In addition to the general public consultations, separate questionnaires and consultations were targeted at different groups of people in the area. Local businesses were questioned about what would help them to be more successful and what issues are holding them back. We asked various social groups about their opinions and also hosted a session with young people to gauge their impressions of life in the Borgue area and how it could be improved. The results of these consultations are presented below. Click on the buttons to jump to the different sections.

Businesses

A questionnaire was sent out to 67 local businesses asking about things that would make it easier for them to run their businesses or things that are currently preventing them from running their businesses in the Borgue area. We received feedback from 14 businesses, representing the following types of business:

Online and markets retail
Services
Fisherman/Landowner
Engineers
Dairy Farming
Art Gallery
Four Season Farm
Hotel/Pub
Beef/Sheep/Arable Farming
Self-Catering Properties
Veterinary
Holistic

The responses were collated and have been summarised below.

What would help your businesses?

Improved digital infrastructure – improved and more stable supply of mobile / fibre / mains electricity services was mentioned by 4 businesses.

Improved transport infrastructure / maintenance – this was mentioned by 6 businesses

Housing – particularly for young adult workers – this was mentioned by 4 businesses

Planning – easier and more timely processing of planning requests – mentioned by 2 businesses

Other – support for green energy, including local wind turbines, and continued support from the local community.

What is holding your business back?

Transport and Housing were mentioned by several businesses as was Uncertainty, primarily with how the planning landscape (including the Local Place Plan) might affect their futures.

If you are a land / property owner, would you consider selling any to a Housing Association for affordable housing?

No businesses offered this but there were suggestions about instituting a Housing Needs Survey and how empty properties might be brought back into the housing market.

No Place Plan

4 businesses responded that there was no need for a Local Place Plan

Groups

Local organised groups of people in Borgue were contacted to get their thoughts on their current situation and aspirations for the future and there are links below to the information from the ones that responded.

Borgue Litter Pickers, Flower Show, Curling Group, Toddlers, Coffee morning, Church, Borgue Public Hall, Stewartry Rangers, Kirkandrews Kirk Trust, Borgue Community Council, Borgue Darts Team, Hippocampe Swimmers

Borgue Community Council

Where do you meet? Borgue Public Hall

How often? Every 2 months

Is current venue suitable? Lacking in Internet access, mobile phone signal and equipment to help with presentations. The rental of the hall for our meetings is a major part of our annual expenses.

Do you have the resources that you need for when you do meet? We are already looking at funding opportunities for equipment purchases (audio-visual equipment and defibrillator)

What are your aspirations for the future of your group? To continue to represent and inform the Borgue community and facilitate local development projects.
A common vision for the future of the community via the Local Place Plan could help to relieve some of the tensions between different sectors of the community.

Do you have any suggestions for how these might be achieved? A Local Place Plan, supported by the community, to give a clear vision for the future of the community

Are there any threats for the future of your group? Hostile behaviour from some sections of the community towards the Community Council with suggestions to disband the CC and remove committee members.

Hippocampe Swimmers

Where do you meet? Isle Mouth, Carrick; Knockbrex Bay; Kirkandrews Bay

How often do you meet? At least once a week

Is your current venue suitable? Yes, provided the water quality is safe.

Do you have the resources that you need for when you do meet? Yes, we are self-sufficient.

Do you have any requirements that are not currently met? Not for the swimming, but more signs generally are required to encourage folk to take their litter home from beaches. The landowners are not, and should not, be required to provide litter bins. We need a local campaign to re-educate folk to clear up after themselves and stop expecting others to do it for them. Our swims often include a beach clean session.

What are your aspirations for the future of your group? We are concerned about the water quality. We swim all year round, as do a number of other local groups.

Do you have any suggestions for how these might be achieved? Are SEPA monitoring the beaches? If Yes, is there any regularity to their monitoring and how do we know if they are doing so properly? If No, why not?

Are there any threats for the future of your group? Could local beaches be designated as bathing areas?

Please let us know of anything else you think might be relevant. The beaches are accessed through farmland. We understand the pressures on the farmers to maintain their land but would like to ensure a balance is struck with consideration given to all beach users. Thank you.

Kirkandrews Kirk Trust

Where do you meet? Kirkandrews Kirk

How often do you meet? Every two months for the trustees, other events for weddings, concerts, fundraising etc. as required. Weekly services on summer Sunday evenings.

