News
Over 150 people turned up at the Victoria Hall to a Dunblane Community Council Meeting to discuss potential budget cuts. Much of the audience concern was about library cuts, potentially due to recent press speculation. Councillors stressed that no decisions had yet been taken and that the four of them present would be voting against library cuts in the debate on 29th Feb.
The meeting started by Councillors explaining the general process for scrutinising budget proposals put forward by each department. They were not able at this time to provide any feedback from the Big Conversation exercise that took place last year. They were asked to provide reassurrances that the data from the survey will be published before the 29th.
Many expressions of concern from the floor were about the library and Councillors reitterated the fact that no decisions had been taken. Questions about where the books would go and the archiving service were also raised. Some concerns about potential reduction in school hours were also raised along with ASN and nurture teachers..
In the second hour there was some debate around where potential efficiency savings could be made. Some councillors emphasised the need to raise Council Tax.
DCC will be asking questions around SC's potential operating efficiency savings, revenue generation opportunities and other suggestions made from the Big Conversation.
Following completion of Network Rail's crossover project on 3/4 Feb, trains have started running for some services directly from Platform 3 when heading South. This prevents a 13 minute turnaround time which can allow late running Inverness and Aberdeen trains to pass South without the need to hold up local trains.
The Community Council is devoting its whole meeting on 7 February to a discussion on the Stirling Council budget proposals.
The meeting will be held in the Library at 7.00pm Now in Victoria Hall
https://www.stirling.gov.uk/news/new-online-booking-system-for-stirling-s-household-waste-recycling-centres/ The web booking service hasn't been provided yet.
Dunblane will suffer multiple disruptions to train services due to forthcoming improvement works.
On 29th Jan to 1st Feb, trains from Dunblane to Edinburgh will stop at Falkirk. This is due to remedial work being carried out on a rock face at Rathol.
On the weekend of 3rd-4th Feb Dunblane station will be closed. This is due to the commissioning of signals. This is the final phase of a project to install a crossover South of Dunblane. This will permit southbound trains to leave from platform 3, preventing a 13 minute turnaround. This in turn will improve capacity for late running Inverness and Aberdeen trains.
Work will also start on remediation of Dunblane Station footbridge. This work will go on until May.
Stirling Council has moved out of Dunblane's Burgh Chambers and Creative Dunblane is planning to take it over on a 20 year lease.
On Saturday 27 January, a dozen Volunteers from Creative Dunblane and the Digital Makerspace spent a morning transforming the Town's Burgh Chambers - disposing of years of old council leaflets and bits of computer from a bygone era
The volunteers were getting the building ready for a range of new community activities including the creation of co-working spaces - where local people who are home workers can get out of the house and share an office when they want to!
Co-working spaces are springing up all over the country but as yet there are none in Dunblane. In April we hope there will be - in the Burgh Chambers in the centre of the Town!
If you are interested in co-working, contact Creative Dunblane on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Electorate
The electorate was 11,778.
Number of ballot papers and turnout
The number of ballot papers was 4,315
The turnout was 36.6%
There were 27 rejected ballot papers.
The quota of votes for a candidate to be elected was 2,145.
First preference results
| Candidate name | Party/affiliation | Number of first preference votes |
|---|---|---|
| Clare Pauline Andrews | Scottish Greens | 433 |
| Ahsan Khan | Scottish National Party (SNP) | 1,000 |
| Thomas Heald | Scottish Conservative and Unionist | 1,644 |
| Dick Moerman | Scottish Liberal Democrats | 292 |
| Michael Willis | Scottish Family Party; Pro-Family, Pro-Marriage, Pro-Life | 50 |
| David Wilson | Scottish Labour Party | 869 |
| Total | 4,288 | |
The studio audience application website is now open, Apply for free studio tickets: www.bbc.co.uk/debatenight
Debate Night thrives on a strong live audience, and with a UK general election looming, there's never been a better time for the people of Scotland to put their questions to the country's decision-makers and public
Coding for kids – it’s the future
On Saturday 20 January 2024, Creative Dunblane hosted a new CoderDojo, a coding club for young people.
Eleven young people aged 7 to 17 attended this inaugural event – three from Dunblane High School and eight from local primary schools - and there was a good gender balance! Many parents came along too, making the most of this lively community event
The Dunblane CoderDojo is being run on behalf of Creative Dunblane by local couple Jane & David Greenlee, assisted by two other volunteers Ian Davies & Peter Rennert.
‘To begin with things were very quiet’, said Jane ‘but by leaving time the place was buzzing! It was great
to see young people working together and learning.’
