Detail sought over Dumfries town centre's £20m levelling up funding

The council has asked for clarity over what area would be eligible for the funding

A council is seeking "further clarity" on how a £20m support package will be delivered to a Scottish town centre.

Dumfries is one of seven "overlooked" towns in line for the levelling up funding to regenerate its high street.

However, a report to councillors said details of how the money would be delivered and where it could be spent were still unclear.

It is hoped the first round of the UK government's 10-year funding package could be available by summer 2024.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the plans earlier this year to put "funding in the hands of local people" although opponents have dismissed it as a political ploy.

Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) said it had been examining the implications of the scheme.

A town board could be set up to oversee administration of the funding

It said officers had contacted the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for further information.

The local authority added that it still needed clarification over what area the funding could apply to and said greater detail would be included in a future report.

If the project follows the proposed structure in England it would see the creation of a "town board" bringing together the council, community leaders, employers and the local MP.

They would develop a "shared vision" for the town and oversee the funding.

It could be spent on safety and security, heritage and regeneration or transport and connectivity.

The council report said that a proposed timeline would see the board set up by April next year with the submission of its long-term plans and the first year of funding released a few months later.

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