Dumfries Children’s Unit Reprieve Sought

A reprieve has been sought for a residential children’s unit in Dumfries which is just days away from its proposed closure date.

Social work chiefs want the Ladyacre site to stay open until the end of the year so a new staff base can be found.

A replacement for the facility – which is earmarked to make way for a new primary school – has been demanded by the Care Commission.

However, a suitable alternative has still to be found. Earlier this year a £1.2m price tag was put on the project.

Former social work chairman David McKie said the delay in taking it forward was unacceptable.

“We have known for over five years that Ladyacre was the preferred site for a new Roman Catholic primary,” he said. For no action to have taken place over that period of time – I think it is not acceptable.”

He said that despite the authority’s financial constraints it would have to try to find a solution to the situation.