Street upgrade hit by fresh delay

Works to resurface Friars Vennel have been put back four months

Plans to upgrade an historic Dumfries street have been hit by a fresh delay.

Works had been due to start on Friars Vennel this month but have now been put back to the end of August.

A council spokesman confirmed that granite for the new street surface could not be provided until June due to flooding at the supplier's quarry.

Local traders felt that starting work in the summer would adversely affect their business so a start date in August has been agreed.

The Vennel is an important part of town centre regeneration, so we are extremely disappointed that there has been another delay to starting this work Jon Mengham Town centre regeneration officer

The street resurfacing is part of a £250,000 upgrade of the area.

Works have already been delayed for four weeks due to contractual difficulties.

Town Centre Regeneration Officer Jon Mengham expressed frustration at the latest delay.

He said: "The Vennel is an important part of town centre regeneration, so we are extremely disappointed that there has been another delay to starting this work.

"However, the revised start date at the end of August will mean that work can be carried out during one of the quieter trading periods and give us the best chance of avoiding any further hitches or delays.

"Hopefully the end result will be worth these initial problems."