Town's residents urged to drop 'destructive' negativity

The civic head of a south of Scotland town has urged its residents to drop their "destructive" negativity about the place where they live.

Provost Tracey Little made the plea in an open letter to the people of Dumfries.

She said there was something special about the town but that it could too often go "unspoken, overlooked or quietly taken for granted".

She said that was "deeply demoralising" for those trying to carry out improvements and asked people to "be part of the solution rather than a chorus of frustration".

The role of provost dates backs centuries and is similar to that of a mayor but has become a purely ceremonial position in recent times.

Among the duties is playing a key part in the town's annual Guid Nychburris celebrations.

In addition to her role as provost, Little became deputy leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council earlier this year.

Her plea comes at a time when renewed efforts are being made to revive the historic town centre.

Dumfries was on a list of "overlooked" sites across the UK allocated £20m of government funding over 10 years to tackle the issues facing it.

A list was recently revealed of how a town board plans to try to regenerate the area.

Little said there was creativity and talent in the town but there was "something missing" which she said appeared to be rooted in a belief things had been better in years gone by.

"Too often, we speak of Dumfries as if its best days are behind it," she said.

"Too often, we compare rather than create, doubt rather than dare, settle rather than strive.

"There is a quiet acceptance that 'this is just how things are' - and that is the most limiting story we could ever tell ourselves."

She said that alongside that there was a "constant thread of negativity - casual, repeated, almost habitual".

"It shows up in conversations, online, in passing remarks," she said.

"It chips away, slowly but surely, at pride, at ambition, at hope.

"That kind of negativity is not harmless. It is destructive. It shapes how we see ourselves, how others see us, and ultimately what we believe is possible."

She said that was draining for people trying to improve things when it was met "not with support but with criticism".

"To those who continually focus on what we don't have, there is another way," she said.

"Join forces with those who appreciate what we do have. Stand alongside those who are working to build on it.

"Because complaining and constantly looking backwards does not move us forwards."

Her call has met with approval from the Dumfries Partnership Action Group.

"What a timely and very important message for all who live, run businesses, work in and visit our wonderful town," it said.

"There are of course challenges but things are changing.

"Imagine if everybody got behind the change."

Not everyone, however, has been convinced.

Niall Cowan, who has a jewellers shop in Dumfries, responded to her open letter saying the town was on its "last legs".

"Take a walk around our town centre and be honest - look at what you see and it is not pretty," he said.

"In the coming months we shall be losing more shops which we can ill afford to lose."

He said shopping habits had changed but they had been hit hard by out-of-town retail parks.

"Yes, I am being negative but I am also being honest," he said.

"Years of having council officers and council groups who have shown no vision has killed off our town."