Scottish resilience centre to open in March

Dumfries was selected for the centre due to the region's experience in dealing with weather emergencies

Scotland's National Centre for Resilience to help improve the response to weather-related emergencies is to open in Dumfries in March.

Environment Minister Aileen McLeod said she believed it would become a "national asset".

Ms McLeod was in Dumfries to discuss plans for the project which will be based in the town's Crichton Estate.

She said they were "well on track" to open the centre in March to help deal with a "wide range of situations".

Plans for the resilience centre were announced last year in the wake of severe weather - particularly flooding - affecting Dumfries and Galloway.

The Scottish government said at the time that the region's experience of such issues made it the ideal place for the facility.

Initially it will employ up to six staff.

Ms McLeod said: "I am confident the centre will quickly establish itself in Scotland and beyond to become known as a centre of excellence for resilience."

David Faichney of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency's flood unit said the group had been pleased to support the plans.

"We have been involved in this collaboration from the very outset and are committed to contributing to its success," he said.

"SEPA has considerable relevant experience and skills to offer given our flood forecasting and warning, airborne hazard and other emergency response roles.

"In our view the powerful combination of the science and community elements brought together through the NCR will help develop our resilience in Scotland."

Phil Evans, government services director for the Met Office, said it had also been happy to be involved.

"The centre provides a platform for us to work with existing and new partners across Scotland to share knowledge and skills to help develop a better understanding of the impacts of natural hazards on the day-to-day activities of people across Scotland," he said.

The centre hopes to see a wide range of groups work together with the aim of "reducing and mitigating the impact of disruptive events" in Scotland.

It will also provide "a source of expertise for managing emergency incidents".