Stranraer and Wigtownshire Free Press

21/07/2025

Just a reminder that the entry deadline for the Stranraer Scottish Week Bonnie Wean 2025 is 5pm tonight.

14/07/2025

Entries for the Stranraer Scottish Week 2025 Bonny Wean competition are now being taken by the Free Press. To enter, simply email your photo to [email protected] with your child's name, age and a contact number.
The deadline for entries is Monday, July 21st at 5pm. Children entered must be aged five or under.
A spokesperson for Stranraer Scottish Week said: "Our team will select the most heartwarming and adorable photos and the lucky winners will receive a prize."

25/06/2025

Many thanks to the wonderful Red Arrows and the RAF photographer who took this video of them flying over Stranraer last Saturday. Crown copyright.

19/06/2025

THE RED ARROWS will be in the skies above us on Saturday!
The RAF jets will be visible over Drummore from 11.10am to 11.15am on their way to an air display in Northern Ireland. On their way home they will do a fly past over Stranraer at approximately 5.40pm.

22/05/2025

PLEASE note we've made a mistake in today's Free Press on page 6 regarding the new banking hub for Newton Stewart. The banking hub will not be in the Post Office, but further along the street at 45, Victoria Street. We apologise for this error and thank Councillor David Inglis for giving us the correct information.

23/01/2025

INFORMATION FROM DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY COUNCIL:
Non Essential Buildings and Schools to Close on Friday 24 January Due to Red Weather Warning.
Due to Storm Eowyn and the Red and Amber weather warnings that are in place covering our region, and in line with Police Scotland and Met Office guidance, we have taken the decision to close all non-essential council buildings on Friday 24 January.

The Red weather warning is in place from 10am on Friday 24 January, but the Amber weather warning is in place from 6am. The decision has been made with these warnings in mind, and following Police Scotland advice to not travel unless it is an emergency.

All our council-run schools and early learning settings will be closed, as well as our leisure and culture facilities. We will also not be collecting domestic waste and our Household Waste Recycling Centres will shut.

In relation to household waste collection, we will provide updates to residents via our latest news webpage at www.dumgal.gov.uk We expect all of our non-essential buildings to re-open as per their normal opening hours if it is safe to do so from Saturday 25 January. Emergency school closures will be listed on https://info.dumgal.gov.uk/esc/home

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23/01/2025

ACTIONS have been agreed by NHS Dumfries and Galloway in response to Storm Eowyn.

All outpatient and day surgeries at Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer have been cancelled for Friday 24 January, reflecting that the storm is expected to hit the Wigtownshire area of the region most severely.

The majority of outpatient appointments and planned surgeries at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary in Dumfries are still set to go ahead.

Where any are cancelled, patients will be contacted directly.

A public message is being issued asking people to please not travel if they are not confident of attending an appointment. Instead, in that situation they are being asked to please contact the telephone number provided with their invitation.

Similarly, all staff who are able to work remotely from home are being asked to work from that location and not seek to travel.

The situation in respect of Storm Eowyn is being very closely monitored, and updates will be provided should the situation change.

31/10/2024

FOR passengers who use the 416 Stagecoach bus service, there will be a change next week due to the A747 road outside Port William being shut for repairs.
A spokesperson for Stagecoach told the Free Press: "Please note the following adjustments:
"During this closure, the morning 416 service will operate to Stranraer and the return trip to Port William will only reach Auchenmalg. Additionally, the 13:00 service will also terminate Auchenmalg. This is due to the diversion being too long to be feasible. The 17:00 service will operate as planned. An alternative route for travellers is the 415 from the Machars area to Newton Stewart then onto the 500 service."

11/10/2024

There was a spectacular show of the Northern Lights last night across Wigtownshire. As always, if you have a good photo of them please can we ask you to share your picture with our readers by emailing it to [email protected]

13/05/2024

If anyone has photos of the spectacular display of Northern Lights from last Friday night please either post them on here of send to [email protected]

15/04/2024

The phone line here at the Free Press is currently out of action. We are working to remedy this situation and apologise for any inconvenience. If you need to contact us please do so by emailing either [email protected]. uk or [email protected]

04/03/2024

If anyone has good photos of the stunning aurora visible last night over the skies of Wigtownshire can you please send them to [email protected]