Meeting

Business for Dumbarton will meet on 21st April at 6pm Aunties Tea Room next to the Co-op. All members welcome.

High Street Closed this Thursday 11th

All business owners, employees, customers and shoppers please note:

Dumbarton High Street will be closed this Thursday between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. This is due to a parade by the Argylls who have returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Some Councillors STILL in Denial

The following motion was proposed by Councillor Geoff Calvert at Wednesday’s meeting. Thankfully it was defeated 6-3. I have responded below via a press release

Motion to Housing, Environment and Economic Development Committee
>
> – 3 December 08
>
> Agenda Item 9 – Dumbarton Town Centre – Traffic Management and Parking
>
>
> This Committee notes the opinions of MVA Consultancy in that it does not
> believe that traffic management and parking are factors adversely
> affecting
> the performance of the retail operations in the town centre and that there
> are many other factors.
>
> Furthermore, this Committee notes that MVA has concluded that the detailed
> proposals from Business in Dumbarton are neither desirable nor possible
> and
> that the proposed changes to bus operations they suggest, would be
> contrary
> to the Scottish Government’s national transport policy.
>
> On a more positive note, MVA states that, in line with the potential
> success of Markets within other town centres, there is potential for a
> Market in Dumbarton. At a local level, Clydebank is a fine example of how
> a
> market can bring benefit to businesses within the local retail sector.
>
> This Committee believes that the stimulus a Market would bring to the
> vibrancy of Dumbarton is an opportunity that must not be overlooked.
>
> Therefore, in addition to the Recommendations in para 8.1 of this report,
> this Committee agrees that:
>
>   A market day be established in Dumbarton on a weekly basis on Thursdays,
>   so as not to conflict with the Wednesday market in Clydebank, with
>   effect from the beginning of April 2009
>
>   A report be brought to the next HEED Committee outlining the costs, e.g.
>   for road closures etc, to the Council to instigate this exciting
>   initiative
>
> And that
>
>   The Committee makes budget provision for such costs within its financial
>   budget for 2009/10

Response

“Business for Dumbarton welcomes the decision by the Housing, Environment
and Economic Development Committee to readmit car traffic into Dumbarton
High Street. We applaud the acknowledgement by the council that it has been
a failure and that at long last something will be done to improve the plight
of businesses and their customers, particularly the elderly and disabled. We
would of course have presferred that our own proposal be adopted and will
continue to campaign on that front. Dumbarton High Street and Town Centre
has many problems but the fact that 60% of our customers cannot even access
the place is by far the most significant

We find Councillor Calvert’s comments and motion extremely unhelpful and
quite frankly, unbelievable. Let us not forget that the current traffic
management scheme was part of an extravagant Acton Plan designed to “restore
vibrancy and vitality to Dumbarton Town Centre” by 2005. In 2000 I wrote to
the Lennox Herald about the Action Plan declaring that I saw it as a recipe
for continued downward footfall, shop closures and diminishing safety and
security. Councillor Calvert was one of the prime movers of the plan with
then Town Centre Manager Ian Davison Porter. Even now when the evidence is
there for all to see that the Action Plan has spectacularly failed, he
doesn’t have the simple good grace to admit that. To imply that the traffic
management scheme does not impact on the retail operations of Dumbarton is
to seriously misrepresent the true situation.

Business for Dumbarton will support any initiative which seeks to address
the decline in footfall, but we would much prefer to see an attempt to fill
empty shops rather than a weekly market. Clydebank and Dumbarton are very
different animals indeed. The best way to encourage traders back into the
town is to create an attractive trading environment. The tragedy is that it
could have beeen done at a fraction of the cost of the measures which have
put the town on its knees.

Last Week’s Meeting.

Last Tuesday, Inspector Ian Wallace of Strathclyde Police Dumbarton attended Business for Dumbarton’s meeting. IT was a useful exchange and the main point arising from Ian was, ‘If you see crime or anti-social behaviour, report it’. Members took the opportunity to say that sometimes they felt response was not appropriate or quick enough. Ian promised to look into these complaints and we all agreed that a new more resolute approach was needed from everyone to tackle the problems.

Business for Dumbarton thanks Ian Wallace for taking the time and trouble to explain the police’s side of the story. It was a very useful exchange.

Still Here!

Apologies for the lack of postings here. I can assure you that this site and BfD are alive and well but certain factors have intervened (Holidays/staff holidays etc.) Normal service will be resumed next week.

Scottish Pipe Band Championships

I have taken the following info from the West Dunbartonshire Council Website. This event is one of the highlights of the year in Dumbarton and we look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to the town.

100 Pipers Pipe Band Championship 2008

The annual Scottish Pipe Band Championship will be held on 24th May at Levengrove Park, Dumbarton from 8.00am – 6.00pm and promises to be a fantastic day of colour, spectacle and fun.

Attracting over 130 pipe bands annually from the British Isles, Europe and further beyond, this spectacular event celebrates iconic Scottish culture and tradition. With funfairs, stalls and many other attractions this really is a great family day out. What’s more its free!
100 Pipers Logo

For further information contact:

Events and Halls Section: 01389 738762

Visit The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association’s Website for further information on pipe bands and upcoming piping events.