they are fully aware of what we have to offer and packaging it in a way which makes it simple and easy for these groups and organisation to take and promote these events and attractions via their own marketing channels.
This refers to VisitScotland and others, like Famously Hawick, Visit Newcastleton, Visit South West Scotland.
We are delighted the work done to date has been well received and we will launch this to locals, industry leaders, local and government officials on November 14.
We are all excited about what the next 12 months hold, with much more work to do to ensure we are in the best place to welcome all to our area.

Health and social care
Denis Male
AFTER attempts over 20 years to build new health facilities in Langholm, it is apparent this has become impossible.
The extra sheltered housing, new health centre and out-of-hospital beds planned for the Townfoot site had seemed possible.
But because more than half of Langholm was designated a flood plain and with ruling that any buildings developed for elderly care had to withstand a 1 in 1,000 year flood prediction, Townfoot was ruled out.
Langholm has an ageing population and, while we believe it is important for younger people to stay in or come back, we recognise an adequate health and social care service is an important part of this picture and a vital element of what helps to create a good quality of life for all residents.
Langholm is fortunate that Thomas Hope Hospital meets some of these needs from a medical perspective.
Health professionals see it as a 19th century building delivering 21st century care but say it is under no immediate threat.
Under the community plan, discussion is needed with the health service on what other services can be included and how the building can be brought up to modern standards.
Meetings need to be held with health services, GPs, MP, MSPs, health minister and council officials to explore the possibilities.
The hospital is vital in ongoing patient care management and a crucial incentive in recruiting GPs.
The fact Langholm Medical Practice is a training and mentoring practice means it must be protected at all costs.
Many residents still believe a care home for the elderly should be explored and the issue of patient transport to hospital is an increasing problem. Most referrals are to the hospital in Dumfries which is not on any bus route from this area and is an 80-mile round trip.
Loreburn Housing Association’s project for elderly housing on the Murtholm will allow more elderly residents to stay in town and not be placed in a care home somewhere else.

 
 
Would you like to support us?

The Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser is our community owned local newspaper and even in today’s troubled times, we aim to bring you local news and articles in an impartial, responsible and factual way.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this free article but we need your support so we can keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent and keeps you up to date with what is happening in Eskdale and Liddesdale.

Every reader’s contribution, however big or small, is so valuable to us.
 
 
‘Owned by the Community...Published for the Community’
Do you have a story?

Please get in touch if you have a story or article you would like to see published.

Related Articles

A quality quartet

Another healthy contingent of fine young men put theirnames forward…

 

Eighty years since Victory in Europe

A poignant reminder of resilience and unity rising from adversity…

 

New Post Office opens on Tuesday

It’s countdown now until the new post office opens on…

 

End of Langholm banking era as BoS closes its doors

Scotland’s oldest bank bows out of High Street The Bank…

 

High-powered visitors

Va-va-vroom! Langholm’s Kilngreen had some very special visitors last weekend…

 

Goat group presses Council

Campaigners want protected status David Braithwaite, Chairman of The Wild…

 

20 might be plenty, but is anyone heeding the signs?

Over the years, the Scottish Government has made so many…

 

Highland surprise on the North Coast 500

The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route around…

 

Preliminary meeting focusses on Townfoot's hole in the ground

Particular issues discussed in advance of June’s public forum In…

 

Victory in Europe (VE) Day commemoration events

Langholm, Ewes and Westerkirk community council is working with Langholm…

 

Return of full Post Office is first-class news for town

Elizabeth and team are all trained up and ready to…

 

Goat petition reaches MPs

4,000 anti-cull signatures handed over Conservative politicians John Lamont MP…

 

A healing moorland…

Sphagnum moss wound dressings during the Second World War By…

 

Heilan’ Coos and Fell Ponies join the Tarras Valley family

The cows and ponies will play their part in restoring…

 

NHS D&G announces massive funding shortfall

Board seeks public support to manage £33.6 million funding gap…

 

4,000 signature petition to be handed to politicians

Oxygen Conservation’s disregard prompted massive response A local petition with…

 