Is your current venue suitable? Yes but could be improved. For hosting events, it would be useful to have a water supply and Internet access. We have considered access for disabled people but so far have not been able to find a practical or affordable solution. Mobile phone coverage is very weak in Kirkandrews and would be a big benefit if a better signal was available. Signage – tourist signs on the approaches to Borgue highlighting and naming sites of interest (and places to get refreshments afterwards). Not the bespoke brown ones I think we have to pay for. There’s the Borg, and the mottes, as well as the Kirk and the Kirkyard, so it wouldn’t necessarily be just for us. A sign for the Kirk could have ‘seasonal opening’ to indicate folk check the website. I note that HPB have put up handmade signs on the approach roads. Roadside parking for core path users, beach folk, Kirk visitors: an enlargement of the passing place on the way into Kirkandrews with a designated parking sign. No overnight parking. This could relieve the pressure on the residents in Kirkandrews.

What are your aspirations for the future of your group? The Kirk is pretty much at the start of two Core Paths. A bench in Kirkandrews with a core path map / local map – you are here etc. Next to the shed? Council website to include parking information and reminder re No Through Road and no toilet facilities. How about a cycle rack ? Is there some way that we can join the dots on the 3 core paths and make a loop (ideally ending with a pint in the Borgue hotel)? These are the Carrick – Kirkandrews path; the one from Kirkandrews to Borness which needs to be made safer; and the shorter one from Borness / Chapelton back to Borgue (which takes you through a pine wood and is almost inaccessible). If there is a more joined up walk, this might encourage visitors to stop by the Kirk although this should tie in with opening Sundays ideally. Encourage any cottage industry-type businesses (such as Betsey’s Blooms) to make use of the Kirk for workshops etc for a fee? Re parking, cyclists are always welcome and we’ve seen quite a few more this year. I’m not sure if Kirkandrews features on any cycle guides but similar to a joined up walk, this would encourage people passing through i.e. cyclists to visit the Kirk. Cyclists are frequent visitors when the Kirk is open on Sunday afternoons. By making access and parking for the Kirk more available, we could consider encouraging groups to use it on a regular basis. We could also cope better with weddings and other fundraising activities. The musical events have proved to be popular so there might be some mention of a ‘cultural’ theme in the BPP to encourage local musicians / singers to make use of the Kirk and which they may not be aware of (maybe link to musical events in Kirkcudbright for example).

Do you have any suggestions for how these might be achieved? Engage with D&G Council on the expansion of parking facilities in the Kirkandrews area and on footpath improvements

Borgue Litter Picking Group

Where do you meet? Borgue Village Hall

How often do you meet? Quarterly

Is your current venue suitable? The venue itself is suitable and we have recently erected a dedicated store at the side of the hall solely for our own use. However, there are difficulties in attempting to communicate with the pickers when they are out on the field and improved Wifi at the Hall would be extremely helpful.

Do you have the resources that you need for when you do meet? We have the picking resources for collecting the litter – hi vis waistcoats, pickers, handihoops, green litter bags and heavy duty gloves but we are extremely concerned that our make shift road warning signs are not ‘fit for purpose’ and, as mentioned above, communications with the pickers is weak due to there being no wifi at the hall.

Do you have any requirements that are not currently met? Yes – most certainly :-
1. Improved communication systems via wifi and mobile network around the whole area.
2. Professionally manufactured, bespoke road warning signs – at present our signs are home made with electric horse fence stabs that rotate with the wind! It is essential that we protect our volunteers from the passing traffic and the signs would provide good warning that a pick is being undertaken.
3. A professionally manufactured Litter Picking Notice that can be attached to the dedicated Hall store (on the side facing the road) along with a padlock that has a dedicated access code that only the pickers will have knowledge of. This will enable our volunteers to undertake a pick at any time that suits them and not be restricted to the quarterly picks.
4. Foundation Stations at all the beaches in the area – see the work undertaken by The Two Minute Foundation – https://2minute.org/Home – albeit I believe it would take longer than two minutes to clean our beaches, the concept is very good and could be replicated at Dhoon, Brighouse, Carrick and Sandgreen beaches for a start. This would need to be carefully monitored and funding for a warden on a part time basis to initiate the Beach Cleans would need to be provided.
5. KBT Signs – ‘Keep Borgue Tidy’ signs placed on road verges. Also, ‘Please Take Your Litter Home’ signs. Again, the signs need to be maintained and kept clear of the undergrowth.
6. Mail Shot – to all local tradesmen across Dumfries and Galloway. This could be undertaken along with the Litter team in Gatehouse. We would address the senior director/owner of every trade across the region requesting them to kindly provide their staff with litter bags that could be kept in their vans/trucks/lorries and emptied every time they return to base and a reward could be considered for the most prolific collector? This exercise could be undertaken in cojunction with the Council and funding sought from them to supply the litter bags.
7. There is an absolute requirement for an increase in verge cutting in our area. The litter tends to be noticed following a verge cutting exercise which seems to be less every year and it, thus, restricts our ‘picking days’ to an average of four every year. As the Council would be reluctant to fund this increase, a funding exercise would need to be considered to realise this aim.

