A site for a new Archive and Local Studies Centre in Dumfries is to be chosen by the local authority tomorrow (19 August).

It is understood Dumfries and Galloway Council's Community and Customer Services Committee will be presented with the four available options for the facility before coming to a decision.

The four sites are:

• Buccleuch Street, adjacent to Municipal Chambers

• Crichton, a former laundry site

• Ewert Library, Catherine Street

• Vacant land at Gracefield/Woodbank, Edinburgh Road.

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Each site is owned by the Council and have been selected from an initial shortlist of 23 sites. Members of the committee will look at account capital and revenue costs for each of the final four sites when making their decision. Once a site has been chosen, a report will be prepared for the local authority's Policy and Resources Committee to request match-funding for the project.

A Stage One Heritage Lottery Fund funding application will also be submitted shortly, the Council has confirmed.

Tom McAughtrie, Chairman of Community and Customer Services Committee, said: "The new Archive Centre will be a positive step for Dumfries and Galloway. The new Centre will provide locals and visitors alike with first class research facilities in a state of the art facility. It is my hope that my fellow Members will approve a suitable site and we can press forward with funding applications."

(JP/IT)