Scottish Woodlands plan ' voluntary' Environmental Impact Assessment for Warblaw

Scottish Woodlands, which has been developing the woodland creation design…

 

As the last bank closes, a Cash Hub opens

Temporary facility will open in Holmspun with better hours of…

 

NatureScot tells the E&L “culling the goats is legal”

Oxygen Conservation lays the blame at Government’s door Part of…

 

New health team sought for Canonbie Surgery

Husband and wife medical partners to hang up their stethoscopes…

 

18-month trial of 20mph has begun

A7 Action Group discuss various issues The A7 Action Group…

 

No caravans or motorhomes to cross Milntown bridge

Far-reaching effect on the community as Ewes Water site has…

 

Confirmation received that cull has already begun

Gilly Fraser delves further into the feral goat debacle Oxygen…

 

Some beautiful moments in LAODS’ latest show

Annie Get Your Gun is chock-full of love, laughter and…

 

2025 Common Riding AGM

New faces in official roles he trustees and members of…

 

Parking restrictions and 20mph limit from next week

By the end of March, the speed limit throughout the…

 

A well-used community resource for over 30 years

Mairi Telford Jammeh takes a look at what goes on…

 

Goat cull company tackled by councillor

Meeting with CEO of Oxygen Conservation requested Councillor Male has…

 

Wheatley has “No plans for housing in Eskdale

Scotland’s second largest social landlord is also “not considering the…

 

Langholm Town Band do well in regionals

By Christine Calvert This weekend saw the latest contest outing…

 

As predicted, D&G raise Council Tax by 9%

Furthermore, they will “implement increases inselected fees and charges relating…

 

Community Council hears from concerned residents

Number of derelict sites in the town is a major…

 

Huge local reaction to news of proposed goat cull

Social media alight and petition raised following announcement by Oxygen…

 

NFUS retiterates its opposition to National Park in Galloway

NFU Scotland has once again made clear its opposition to…

 

D-day for Council Tax rises across the area

Dumfries and Galloway Council will make decisions today about the…

 

THEY'RE GOING TO CULL THE GOATS!

In what will be a hugely unpopular decision, Oxygen Conservation…

 

Sitka spruce going, going, gone!

A big task for the Tarras Valley team over the…

 

D&G Council Tax set to rise between 5 to 10%

…and the same for Water Rates…possibly 9%. Budgets are to…

 

Caroline Street is still railing against its railings

As angle of fence increases, council budgets for repairs to…

 

U15 gold medal for Langholm’s Aoiffion

Amazing 12 year old athlete makes her mark in her…

 
 
Kelso Races
requires mailchimp logins and wired up to a list
Join our mailing list
Keep up to date with all that’s going on at the E&L
This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. We use necessary cookies to make sure that our website works. We’d also like to set analytics cookies that help us make improvements by measuring how you use the site. By clicking “Allow All”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
These cookies are required for basic functionalities such as accessing secure areas of the website, remembering previous actions and facilitating the proper display of the website. Necessary cookies are often exempt from requiring user consent as they do not collect personal data and are crucial for the website to perform its core functions.
A “preferences” cookie is used to remember user preferences and settings on a website. These cookies enhance the user experience by allowing the website to remember choices such as language preferences, font size, layout customization, and other similar settings. Preference cookies are not strictly necessary for the basic functioning of the website but contribute to a more personalised and convenient browsing experience for users.
A “statistics” cookie typically refers to cookies that are used to collect anonymous data about how visitors interact with a website. These cookies help website owners understand how users navigate their site, which pages are most frequently visited, how long users spend on each page, and similar metrics. The data collected by statistics cookies is aggregated and anonymized, meaning it does not contain personally identifiable information (PII).
Marketing cookies are used to track user behaviour across websites, allowing advertisers to deliver targeted advertisements based on the user’s interests and preferences. These cookies collect data such as browsing history and interactions with ads to create user profiles. While essential for effective online advertising, obtaining user consent is crucial to comply with privacy regulations.