LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS START TO EASE FOR TRADES

On the 23 March 2020, the UK went into lockdown in response to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. Schools, restaurants, retailers, bars, offices, trades, hotels and many other businesses were forced to close their doors and to work from home wherever possible.

Life and work changed overnight for everyone, but sadly Covid-19 took many lives and had the potential to overwhelm the NHS. For this reason the message was to stay home, save lives and protect the NHS.

The Crichton was deserted for many weeks until such time as less vulnerable people were permitted to enjoy daily exercise within walking distance of their home. The outdoor space at The Crichton was a real asset for the people of Dumfries.

The challenges for The Crichton and its tenants, suppliers and customers are significant and are forcing us all to review how and where we live, work, study and socialise.

The pending development of Crichton Central all of a sudden became even more significant for The Crichton. With most people working from home or not able to work at all, the long-term risks of returning to offices, attending events or eating out and the immediate reduction in the demand for office space, hospitality services and large scale events means that we need to remodel how we work and what we offer.

Crichton Central has the potential to offer flexible meeting spaces and the opportunity to reconnect people in a safe way and will therefore be an important part of our response to Covid-19. It has never been more important to connect people and businesses and it is hoped that the new facility will eventually become the place where people and partners can come together safely to collectively address the challenges of living with coronavirus.

It has been some xx weeks, since trades and staff have been allowed to work on site and even now, there are many restrictions and additional safety measures required to comply with Government advice and to keep everyone safe.

The Crichton Trust is however, excited to announce that the first contractors arrived on site this week and the work to transform Criffel View into Crichton Central is now underway. Subject to further restrictions and guidance, Crichton Central is now scheduled to open early in 2021.

Keep up to date with progress on site on our blog, in our gallery and on our new Crichton Central social media channels. To find out about the services, facilities and membership opportunities that will be available at Crichton Central please follow us on social media or subscribe to The Crichton Newsletter via the subscribe form at the bottom of this website.