A £50,000 refurbishment of the neglected 19th Century bandstand in Dumfries’ flagship Dock Park has finally begun after a lengthy tender process by the council.
In June, concerns over its condition were raised by South of Scotland MSP Colin Smyth who also criticised Dumfries and Galloway Council for leaving the park “falling apart” – 10 years on from a £2 million revamp and official reopening by the Earl and Countess of Wessex, who are now Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Just weeks before the school summer holidays, he hit out at how the bandstand has been left to deteriorate along with the children’s playpark which still has the ship and disabled roundabout fenced off after not being repaired; a broken seesaw being removed rather than replaced; gates to the park closed off with barriers around them and crumbling rubber flooring.
Another bone of contention has been the maze – which dates back to the 1970s – and became overgrown with weeds and piles of the gravel used to fill the pot hole-covered car park rather than permanent repairs.
At the time, he said: “It really breaks my heart to see the way it has been left to fall apart.”
The local authority responded by confirming it would be refurbished this financial year with funding from the Public Realm Capital Programme 2024/25. The council also said that the listed structure would need “extensive works”.
Now, Mr Smyth said: “I’m pleased to see that work has been carried out to repair most of the equipment in the park and has started on the bandstand, but it should never have been allowed to fall into such an appalling state of disrepair.
“Much of the park equipment was out of action during the school holidays and the summer tourism season, and the bandstand has been fenced off now for a year and half which is shocking.
“I successfully fought for the £2 million refurbishment of what was an award-winning park.
“We transformed the Dock Park into a real jewel in the crown for Dumfries and it was voted Scotland’s favourite park. The council should hang their head in shame over the way it has been neglected in recent years.”
He is also urging the council to now put in place a proper maintenance regime to avoid the park falling back into a state of disrepair.
The MSP said: “Now repairs are being carried out we need to see a proper maintenance regime – which is what the council promised funders like the Heritage Lottery fund when they secured grants from them a decade ago.
“I know the council are struggling financially due to government cuts, but not maintaining the park will mean it costs more to repair in the long run.”