Abandoned Dumfries Bard

[arrol1919]

Cleaning statues is a specialised process that requires complex procedures to avoid damaging the base material while cleaning the surface and certainly not by using the likes of high pressure washers etc. as Jardi has correctly stated. It requires contractors very experienced in this field and subsequently does not come cheap. Coating the cleaned marble with an anti fungal substance which could then be readily cleaned sounds the best solution but all of this needs to be left to the experts on this.

Absolutely but experts costs money and the council have none. All the tourists this year are in for a nasty shock when they visit this once proud town.

[Truthhurts]

Is Dumfries becoming the new Kirkconnel? It's harder to spot the deterioration when you still live in the toon. It's really sad to see what has happened to what once was the "Queen of the South".

[jardi]

Truthhurts; the truth is that Kirkconnel has made some dramatic efforts through community involvement to change the town for the better, with some great floral displays and clean ups being carried out.

Dumfries suffers from the fact that it is a small urban area, too small to benefit from all the money that would be thrown at it should it ever attain city status, - but that should be our aim, - yet too big that people feel thy cannot help the town through community involvement which has undoubtedly improved Kirkconnel.

The sad truth is that unless we miraculously get city status, (which everyone smirked at, but which has transformed Stirling and Perth as they can tap into millions of pounds, - and they are two urban areas of similar size to Dumfries) then we cannot rely on the Council and some things will need to be tackled by individuals and small groups. Clearly, cleaning Burn's Statue at the moment is not an option, - until the marble is treated, - but once it has been given a clean bill of health, then local people should get involved. The same could be said of street furniture and the signs around the town......it's our town, - let's sort it!

Palmerston Park is a prime example in miniature; many people will bemoan the fact that the BOD should sort everything, when the reality is that they (like the Council) can only do so much with the budget and time they have at their disposal.

No one can do everything, but everyone can do something, - and if we all did a little, - it would be amazing what could be achieved.

[palmylad]

Date for your diary folks

Sunday 8th July >>>> Palmerston Park tidy up. Your help and support would be much appreciated

[louisxiv]

May I say that those with political axes to grind should take them elsewhere and let those with good old fashioned common sense sort out the urgent problems that this town faces.

You are of course entitled to say this Jardi but I feel compelled to say that certain things, including the state of our towns, are rooted in politics and that a degree of political debate is inevitably (and in my view rightly) going to feature on threads such as these.

[jardi]

Totally agree Louis, my inference was that merely suggesting that following a political dogma would find the answer is utter nonsense.

I would prefer a cross party approach to the problems which the town and for that matter the country faces. To find solutions, political colours must be left at the door, and following the party whip has no place.

That is why the old town council worked so well, because the leaders of the town only had the town at heart.

I cannot stand petty party politics, nor have I any time for those who simply want to line their own pockets, and once those two obstacles are removed, we might be able to move forward, but I suspect that is an unattainable nirvana?

[louisxiv]

Totally agree Louis, my inference was that merely suggesting that following a political dogma would find the answer is utter nonsense.

I would prefer a cross party approach to the problems which the town and for that matter the country faces. To find solutions, political colours must be left at the door, and following the party whip has no place.

That is why the old town council worked so well, because the leaders of the town only had the town at heart.

I cannot stand petty party politics, nor have I any time for those who simply want to line their own pockets, and once those two obstacles are removed, we might be able to move forward, but I suspect that is an unattainable nirvana?

Something’s gotta give for sure, Jardi. JR’s photo was a sad indictment of the current state of play.

[QOS_MAD_ADMIN]

You are of course entitled to say this Jardi but I feel compelled to say that certain things, including the state of our towns, are rooted in politics and that a degree of political debate is inevitably (and in my view rightly) going to feature on threads such as these.

This thread although interesting is not usually allowed on this Football Message Board but reluctantly been allowed to continue. At least one political party has been already ridiculed and the perpetrator lucky to be still on the board.