These Dumfries houses are set to see major investment

Residents in Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership homes are hoping to see the benefit of a �63m investment unveiled along with partner agencies.

Families in Dick's Hill in Stranraer and north west Dumfries said it would make a real difference to their lives.

Many of them consider their current homes to be completely unsuitable for bringing up children.

"It is dilapidated, it's falling to bits," said Nadine Donaldson who lives in one of the Stranraer flats which is likely to be knocked down.

"My fire is hanging from the wall, I have got a crack down the living room wall.

"My hall wall moves when you put your hand on it and a couple of windows don't shut properly.

"There is no storage space, it's an upstairs house and I can hear every noise and movement my neighbours make.

"I have got four children and they are not ideal houses for larger families."

New homes are hoped to transform estates in the two towns

Her views were echoed by neighbour Shirley Cluckie who said the multi-million plan could rejuvenate the area.

"The weans will not be hanging about the streets, there will be more for them to do.

"If it is done properly, it will be great for the community.

"If folk get new houses, the morale will be better and there is more incentive when you have got a nice new house.

"If you have got an old house it doesn't matter - you are wasting money upon money doing it up and it doesn't make it any better."

According to Mick Higgins, of DGHP, the investment's impact could amount to much more than just better homes.

"The problems that we have in some of these areas extend to more than just housing problems," he said.

"There are issues of poor health, of low esteem for a lot of people, a lot of high unemployment - there is a lot of issues.

"It is a much bigger problem than bricks and mortar."