Dumfriesshire MP David Mundell and Dumfries Provost Jack Groom are united in their belief that a sustainable community planned for the town’s Ladyfield is a step too far until a relief road is built.

Mr Mundell and Councillor Groom met with community representatives from Caerlaverock, Loreburn and Kingholm Quay on Friday morning to discuss a proposal by the Crichton Development Company to built 400 new houses at Ladyfield; on a site stretching from Castledykes in Dumfries out to the village of Kingholm Quay.

All parties were in agreement – no further development should take place in the area until a southern relief road is built as the roads infrastructure can’t take any more. The roads in the area already serve the region’s main hospital, the Crichton business park, the Crichton universities and college. And planning permission has just been given to build a new mental health hospital in the area.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Mundell said: “The view of local residents, councillor Groom and I were the same: enough is enough until a relief road is built. It is always a case of ‘jam tomorrow’ as far as getting this new road is concerned. While the idea of a sustainable community is laudable, the roads in this part of town cannot sustain any further development at this time. The roads around the Three Road Ends are frequently queued without adding any further traffic.

“Local people are quite rightly concerned by this proposal. We cannot keep turning a blind eye to development and expect the road to be built eventually. They are very clear that enough is enough.’’

Provost Jack Groom added: “This proposal is for a huge development on what is a Greenfield site. Other planning issues aside, the main issue here is the very poor roads infrastructure in southern Dumfries. The roads just cannot cope with further development at this time. The creation of a southern relief road must be a priority and once this is completed then further developments could be given consideration. I am all for the development and regeneration of Dumfries but let’s get the infrastructure we need in place now.’’

In attendance on Friday morning were: Duncan Anderson, vice chairman of Caerlaverock Community Council and Ralph Coleman, chairman of Loreburn Community Council. Kingholm Quay community council is defunct but the meeting was attended by a number of village residents including the former community council’s vice chairman Ian Wield and chairman Joe Craig.