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Opening of Dumfries House
06/06/2008
The historic opening of Dumfries House to the public will have a positive economic impact on East Ayrshire and surrounding areas, First Minister Alex Salmond said today.
The First Minister was speaking as he joined His Royal Highness The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, at the official opening of Dumfries House, granting public access to the property for the first time in 250 years.
The Scottish Government was part of the consortium, brought together by The Prince, who reached agreement with the Marquis of Bute to purchase the 18th century Dumfries House and its collection to safeguard for the nation.
The First Minister said:
"The opening of Dumfries House to the public is a historic and exciting occasion. The property itself is stunning, its furniture collection exquisite, all of which will leave a lasting impression on the great number of visitors it will undoubtedly attract.
"Yesterday, I addressed the Sustainable Places: A Scottish Future conference held in the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. I made clear that our ambitions for sustainable development in Scotland resonate with the collaborative planning approach developed by the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment.
"And today we see The Foundation's shared principles of community involvement and inclusion at the heart of the work in and around Dumfries House.
"The efforts of The Prince and the consortium to save Dumfries House and the development signify the collaborative approach taken by The Foundation. In addition to opening the doors of this magnificent house, economic opportunities have been created through a significant boost to tourism and regeneration.
"I look forward to seeing the future proposals from The Prince's Foundation following the purchase of the adjoining land to Dumfries House with a view to further regeneration work in Cumnock.
"The 250 year wait to gain full public access to Dumfries House has been well worth the wait. The benefits of its opening will be experienced far wider than Cumnock, Ayrshire and the South West. An internationally acclaimed house is now open to Scotland and visitors from around the world."