News
A public vote has led to some communities gaining £100k in Stirling Council funding
£100k will provide accessible toilets + outdoor gym in Dunblane
- Accessible toilets that will meet the needs of complex care needs within an existing location with adequate space. (Pamis changing place toilets)
- Outdoor gym which will preferably be in a central location e.g. Laighhills, Drying Green or Braemar Park.
From the Stirling Observer ...
The winning projects in Your Stirling:You Decide range from the creation of cycle networks and park upgrades, to the installation of an outdoor gym and road improvements.
Council chiefs offered £700,000 of investment spread evenly across each of its seven electoral wards as the participatory budgeting was rolled out across the area for the first time.
More than 760 ideas were submitted from across the area after Your Stirling: You Decide was launched in March this year.
These were whittled down to 193 projects that went through to the voting stage and anyone of high school age who lives in the area could take part. By June 23, the number of verified votes tallied at 4,161, with a weighting system deployed by the council aimed at ensuring smaller communities were given parity with areas with a larger population. Residents had five votes each for the proposals in their ward – which all had to be used to make their ballot valid.
In Dunblane and Bridge of Allan ward, £100,000 will provide accessible toilets and an outdoor gym, both in Dunblane, with the projects attracting 248 and 246 votes respectively.
Read the full Stirling Observer article
See description of Your Stirling:You Decide process
See the voting for the 26 proposals for Dunblane & Bridge of Allan
See the other projects that were proposed
Midsummer saw double billing on Holme Hill with a family crowd enjoying super weather, brilliant atmosphere and a truly unique outdoor venue.
First to go in late afternoon was "A Midsummer Night's Dream" performed by Rubber Chicken Theatre. This was really well received with the young actors performing in the woods. Later in the evening, Ceilidh Minogue struck up and couples and families alike were swirling round the dance floor. The stone chip dance floor was laid over the tennis court that belonged to the old house, but there are ambitious plans to build a more permanent venue for the future. A quick thinking organiser realised that the surface wouldn't be ideal for the ceilidh band so ripped a carpet out of a "No Plastics" shop being refurbished in the High Street and upcycled it as a stage. All in all, a lovely evening was had and the event showcased a venue for Dunblane that will surely host some amazing nights in the future. Thanks go to the Carman Family Foundation and community volunteers who helped make it such a success.
The Ideas Innovation Improvement Fund has re-opened for a further round - the deadline is 26 July 2019.
The Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership has allocated funds from the Integrated Care Fund (ICF).
These are for one-off grants from the Ideas Innovation Improvement Fund
Grants will support the development of new or existing third sector initiatives which build capacity within communities in order to encourage health and wellbeing.
See the attached PDF for full information.
Since closing as a road for vehicles in 1987 due to landslips between Dunblane and Bridge of Allan, both communities have fought hard to retain this popular walking, running and cycling path.
In 2011 the communities came together (via Dunblane Development Trust & Bridge of Allan Community Council) with engineering advice from IKM. We matched funds with Sustrans to rescue this core path and link the national cycle route 765 between our communities, in cooperation with SNH, Stirling Council and 3 landowners.
Since then volunteers have managed the drains and vegetation, with support from Stirling Council for larger fallen trees, but now the concern is that some areas of the path will be lost to erosion without urgent attention this year.
So our volunteer engineer, Ian from IKM Consulting, has provided advice and proposals which have been approved by SNH, Stirling Council and landowners, and we are sourcing funds from Sustrans, Clackmannanshire and Stirling Environment Trust, Scotways and Community Pride. However we have a shortfall of around £5000 – hence this public appeal.
We have set up an Old Glen Road Path appeal page with Kindlink – a free fundraising platform for charities, via Dunblane Development Trust who are managing the funds for the project. Donate at;
https://www.kindlink.com/charity/dunblane-development-trust/1953/fundraising
If you use the route and want it to be retained please donate so we can complete the work this year and minimise costs.
Thank you very much!
Bridget Clark, Duncan Lavery, Mike Watson
Volunteer coordinators and representatives from Dunblane and Bridge of Allan
First Responders Meeting : Six potential volunteers come forward
Download the Poster Read the Stirling Observer article on 120419 Read the Stirling Observer article on 170419
A new team of First Responders is being established in Dunblane under the auspices of Trossachs Search & Rescue. If you are interested in hearing about the First Responder service and finding out what is involved in becoming a volunteer First Responder, then contact Trossachs Search & Rescue
A public meeting was held on Wednesday 24 April in the Braeport Centre. The meeting was jointly sponsored by Scottish Ambulance Service, Trossachs Search & Rescue and Dunblane Community Council.
What are First Responders?
First responders attend emergency calls prior to the arrival of an emergency ambulance in order to provide lifesaving treatment, stabilise patients and promote recovery.
They receive training from the Scottish Ambulance Service that qualifies them to respond to a variety of life threatening conditions.
On duty personnel are dispatched by the Ambulance Control Centres after an emergency ambulance has first been directed to attend.
What happened to Dunblane First Responders (DFR)
DFR provided a valuable service in Dunblane for nearly a decade. The group is no longer in a position to provide a First Responder service in the town.
Who are Trossachs Search & Rescue (TSAR)
TSAR already provides a First Responder service in Stirling’s rural areas including Doune and Callander. Read more at https://www.trossachs-sar.com/. The group was invited by Dunblane Community Council to expand their area of operation to include Dunblane
Stirling Council's cross party School Holiday Meals Provision Task Group has been working to develop a Stirling model of school holiday meal provision and activities, with a particular focus on tackling poverty and disadvantage. The group has asked that we send out a survey to local community groups and organisations to find out what holiday clubs are operating across the area. This will help us to map out existing provision and to see where there may be scope to support existing holiday clubs or to encourage the establishment of holiday clubs in areas of unmet need.
