Hope for support at rally meeting
A MEETING to determine public interest in starting this year's Merrick Stages Rally from Newton Stewart's Victoria Street will be held on Monday.
Organisers decided to host a similar meeting last week to give business owners a chance to voice concerns after last year's rally started on the street but none turned out, despite claiming they lost trade last year.
Rally organiser Allan Marshall said he had been disappointed by the lack of turnout but that he'd be happy to host a second meeting as some people may have been unable to attend the first.
He said: "I handed out posters and invites to lots of people, all of whom said they'd be there to voice their opinions one way or the other, but they've not shown up and I find that really quite disheartening."
Tomorrow sees the RSAC Scottish Rally start in Dumfries and crowds are expected to descend on the town for the event.
This rally receives financial support of 30,000 from the council but the Merrick organisers pay for the Newton Stewart stint themselves - yet hope to put on just as successful an event.
The estimated revenue for the area around Dumfries over the rally weekend is in the region of a staggering 1million - indicating that similar benefits to the west of the region would be undeniable.
The second meeting, supported by councillors Alistair Geddes and Graham Nicol, will take place on Monday 29th June at The McMillan Hall, Newton Stewart, at 6.30pm.
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Weather for Newton Stewart
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 0 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
