Creating Stranraer, Barbara Chalmers

It’s all go in Stranraer at the moment. We caught up with Place Plan Manager, Barbara Chalmers - also a DGU Trustee and a Trustee of Outpost Arts, at the opposite end of the region. “Stranraer was invited to submit a Place Plan to Borderlands fund with the potential of unlocking millions to help transform the town,” said Barbara.

“I’ve been engaging with locals to co-design our Plan for the past few months and we have a Town Team of active, interested folk who are steering the Plan going forward. The amazing news to kick of the year is that we secured over £8.7 million of Levelling Up Funding to transform the long-dilapidated George Hotel into a creative hub, bunkhouse and climbing/caving playground. The Council will match that. The town also got £4.6 million to add to the half million in the pot for a Watersports Centre on Loch Ryan for kayaking, paddle-boarding and canoeing, with lots of Get Wet fun and training for locals to become instructors. Add in our amazing natural environment, and the town perched on a sea loch that’s home to Scotland’s last remaining native oyster bed, home of the Autumn Oyster Festival, it feels like the town is stretching after a long slumber. Can’t wait to see things flourish.” Barbara grew up near Stranraer and went to school there. She’s worked in theatres, concert halls, galleries and arts organisations in Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth, Aberdeen, Inverness and Paisley.