Steps are being taken to beef up a Castle Douglas park’s defences against “unwanted visitors”.
Members of the town’s common good fund are investigating installing more bollards along the side Lochside Park with the community council offering to plant trees.
Last year, travellers set up camp at the site, which led to concerns over a potential impact on tourism and the town’s civic week celebrations. They left after being served with court notices.
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Local councillor and common good fund chairman, Iain Howie, said: “There was an incident last year and this is just to ensure that there is no unauthorised access to the park.
“There is an existing line of bollards from the wardens hut, so it is looking at extending that and also putting in trees so that there aren’t any vulnerable access points.”
A consultation is under way and Mr Howie, ward officer Sean O’ Toole and community councillor Martin Fortnum will be in the park from noon to 3pm on Friday, April 26, to hear people’s views.
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Feedback can also be emailed to sean.otoole@dumgal.gov.uk or castledouglascc@gmail.com.
Mr Fortnum said: “The idea is to make the park safer and to stop unwanted visitors getting their cars and caravans onto the grass.
“The community council is offering to fund some tree planting to make the area look a bit better and to replace some of the trees that have blown over in the gales.
