Target reached!
The more money we raise, the stronger the case we can put together to protect our to...
Save Our Sands
Brasswell, Scotland, United Kingdom
Aim
Call for donations in a David and Goliath fight for the people of Dumfries
After four years and a lot of hard work, starting with a petition raised by local resident David Slater, on 6th November 2018, a group of residents and businesses from Dumfries will embark on a long fought for, seven-week legal battle against Dumfries and Galloway Council in opposition to the controversial and widely opposed Whitesands Flood Protection Scheme.
The Council propose building a permanent barrier of 2.5m that will be supplemented by an additional 0.4m at times of high flooding, making a total of 2.9m (9ft 6in). The Save Our Sands campaign want the Scottish Government to reject the scheme as unworkable and inappropriate in Dumfries.
As part of the Scottish Government’s Public Inquiry, objectors will be opposing the Council’s £25m - £35m Scheme in the following key areas:
- Many car parking spaces would be lost if the scheme went ahead. The car parking on the Whitesands serves many businesses, including those on Bank Street, Friars Vennel, Irish Street, etc, and of course the High Street. The Council have not carried out an impact assessment on the High Street and retail trade - which is in enough trouble already
- The iconic views of both the river and the historic Devorgilla Bridge (a scheduled monument under the protection of Historic Environment Scotland) will be seriously obscured by the 2.5m high barrier 365 days a year, impacting on both residents and tourists alike
- The 3-year disruption to traffic flow and local businesses whilst the extensive works are carried out
The opposers will be urging the Council to consider the alternatives available. In particular, they will be drawing attention to the fact that the Council’s scheme is a 365 day a year barrier, as opposed to alternatives that rise with the water level, therefore only obstructing the view of the river for those 24 – 48 hours a year when flooding actually occurs.
With over £4m already having been spent on the scheme since 2011 (notably on architects and lawyers from outwith Dumfries and Galloway, even though there are numerous excellent professionals living within the region), the Council have now spent a further £90,000 on a team of city lawyers to prepare for the Public Inquiry.
If the Save Our Sands campaign is to have a fair shot at holding the Council to account at the Pubic Inquiry, we must raise enough funds to secure:
- an architect
- a hydrology engineer
- a town planner
- a lawyer
£5,000 will allow us to secure initial advice from these professionals and will enable us to present a robust case in opposition to the Council’s plans. However, the timescales of the Public Inquiry are tight. All documents for consideration in the Inquiry must be submitted by 9th October 2018, thus forcing a deadline for our fundraising of 14th September 2018.
6,000 of you signed the petition against the scheme and many more discussed their objections on social media and in the pubs and cafes of our town. We know that this is a town-changing decision that will be in place for 100 years and it is only by supporting the campaign that we will be able to hold the Council to account for how your money is spent.
If each one of you donate to the campaign, we will smash our target and ensure that the voices of the people of Dumfries cannot be silenced.
Remember, small change can make a lasting change!
Donate and share the campaign now!
This project successfully funded on 14th September 2018