News
Residents are being urged to have their say on proposals to help address Stirling Council’s estimated £12.25 million budget shortfall next year (2026-27).
A new survey has been launched that sets out potential ways for the council to raise more income, make savings and deliver services differently.The consultation continues the council’s Big Conversation with its communities about how it negotiates the ongoing and unprecedented financial challenge impacting local government in Scotland.The main reason for this is that the council’s funding and income is not meeting the rising costs needed to deliver its vital every-day services, from educating children and young people, to maintaining a vast road network, or collecting and recycling household waste.
Despite bridging a similar shortfall last year through an 8.8% increase in council tax and a range of savings totalling £7.7 million (mainly fficiencies), the council and other local authorities across Scotland must make further difficult decisions this year to balance their budgets.Residents can help inform this process by taking part in the survey on the Engage Stirling website [1], with paper copies available in libraries shortly.
The closing date is Sunday 1 February.
To see the full list of the proposed savings and take part in the online survey, visit:https://engage.stirling.gov.uk/en-GB/projects/big-conversation-26-27
For more information, please visit www.stirling.gov.uk/bigconversation
The Gwen Mayor Trust, a charity established in memory of Dunblane Primary School teacher Gwen Mayor, has announced the nursery and primary school arts, sports, culture and community projects it is providing funding support for this year.
The charity was established by, and is administered by, the EIS and has supported hundreds of nursery and primary school projects benefitting thousands of children since it first awarded grants in 1998.
The aim of the Gwen Mayor Trust is to provide financial support for the type of projects which were important to Gwen Mayor and her pupils at Dunblane Primary School.
Since its inception, supported by the Mayor family and made possible by generous donations from individuals and organisations across the country, the Gwen Mayor Trust has supported a diverse range of arts, cultural, community and sports based projects in nursery and primary schools across Scotland.
Commenting on the work of the Trust, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said, “Gwen Mayor was a passionate and dedicated educator, who was truly committed to providing the very best for the pupils with whom she worked.
"It was this spirit which led to the establishment of a charitable trust in honour of the memory of Gwen Mayor and her pupils at Dunblane Primary School.”
Ms Bradley added, “Today, the positive work of the Gwen Mayor Trust continues. All nursery and primary schools across Scotland are eligible to apply for funding from the Trust, and hundreds of projects and thousands of young people have benefitted from the support of the Trust over the past three decades.
"The Trustees recently authorised the funding of eighteen projects in schools across Scotland, and everyone associated with the Gwen Mayor Trust looks forward to hearing and seeing more about the progress of these very worthy projects in the months ahead.”
Read more here
Cromlix, the five-star country house hotel in Kinbuck owned by Andy and Kim Murray, will be closing this January for major building work. From 4th January 2026, the hotel will be shutting its doors as the next phase of construction continues until May 2026. The hotel is adding two new restaurants, a wellness facility and three new suites, including a ground floor accessible suite.
Building work on one of the new restaurants began in October this year with a significant proportion of the major construction work already completed, ahead of the worst of the winter weather. Cromlix appointed the Doune based Kings Group for the construction work, employing up to 65 local people from within a 15 mile radius of the hotel, including many highly-skilled local artisans. Perthshire based Fergus Purdie is the architect and Suzanne Garuda is overseeing the interiors.
Updates on the project can be found on the Cromlix page on Instagram and via the website. The hotel's booking team and online shop will still be open throughout the closure.
For more information please visit www.cromlix.com
The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as amended by Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006
RE: Formation of 400kV substation comprising erection of control building, engineering operations, formation of hardstanding, access track, temporary laydown/work compound areas and drainage, installation of plant and machinery, alterations to existing track and associated works Shindour Feddal Hill Wood Braco for Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Plc
I write to inform you that after considering the proposal, including your letter, the Council has decided to Approve the application.
If you would like to obtain further information the decision notice, report of handling and other information relating to the application can be viewed using the following link at https://planningapps.pkc.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=simple&searchType=Application by entering the following reference number 25/00490/FLN.
Kristian Smith
Development Management & Building Standards Service Manager
Festive Bin Collections
Households and businesses across the Stirling area will have temporary adjustments to their waste and recycling collection schedules over the festive period.
Residents are also being encouraged to recycle and re-use at a time of the year when there is typically increased waste and recycling produced at home.
There will be no waste and recycling collections on:
Thursday 25 December - Christmas Day
Friday 26 December - Boxing Day
Thursday 1 January - New Year's Day
Friday 2 January - Bank Holiday
From week commencing 22 December - week commencing 13 January some collections may be different to accommodate these bank holidays.All residents whose bin collection falls on one of those days can check
their online postcode finder for any temporary collection dates.To accommodate the adjustments, there will be no brown bin collections between:Monday 22 December - Sunday 28 December and Monday 29 December - 4 January. Brown bin collections will resume from the week commencing Monday 6 January.
Residents are also encouraged to use their new glass recycling bins, which will provide additional capacity over the Christmas and New Year period.
