The Scottish Parliament’s Financial system and Truthful Work Committee visited Dumfries yesterday as a part of the inquiry into city centres and retail.
Convener Claire Baker MSP and committee members took a strolling tour earlier than holding a gathering with native stakeholders and enterprise homeowners.
In addition they visited the pioneering Midsteeple Quarter buildings within the Excessive Road that are being introduced again into public use.
The MSPs realized extra concerning the success of the enterprise, which is reshaping a part of the Dumfries city centre, by way of a chat with the community-led regeneration mission’s govt director, Scott Mackay, and had a have a look at present works and different buildings within the Midsteeple Quarter.
The committee is making an attempt to determine “the brand new realities of retail and ecommerce in Scotland and the ensuing influence on city centres” in addition to the present challenges confronted by merchants, and to see how the Scottish Authorities and native insurance policies can create resilient city centres for the longer term.
South of Scotland MSP Colin Smyth, who's a member of the committee, mentioned: “It was nice to have the ability to welcome committee members to my dwelling city and to indicate off the incredible work of the Midsteeple Quarter in Dumfries.
“It's a community-benefit firm that anybody can be a part of and it's actually taking again the Excessive Road store by store.
“It's starting to put money into the combo of makes use of that our city centres want – retail, neighborhood area and housing – and, crucially, it's responding to the wants of the neighborhood.
“The co-operative precept is that native folks have the revolutionary options for his or her city and may have a neighborhood stake in its future by way of neighborhood possession.”
He added: “Scotland’s city centres have historically been the heartbeat of our communities bringing folks collectively to dwell, work, store and socialise.
“Our inquiry is searching for to deliver ahead suggestions to reveal how Scotland’s city centres can thrive on this publish pandemic world and be vibrant, resilient and accessible locations which meet the financial, social and environmental wants of our communities.”