Latest news with #PaulineDrysdale
Daily Record
19-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Urgent appeal launched to find more foster carers in Dumfries and Galloway
The Fostering Network estimates at least 400 new foster carers are needed across Scotland. An urgent appeal has been launched to find more foster carers in Dumfries and Galloway. The Fostering Network estimates at least 400 new foster carers are needed across Scotland. And with Foster Care Fortnight running until May 26, people in Dumfries and Galloway are being asked to consider if they could provide a safe, supportive foster home for a child or young person. Ciar of the region's social work services committee, Councillor Pauline Drysdale, said: 'Fostering is a hugely important part of helping local children find comfort and security in the ordinary moments, close to home. With a full enrolment and training programme in place through our fostering and adoption team, anyone over the age of 21 with the free space to accommodate a foster child can come forward and make a real difference to the life of a local young person looking for a safe place to stay. 'Dumfries and Galloway is a beautiful place to grow up, and finding local people of all backgrounds who can open their homes to children from the region who are in need of a place to stay means a world of difference to that child; it's the difference between possibly having to relocate to an unfamiliar area, and being able to stay close to the people, places and spaces they know and cherish.' Sarah Bennett, who has been a foster carer for 14 years, added: 'People often speak about how foster caring changes children's lives, but he's changed our lives completely. Every child needs a safe, loving environment, and somebody in their corner to fight for them, advocate for them, and think they're the best thing since sliced bread. If you can do that by becoming a foster carer, the rewards can be huge. It's an amazing experience, there are lows as well as highs, of course, but my family and I have learned so much about ourselves as people. It's been so positive for us.' THe Scottish Government has launched a new campaign to support the recruitment of more foster carers and raise awareness of the benefits of fostering. First Minister John Swinney said: 'Foster carers play a vital role supporting and providing safe and loving foster homes to children and young people. They are key to our ambition of delivering The Promise by 2030. 'Across Scotland, foster carers provide stability, care and connection to support children and young people to thrive. 'Our campaign importantly focuses on how the everyday 'ordinary' can be extraordinary for a child in foster care. Fostering can be transformational for a child or young person and by stepping forward, foster carers offer not just a home, but the relationships and support that help shape brighter futures.' Assistant director for Scotland at The Fostering Network, Anne Currie, added: 'We welcome the launch of the Scottish Government's national campaign to recruit foster carers, and hope this leads to more people stepping forward Dumfries and Galloway to become foster carers in Scotland, and raises awareness of the vital role fostering plays. 'The need has never been more urgent – as over 350 foster carers leave each year, it's critical that we take action now.' For more information on how to become a foster carer, visit The Scottish Government website or ring the Fosterline service on 0141 204 1400.
Daily Record
13-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway councillor wants communities to be given part share in windfarms
Pauline Drysdale made the plea for locals to be given the chance to own a 15 per cent chunk of turbine developments. A councillor has called for communities in Dumfries and Galloway to be given a part share in windfarm proposals in their area. Pauline Drysdale made the plea for locals to be given the chance to own a 15 per cent chunk of turbine developments. Many developers currently run community benefit funds, which receive £5,000 per megawatt a year to distribute as grants. Councillor Drysdale made the case for greater benefits during a discussion about a bid to extend the deadline for the Fell Windfarm scheme in the Glenkens. The scheme already has planning permission but the attempt by developer Energiekontor to land a five-year extension drew nearly 30 objections. The Castle Douglas and Crocketford councillor, said: 'Personally I'm always supportive of proper use of energy, but not when we're going against our community concerns. 'I did meet with a windfarm company and I stated why are our communities still not having 15 per cent share in these windfarm companies, or why are our communities not receiving the benefits of reduced prices on their energy. 'Why are we not having far more input into the things our communities, especially in our rural areas, are so desperate for – improved schools, swimming pools, all the things we are crying out for and there is no funding for it.' She questioned whether it could be added as a condition or directive, but case officer Robert Duncan did not think it would be legally sound, adding 'it might be desirable but that's a separate issue'. Councillor Drysdale also felt it was 'overwhelming' for communities and 'hard to keep up with' what sites were being developed for windfarms and changes that were made. Planning permission was originally granted for nine turbines at Fell Windfarm – between Blackcraig and Loch Urr – in 2021. Since then, two bids to increase the height of turbines have been approved. Mr Duncan admitted a 'reasonable chunk' of his time was working out what planning applications were in the system at any point and accepted it 'may be confusing' for community councils. He said he was willing to share information about what schemes are in the system. German firm Energiekontor, which develops windfarms and solar parks mainly in Germany, Portugal and the UK, was previously granted planning permission but the firm has run into technical difficulties and this permission is now nearing its expiration date. The matter was discussed at the council's planning committee on Wednesday. Mr Duncan, said: 'The key difficulty is they can't get a grid connection within the timescale of the permission they have at the moment. 'So, to try and secure the permission that they have they're seeking an extension to that timescale – which would allow them to implement the development once there is a grid connection. 'They're not intending to implement the development until there is a grid connection there.' Energiekontor also intends on creating a substation, battery storage facility, temporary construction compound, and other infrastructure on the land. Councillor Drysdale asked if the application could be refused on the grounds that the local community has not been properly consulted on the plans. She said: 'I really feel strongly that the community has not been listened to by Energiekontor, and the past developers across this whole sector of land. 'I feel that I need to be here to represent them today – that's my job.' David Suttie, the council's chief planning officer, responded: 'That would not be a material planning consideration that would justify refusal.' Since planning approval had already been passed, councillors were only considering whether or not to extend the permissions by five years. Councillors agreed that it should be, but also added a directive that the applicant must consult with the community on the development of its windfarm plans.