The survey will close on June 2nd 2019.
The link to the survey can be found here: http://bit.ly/HolidayFoodStirlingCouncil2019
This will help the task group to map out existing provision and to see where there may be scope to support existing holiday clubs or to encourage the establishment of holiday clubs in areas of unmet need.
Shakila K hosts charity concert in Dunblane to honour Sir Andy Murray
Fresh from opening for 1990s boy band, East 17, the 21-year-old Hertfordshire songstress, Shakila K, is hosting a charity concert in Dunblane to honour the town’s famous son, Sir Andy Murray. This concert - taking place in Dunblane’s Victoria Hall on 14th July - coincides with Wimbledon Men’s Final Day.
This concert marks Shakila’s performing debut in Scotland – although she is no stranger to the country as a visitor.
Shakila, who’s currently working on her debut EP, commented, “I’m thrilled to be performing in Dunblane in honour of Sir Andy Murray. It’ll be a highlight of what’s turning out to be an exciting and enjoyable year for me, artistically.
“Sir Andy’s a living legend and, like many others, I was very sad when I heard he might retire this year - saying his ‘goodbyes’ to his fans at the Wimbledon Championships. I hope he doesn’t retire but, whatever he chooses to do, I thought it’d be wonderful if I could do something in Dunblane to celebrate Sir Andy’s impressive list of achievements.
“Since he’s still the reigning Olympic Champion, having won gold at the 2012 London Olympics and retaining the title at the Rio Olympics, I’ll be singing my London 2012 Olympic tribute song, ‘Thank you for the sunshine’, in the Dunblane concert.
“I’m sure the concert will be a great event and it’d be great to find, on the night, a hall packed with people wanting to celebrate Andy Murray’s many achievements so far.”
Shakila, who will soon be announcing some local acts to perform alongside her at the concert in Dunblane, is donating all the profit from ticket sales for this concert to the Victoria Hall.
About Shakila Karim
Shakila Karim, 21, (@1Shakila) was born in Whitechapel, east London, in November 1997 at the Royal London Hospital and completed her primary school education at Gatehouse School in Bethnal Green. She is currently completing her studies at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) in London.
Shakila plays the piano, ukulele and drums – and has played the violin and recorder. She has been influenced by many great singers - notably Freddie Mercury, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Amy Lee, Avril Lavigne and Christina Aguilera. Shakila has many interests in the arts including dancing, fashion, painting, acting, sports and photography. She has her sights set on being the first chart topping pop star of Bangladeshi origin.
Thank you for the sunshine
Thank you for the sunshine was a song recorded and released by Shakila as a tribute song for all the people who made the London Olympics a huge success in 2012. This included everyone from the athletes to the volunteers. https://soundcloud.com/karim-ullah/2012-11-27-thank-you-for-the
Murray Cook from Stirling Council is conducting an Archeological Dig on Monday 20 May on Holmehill.
If you are interested contact Murray on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You are welcome to come and watch
More...
The building in the High Street that the Community helped to revitalise, is now to house an Alterations Shop called SEWmarvellous
Read the article about 22 to 24 High Street, Dunblane
Unconventional Oil and Gas addendum consultation
From: Lynn Sharp <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.> Sent: 30 April 2019 16:56 Subject: Unconventional Oil and Gas addendum consultation
We have been asked by Scottish Government to share information about their Unconventional Oil and Gas addendum consultation. This follows on from a consultation in October 2018 on An Environmental Report for a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Scottish Government's preferred policy position, updated preferred policy position and a partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA).
More information about the addendum consultation and the previous consultation are available below. The consultation will close on 25th June 2019 and any questions should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Lynn Sharp
The Scottish Government continues to take a cautious, evidence-led approach to considering unconventional oil and gas. On 03 October 2017, the Scottish Government set out a preferred position that it does not support onshore unconventional oil and gas development in Scotland. The preferred policy position is subject to statutory and other assessments before the policy is adopted.
An Environmental Report for a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Scottish Government's preferred policy position was published in October 2018, alongside the updated preferred policy position and a partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA). Views were invited on the contents of these documents, and the Scottish Government's preferred policy position, during an eight-week consultation from October to December 2018. The responses are currently being analysed; the Scottish Government is grateful to all those who took part in the consultation process.
Scottish Ministers remain committed to transparency and public engagement on this important issue. As confirmed via Parliamentary Question on 26 March, the responses received to the recent consultation have led the Scottish Government to form the view that it would be helpful to provide some further clarification on a number of points raised in response to the consultation documents, specifically regarding the preferred policy position and its objectives. The Scottish Government is also taking the opportunity to update its position on the reasonable alternatives to the preferred policy position which were considered as part of the SEA process.
Our approach to the addendum consultation is in line with the cautious, evidence-led approach we have consistently taken towards the development of an unconventional oil and gas policy for Scotland. This is an important issue with strongly-held views on all sides, and it is only right that we continue this approach as we move towards confirming and adopting a final policy.
I can confirm that the Scottish Government has today published an addendum to the SEA Environmental Report, the preferred policy position statement and the partial BRIA, and will invite further comments on the points covered. Responses to the addendum will be considered in detail prior to any policy position being adopted.
Responses are invited via the Scottish Government's online consultation site, Citizen Space: https://consult.gov.scot/energy-and-climate-change-directorate/unconventional-oil-and-gas-sea. Alternative formats can be made available on request by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or calling 0131 244 9380.
In line with the initial consultation in late 2018, the consultation will run for eight weeks until 25 June, after which the responses will be analysed. Our final policy on unconventional oil and gas will be confirmed as soon as possible after this process is complete.