The Household Waste Recycling Centres will be open and operating as normal, under winter hours, but will be closed on the following dates:
Thursday 25 December - Christmas Day
Friday 26 December - Boxing Day
Thursday 1 January - New Year's Day
Friday 2 January - Bank Holiday
All HWRC sites will be open as normal Saturday 27 December and Saturday 3 January. Lower Polmaise will be the only site open Sunday 28 December and Sunday 4 January as Balfron and Callander are closed on Sundays.To access our Household Waste Recycling Centres it's necessary to make a booking and residents can also check out opening times to arrange their visit when it best suits.The festive period is a time when households might have more waste than usual and Zero Waste Scotland provide helpful information on ways to have a less wasteful Christmas.
Below is some advice on the best way to dispose of common waste and recycling items you may have at this time of year:
Wrapping paper and gift cards
Standard paper, wrapping paper and gift cards should be placed in your green recycling bin.
Wrapping paper or gift cards containing foil, glitter, ribbons or felt coatings are not recyclable and should be placed in your grey bin.
Cardboard collection
If you have excess paper or cardboard during the festive period, you can take it to any of our Household Waste Recycling Centres at Lower Polmaise, Balfron and Callander.Christmas treesYou can recycle real Christmas trees within the garden waste skips at any of our Household Waste Recycling Centres, or you can chop them up and place in your brown bin, if you have a valid garden waste permit.Convener of the Environment, Transport and Net Zero committee, Cllr Alasdair Tollemache, said: "Christmas is a time of joy and generosity, but it can also be one of the most wasteful periods of the year. By
making a few simple choices, each of us can help promote a sustainable Christmas by protecting the environment we all share, from recycling wrapping paper to making sure bottles, cans and food packaging go in the
right bins."Once again, our Household Waste Recycling Centres will remain open throughout most of the festive period if people have excess paper or cardboard or other bulky items that don't fit in their bins."We would like to thank businesses and residents for their understanding around these temporary changes over the festive period.
On behalf of
Stirling Council's Waste Services team, we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."For details on festive bin collections, as well as the opening times of our Lower Polmaise, Callander and Balfron HWRC sites, please visit:www.stirling.gov.uk/festivebincollections
Santa's Sleigh is coming to a street near you!
8th-12th December.
See Scout Group's Facebook page for the route each evening.
Staff and children at Dunblane Primary School Nursery are celebrating
after receiving high praise during a recent visit from the Care
Inspectorate.
Following a visit from the national regulator in September, the Nursery
has been commended for its staff, leadership, setting and standard of
play, care and learning, receiving ratings of 5 ('Very Good') across all
areas.
Inspectors spoke with children, families and staff while observing the
nursery in operation to help inform their report.
Aspects of the nursery singled out for praise were the 'consistently
kind, nurturing and respectful' interactions between staff and children
in addition to the positive relationships formed between the nursery
staff and families who knew each other well.
Jacqueline Rae, Principal Early Childhood Educator at Dunblane Primary
School Nursery said: "We are delighted with the very positive feedback
from Care Inspectorate, particularly regarding the effectiveness,
quality and attunement of our whole team's interactions. The report
captured the essence of our approach for children to be happy,
comfortable and confident and have fun.
"The report recognised our 'meaningful involvement with children and
families' and highlighted our partnerships with other professionals,
affirming that the nursery is deeply rooted in and responsive to the
needs of our community. We were especially pleased to see the report
acknowledge the strength of our team as a whole and the mutual respect
for each other."
Social Work and Education Convener, Cllr Bob Buchanan said: "This
glowing report from the Care Inspectorate reflects all the hard work and
dedication from the staff and management team at Dunblane Primary School
Nursery and the strong relationships they've established within their
community.
"They should all be incredibly proud of this inspection report which
showcases the high standards of early learning and childcare provided
throughout the Stirling Council area. Congratulations to everybody at
the nursery on this well-deserved recognition."
More...
The changes will start with the new timetable on 14th December.
Additional evening services will operate between Edinburgh Waverley and Dunblane, providing, for the first time, two trains per hour Monday to Saturday, calling at all stations.
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/changes-our-timetables
Saturday (15 November) featured a day of Christmas themed family fun
topped with an appearance from Santa and Mrs Claus who joined new Lord
Provost Rosemary Fraser as they switched on the lights from the roundel
at King Street.
This came after a parade led by the City of Stirling Pipe Band, the
Stirling and District Schools Pipe Band and the 1st Raploch Scouts and
Beavers.Earlier in the day, revellers in Stirling City Centre were able to enjoy
meeting a cast of familiar Christmas characters and street performers
and peruse the Stirling Christmas Farmers Market, taking place on the
same day as the switch-on event for the first time.The Strathcarron Singers Choir and The Tolbooth Voices Choir also helped
bring Christmas cheer as they led the crowds in a carol singalong.Stirling Council Leader, Cllr Susan McGill said: "Our Christmas Lights
Switch On event continues to attract big numbers to Stirling city
centre, bringing communities together to find some festive joy."The nights may be getting darker but thanks to Santa and his helpers,
Stirling will be shining brightly throughout this Christmas period."Local businesses and traders will have benefitted from the increased
footfall to the city centre ahead of this busy season. We're looking
forward to welcoming residents and visitors alike in the coming weeks as
minds begin to focus on getting Christmas shopping done and to also
enjoy the many festive events taking place throughout the Council area.
Judy Murray expressed sadness about Dunblane's failure to get behind her £20m world class tennis centre in an article in the Sun.