Plans go ahead for new Dumfries social work centre

IRISH Street could become a social work hub with the local authority looking to centralise its support services there.

A new Social Work Delivery Centre has been proposed to house 140 social work staff, shipping them from sites around Dumfries.

And the council is looking to take over the vacant 122-124 Irish Street property for the new base.

The proposed move would free up eight other sites, bringing a potential saving of over £600,000 if those were sold off.

But a price tag for the Irish Street property has not yet been identified and members must now wait for further information to be brought back before they can pursue the project further.

SNP Councillor Robert Higgins said: “Irish Street has numerous interview rooms which are required for social work interviews. I think long term you could have all of the social work there.

“It’s a good modern building and would free up other assets.”

Labour Councillor Archie Dryburgh said: “Getting all the services into one area has to be a good idea.

“With good bus routes, it has to be a good move.”

The move was discussed at a Property Management Planning sub committee meeting held on Tuesday.