What are your aspirations for the future of your group? Aspirations for the future is to expand the number of volunteers and expand the ‘pick area’ to include Sandgreen and Millhall and include all the local beaches.
At present, we have 31 members that all have access to WhatsApp and this is the one and only mode of communicating with them. We need to increase this number of volunteers – although we are using WhatsApp as the main means of communication, it is quite possible to also email/text volunteers in order to increase the numbers.
It is difficult to find a day that everyone is available to undertake the ‘pick’. This could be resolved by enabling the members to have access to the store in order to carry out a litter pick on a day that suits them.

Do you have any suggestions for how these might be achieved? Involving local businesses in the area by asking them to elect a representative to join the WhatApp group and they could also join us on the Litter Picking Days.

Are there any threats for the future of your group? Litter, pollution and negative impacts on our coastline.

Please let us know of anything else you think might be relevant. We need to communicate more with the Council re: litter on the roads and SEPA re: our polluted beaches.

Stewartry Rangers ( Girl Guides aged 14 -18)

Where do you meet? Kirkcudbright Scout Hall and Borgue Community

How often do you meet? At Borgue 2/3 times a year

Is your current venue suitable? Yes , it’s perfect:)

Do you have the resources that you need for when you do meet? Yes , lots of space , kitchen , toilets, warmth , good parking

Do you have any requirements that are not currently met? Hall hire costs make it a challenge

What are your aspirations for the future of your group? That we grow in numbers and keep doing all the lovely things we do , supporting and encouraging our young women aged 14 -18 to make new friends, take actions for things they believe in , learn new skills , have fun 🙂

Do you have any suggestions for how these might be achieved? Our issue is a hard one , as community halls need payments to survive , we have families who have low incomes, so we have to mega fund raise and apply for grants.

Are there any threats for the future of your group? Not enough leaders
Need more and recruiting is difficult

Please let us know of anything else you think might be relevant. Youth groups to have reduced rates for hall use . Our village community hall Borgue , suggest a bike station and water fountain outside , community vegetable garden, available for youth group sleepovers ( showers needed if this happens).

Trustees of Borgue Public Hall

Where do you meet? In the hall

How often? As required. The order of 4 times a year.

Is this venue suitable? The venue is suitable

Do you have the resources that you need for when you do meet? Help with funding to support setting up clubs over the winter months. For example we have received enquiries for a badminton club so we would need to add court lines in the main hall and purchase a net. A primary-age club has been suggested and advice on setting this up would be appreciated.

What are your aspirations for the future of your group? Finding ways to increase the use of the hall by members of the community. Help and advice with fund raising events would be appreciated.

Are there any threats for the future of your group? Funding of ever increasing costs such as insurance and energy is always going to be a headache.

Young People

Young people’s consultation organised by the Galloway and South Ayrshire Biosphere facilitators who organised group exercises.

Primary School aged young people – summary

The perception of these children mirrors much of the general responses – an acknowledgement of the environmental beauty of the area, reduced social and recreational facilities due to the small population and mentions of the paths , buses and roads being in need of improvement.

Natural Space : What is good now? How could we make it better in the future?

Do dog walking. Forests to walk in.
Nature is the best thing about this place. We’ve got the most of it.
There are beaches to go to – Carrick, Brighouse Bay, Kirkandrews. You have to drive to get to the beaches at the moment.
There are birds, deer, dogs, cats, rabbits, hares.
Not been to the beach much this summer as the weather has been too bad.
Lots of trees. We go to Cream O’ Galloway.

Play and Recreation : What is good now?

Go to events at the village hall if something is organised.
Play on the play park at the village hall.
We use the playground at the old primary school.
We go to Kirkcudbright.
I play XBox at home.
Play in the garden at home.

Social Interaction : What is good now? How could we make it better in the future?

There is a flower show in the village hall in August. It is good, there is baking (making cupcakes), lego models, making animals out of sweets, making pictures from shells.
The Primary school used to do a Christmas show. There should be a corner shop to buy sweets and drinks.
There are no clubs in the village hall for children. We don’t use the community garden.
We use the school grounds – playground, tyres, football nets.
We use the park at the village hall. There is no good mix of activities in the village.
There is no supermarket – the village is not big enough.
The school is now closed so we have just started at a new school in Twynholm.

Moving Around : What is good now? How could we make it better in the future?

When walking around the paths aren’t very good.
Fewer potholes in the roads. Need more buses.
We take the bus to school.
We use the car for shopping.
We cycle to Brighouse Bay and Cream O’ Galloway.
The paths are on the roads.

Secondary aged young people – summary

These responses were slightly combined by the facilitator to produce a response. They reflect the general responses in being appreciative the local environment but frustrated by the transport isolation, lack of housing and well paid jobs for young people.

Moving around

If you have a car you can move around easily.
Better access for people with mobility issues.
Cycle lanes.

Public Transport

Dispersed community mean its hard for people to reach bus stops, but also the buses aren’t really being used because its easier just to drive.
A serious re-think of the bus services is needed.
Better bus services – I hitchhike because there are no buses.

Traffic and Parking

There are empty spaces in the village which could be reused as accessible car parking.
Plans put in place now to prevent our traffic and parking in the village worsening if we become a National Park.

Streets and Spaces

It’s pretty.
Potholes are not fixed quickly enough by the Council, this could be improved.
It’s a really beautiful spot.
It’s nice at night.
It’s a natural beauty spot.

Play and Recreation

There is an opportunity to make better use of the town hall for these purposes.
The football pitch is an opportunity to do more with.

Work and Local Economy

There are jobs in the area but these are temporary, seasonal and low paid.
There are no career opportunities of high salary opportunities and this could be improved for the future.

Housing and Community

Improve the old houses to be future ready.
Improve the chances for young people to move into the area.. right now there are a lot of people moving up from England with more money and they shut out young people’s chances.

Social Interaction

The flower show.
The school used to be a central hub of activities including the Borgue Fair and the Christmas Show but when the school was closed the community lost all of that, and these were the biggest social events of the year.

Identity and Belonging

Borgue has some nicknames including ‘Out of the world and into Borgue’ and ‘Land of Milk & Honey’, so that gives the area an identity.
Places like Coo Palace and Carrick Beach are really well known.
Borgue means fort in Norse.

Feeling Safe

If someone had a domestic safety issue there would be no supports for that person, that could be improved.
Influence and Sense of Control
Most influence comes from the older generation – they are getting more opportunities to be heard.
Older people don’t have jobs so they have more time to sit around and change things and be heard. This could change for the future.

Responses from questions for young people published on the Borgue LPP website

What makes Borgue a good place to live?

The weather
The fast internet
Quiet
My home to come back to as I’m at uni
I have plenty of space and areas to explore

What is difficult about living in Borgue?

It is very difficult to get anything done in Borgue, whether that be building a house or developing a new business. As a young person I want to see support for economic growth, whether that be a new office building to take advantage of the fast internet we have in the area, or a new farm building, or a new tourist venture. This means making planning easier, not more difficult. There is a feeling in the community that the Place Plan is being designed to keep the area in aspic, instead of encouraging young people to live and work here through support of different enterprises.
A bit boring
Transport to Kirkcudbright to go to school / activities
Not enough young working people and the school is closing

What would make living in Borgue better?

More things on at the hall
Better public transport – reliable bus service
Cafe
Anti development attitude – once people have bought a house in Borgue then they want to preserve everything in aspic without any change. We want the school to stay open and a village shop which we will get through development, new affordable housing and jobs!
Pop up cinema
No affordable housing – all the houses get bought by retired people that pushes up prices and doesn’t leave anything available to rent