1 minute read
Strand 5: Pride & Citizenship
Big Fat Goal
Use the Place Plan process as a trigger for transformation (nothing less will do).
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Priorities
1. Vacant/derelict spaces East Pier; shopfronts; community assets; public realm
2. Democracy refreshing democracy; growing community; Citizen passport; inclusion
3. Destination Stranraer: One Waterfront; Rhins; Biosphere; events; connectivity
Fit With Borderlands 4 Themes
Enabling infrastructure
Improving places
Supporting business, innovation and skills
Encouraging green growth
The south west of Scotland is one of only two UK destinations Lonely Planet lists in its Must See 2023 Guide. Visitors arriving in Stranraer by train might be disappointed. Elaine C Smith asked the audience at Stranraer’s Millennium Centre, “why do you put up with this”, talking about the state of the East Pier and station. Limmy, comedian and Twitch streamer, giving a running commentary on his onscreen, virtual arrival at Stranraer railway station was left almost speechless: “Is that the station?! (... stream of expletives…) That’s shocking.” Stena is in the process of contracting with two haulage firms to set up two lorry parks on the East Pier bringing 70-80 lorries a day to park on our seafront. This is not a vision for the future that local people share. They are not short of ideas for the Pier. Indeed they have shared them over and over in the last decade. They express frustration at having experienced over-consultation and under-delivery over the years. And on engagement, we hear old democratic processes - meetings - don’t suit everyone. Many would rather use the technology in their hand (their mobile phone) and vote online. This idea secured Community Led Vision funding for Citizen Space, a digital engagement platform to open up democracy. We will harness this to continue engagement and invite locals to vote on priorities as they shape up.
Stranraer has ambitions to refresh community pride through this Place Plan process and the vision we have for the town’s newly delineated 4 Quarters. The future’s bright.
THE BLIGHT OF THE FRONT… THE EAST PIER IS A DISGRACE
IT’S TIME TO SHIFT GEAR: DO IT UP OR TAKE IT DOWN
IF YOU NEED HELP BUYING TRAIN TICKETS, GO TO GIRVAN
HE WAS BULLIED OUT OF THE COMMUNITY GROUP
SOME ARE OVERREPRESENTED, SOME UNDER
