Community group moves closer to Dumfries Loreburn Hall takeover

A community group is set to take over the Loreburn Hall in Dumfries.

Members of the Dumfries common good sub committee this week agreed to recommend the Drill Hall Initiative (DHI) will take on the lease.

Bids were made by DHI and the Electric Theatre Workshop (ETW) which runs Big Burns Supper.

Members looked at both offers and opted for the DHI bid which will turn the historic building into an affordable event space which community groups, young people and local businesses can utilise.

The Drill Hall Initiative, founded by Sandy Sweetman and Simon Robertson, was formed three years ago to establish a sustainable future for the then vacant facility.

A statement from the group said: “We don’t underestimate the importance of this project, which we have been working on for a number of years and are fully committed to, for the benefit of all.

“Today’s decision means we can now start work to turn our vision into a reality for the benefit of the people and economy of Dumfries.

“We now await further approvals as part of the process and will use this next period to establish more detailed conversations with our potential funding partners, tenants and stakeholders.”

Councillors on the finance committee will need to give final approval at a later meeting.