Following our successful launch event, CoderDojo sessions will be run every 3rd Saturday of the month in the Burgh Chambers. Bookings can be made around a week in advance of each session. All you needs is a laptop/tablet and head phones, if you have them, a charger (for the laptop) and a parent, if you are under 13. Details are available on the Creative Dunblane website CoderDojo | creativedunblane.info
And we do other work with Schools
Volunteers with Creative Dunblane’s Digital Makerspace project also work with school students from Dunblane High School – they go to the school regularly on a Monday afternoon, helping young people to learn how to design objects on the computer and then to print them on a 3D printer, a laser cutter or a CNC machine. The Makerspace is also developing a new initiative working with a local nursery school.
What is Coder Dojo ?
Coder Dojo is a free, volunteer-led, community-based computer club for young people. Anyone aged 7 to 17 can visit Coder Dojo and learn to code, build a website or create an app or game.
Dojos are a space for kids and teens to explore technology in an informal, creative, safe and social environment.
Creative Dunblane wants to help kids & teens realise that they can build a positive future through coding. We think that an understanding of programming languages is important in today’s world. It is easier to learn these computing skills early. Everyone should have the chance to learn coding.
What is Creative Dunblane
Creative Dunblane is a local charity established to take over the town’s Burgh Chambers from the Council and meet the needs of the local community. Their first initiative was to set up Dunblane Digital Makerspace which was launched nearly 12 months ago and has 100 members.
Creative Dunblane plans to use the Burgh Chambers for a range of activities including co-working spaces, meeting rooms, a computer suite and artists’ pods.~
Just as they have created a new ‘community’ around the Makerspace, they hope to create a co-working community where local people, tired of working, from home can come together and support each other in convivial surroundings.
Email : Creative Dunblane on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
More...
Free have-a-go open rehearsals for children, teenagers and adults to come and make music with handbells with Dunblane Cathedral Handbell Ringers on Sunday 14 January
Fun group music-making for ages 8-12. Learn to read music & develop performance skills in award-winning group, which has made many TV appearances, inspiring hundreds of children to make music with handbells over the past 40+ years! Use this link for details & to sign-up for free first have-a-go session on Sunday 14 January 5.30pm-6pm tinyurl.com/Handbells8-1
Teenagers are welcome in non-auditioned intergenerational handbell group. If you're working towards a Duke of Edinburgh Award, or a badge in Scouts, Guides, Boys Brigade or Girls Brigade, then ask about being part of our group to meet the requirements for what you wish to achieve. Use this link for details & to sign-up for free first have-a-go session on Sunday 14 January 6.30pm-7.15pm: tinyurl.com/TeenHandbells
Adults of all ages and musical skill levels are welcome. It's fun making music with others, the basic technique is easy to pick up yet ringing can also provide satisfying challenge for experienced musicians. Use this link for details & to sign-up for free first have-a-go session on Sunday 14 January 6.30pm-7.15pm: tinyurl.com/AdultHandbells
Dunblane Burns Club Centenary Burns Supper will be held on Friday 9 February 2024 in the Victoria Hall Dunblane (where the first Burns Supper organised by Dunblane Burns Club was held in 1924)
The line up for the Dunblane Burns Club Centenary Burns Supper which will be held on Friday 9 February 2024 is as follows:
Welcome - Russell Glendinning, President, Dunblane Burns Club
Toast to Dunblane Burns Club & City of Dunblane - Neil McNair, President – Robert Burns World Federation Ltd.
Selkirk Grace - Malcolm Wilson, President of Dunblane Burns Club 1995-1998
Address to the Haggis - David Scott, President of Dunblane Burns Club 1992-1995
President’s Remarks - Russell Glendinning
Sangs o’ the Bard - Alan Beck. Immediate Past President, Robert Burns World Federation & Polly Beck
The Immortal Memory - The Right Honourable The Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, KT
Toast to The Lassies - Alexander Escala, Head Boy, Dunblane High School
Reply to The Lassies - Stella Anderson, Head Girl, Dunblane High School
Tam O’Shanter - Russell Glendinning, President, Dunblane Burns Club
Sangs o’ the hale companie
This will be held in Victoria Hall Dunblane (where the first Burns Supper organised by Dunblane Burns Club was held in 1924)
You can buy your tickets online or in person:
If you get your tickets online then there is a small online platform booking fee:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dunblane-burns-club-centenary-burns-supper-tickets-754504893447?aff=oddtdtcreator
You can avoid the online platform booking fee by getting your tickets in person from:
Meldrum’s Newsagent, 34 High Street, Dunblane
or
The Barbershop, 120 High Street, Dunblane
You can follow Dunblane Burns Club on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DunblaneBurnsClub/
You can sign up on Dunblane Burns Club website to receive updates about activities of Dunblane Burns Club
https://dunblane-burns-club.mailchimpsites.com/
- SME Business of the Year
- Family Business of the Year
- Rural Award
- Startup Business of the Year
- Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Business of the Year
- Apprentice/Trainee of the Year
- Innovation Award
- Diversity Awards
- Sustainable Initiative of the Year
- Business in the Community Award
- Employer of the Year
- