Dumfries town board boss steps down with immediate effect
The funding was announced in 2023 by the then prime minister Rishi Sunak to be put "in the hands of local people" to revitalise their high streets.Dumfries - along with Greenock, Irvine, Kilmarnock, Coatbridge, Clydebank and Elgin - was on the list.The support was subsequently confirmed by the new Labour government and Mr Nicoll had been leading efforts to invest the funds - to be delivered over a 10-year period.However, he said he was no longer in a position to lead the town board set up as part of the investment process.
'Extremely proud'
He said he was "incredibly proud" of what the board had achieved in terms of a regeneration strategy and "meaningful engagement" with others."We've begun building something truly unique and this is something that I am extremely proud of - a model unlike any other town board in the country," he said."One that is independent, community-led, and free from political interference."It's a model rooted firmly in the voice and will of the people of Dumfries."He highlighted Dumfries Shine - a community clean-up initiative - as one example that "meaningful, local-led change" was possible."My personal ethos has always been that you are either fully in or respectfully out," he added."With upcoming changes in my professional priorities, I do not want to reach a point where I'm missing meetings or limiting my contribution."The people of Dumfries deserve full commitment; nothing less."He said he would support his replacement and urged whoever it was to reflect the needs of local people not the agenda of any political organisation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
Connection times to be cut ‘by more than half' via new security rules for London-US flights
Travellers on connecting flights from London to the US will soon be able to avoid rechecking hold luggage and skip standard airport customs. Starting this month, US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) pilot programme One Stop Security (OSS) plans to streamline terminal security steps to speed up connections for air passengers. Some American Airlines passengers flying from London Heathrow airport with connecting journeys through Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) will now be able to clear US Customs at the arrival gate. From here, customers can directly board their connecting flight without reclaiming and rechecking hold luggage or clearing TSA security. Typically, travellers must clear customs, claim checked bags, recheck bags and then again go through security. With OSS, checked bags are automatically transferred to the connecting flight. The pilot system is a partnership of the TSA, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the UK Department for Transport (DfT). According to American Airlines, the new process is expected to cut airport connection times by 'more than half'. American is the first US airline to pilot the scheme on select routes at DFW. Some Delta passengers are also trialling OSS on routes from Heathrow to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Travellers with Delta will be processed in a dedicated customs area and will not have to claim and recheck their bags. However, only those who are registered in Global Entry, a 'trusted traveller programme', or have the Mobile Passport Control app, will be able to bypass TSA screening, reported the NY Times. To apply for Global Entry, British passengers are required to apply for a background check by the UK government (£42), then the US government (£90). Upon passing, passengers are subject to an in-person interview. Once completed, Global Entry is valid for five years. The introduction of the security system in the US follows a successful pilot in February for travellers connecting to international destinations from London Heathrow. David Seymour, COO at American Airlines, said: 'One Stop Security is one of the most forward-thinking enhancements we can bring to international travel — and importantly, to our customers — as it delivers a level of convenience and time-savings that's never been available before to customers connecting from international flights. 'Customers will spend significantly less time worrying about an onerous connection process and more time enjoying their travel journey.' TSA deputy administrator Adam Stahl told Fox News Digital that OSS could be expanded to other airports in the next month. He said: 'It really is a common sense security approach for us to streamline security from abroad to the United States.'
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
STV warns over profits as advertising market slumps and TV projects delayed
Scottish media firm STV Group has downgraded its sales and profit outlook as 'deteriorating' economic conditions squeeze advertising revenues and push back TV projects. Shares in the London-listed business plunged by about a quarter on Monday morning following the update. STV said it was now expecting full-year revenue and adjusted operating profit to be 'materially below' a consensus of analysts. Revenues are predicted to range between £165 million and £180 million for 2025. The company said it was now targeting £2.5 million worth of cost savings this year – higher than the £1.7 million outlined in March – having launched a significant savings programme last year, including across its broadcast operations. STV blamed worsening conditions in the commissioning and advertising markets in recent months for the profit and sales downgrade. Advertising revenues for the period between July and September is forecast to decline by 8%, lower than previously expected, driven by a sharp 20% drop in July, it told investors. The year-on-year decline is set to be impacted by particularly strong sales this time last year, due to the men's Euro football tournament being broadcast on TV. It follows a 10% fall in advertising revenues over the first half of 2025. A number of businesses, including WPP and S4 Capital, have flagged a worsening advertising market as more challenging economic conditions prompt clients to reign in marketing spending. Furthermore, STV warned the uncertainty was causing significant deterioration in the commissioning market. It said projects within its unscripted labels were being impacted with some in advanced development not getting the green light, and others being delayed into 2026. Nevertheless, it highlighted strong progress within its scripted labels with current projects including for Netflix, Apple, Sky and the BBC. Rufus Radcliffe, STV's chief executive, said: 'The deteriorating macroeconomic backdrop continues to lower business confidence impacting both markets in which we operate. 'STV Studios' delivery schedule for the remainder of 2025 has been impacted by the UK commissioning market, which has further weakened at the end of H1 (the first half of 2025) and into the second half of the year.' But he said production had finished on 'key titles with international appeal, including high-end drama Amadeus for Sky and a third series of Blue Lights for BBC One'. 'We are proactively responding to market conditions through a combination of investing in targeted future growth initiatives aligned with our long-term strategy and identifying efficiency and cost saving opportunities across the business,' Mr Radcliffe added.
The Independent
15 minutes ago
- The Independent
Jeremy Corbyn more popular among younger voters than Keir Starmer, new poll shows
Jeremy Corbyn is far more popular among young voters than Sir Keir Starmer, new polling has indicated, suggesting that Labour's decision to extend the vote to 16 and 17 year olds could backfire. While both leaders remain deeply unpopular among the public, there is a surge in support for Sir Keir 's predecessor among those aged 18-24, a new poll has shown. The survey comes just days after Mr Corbyn launched his own political party alongside former left-wing Labour MP Zarah Sultana. While Sir Keir's approval ratings are poor across all age groups, new polling conducted by YouGov on the day Mr Corbyn announced his new party showed that the left-wing politician has a rating of plus 18 among 18-24 year-olds. By contrast, Sir Keir has an approval rating of minus 30 among the same group. But among voters overall, the two leaders have a near identical approval rating, with Sir Keir on minus 40 and Mr Corbyn on minus 39. Earlier this month, the government announced it will give the vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, expanding the electorate by 1.6m people at the next election. While there have been accusations from the right that the move was an attempt to shore up its own support, the YouGov polling for The Times suggests the move could serve to split the electorate even further if the results are reflected among 16 and 17 year olds. It comes amid growing concern over the direction of Sir Keir's government from voters on both the left and the right, with the prime minister's approval rating hitting an all time low earlier this month. Sir Keir's support among the public reached new depths of minus 43 after the £5bn welfare U-turn, according to new polling. The survey, first reported by The Sunday Times, also found that just a year after coming to power, seven in 10 voters think Sir Keir's government is at least as chaotic as the Tories' previous term. That includes one in three voters, who believe it is more so. Seeking to capitalise on the discontent with the Labour government, Mr Corbyn promised a 'new kind of political party' when he launched the as yet unnamed project with Ms Sultana on Thursday, claiming that more than 200,000 people have signed up. But dismissing the movement, technology secretary Peter Kyle said that the Islington North MP 'doesn't think about governing, he thinks about posturing'. Asked about the move, Mr Kyle reflected on what he called the 'chaos and instability' of Mr Corbyn's leadership. Speaking on Times Radio, Mr Kyle said: 'He's not a serious politician. He doesn't think about governing, he thinks about posturing. And we see that writ large at the moment, because all the posturing, of course, just puts him at odds with his own supporters, which is why you've got George Galloway saying he won't join it.' When Mr Corbyn and Ms Sultana announced their new party, a Labour source said: "The electorate has twice given its verdict on a Jeremy Corbyn led party." The polling, conducted by YouGov for The Times, spoke to 2,013 adults between July 24 and 25.
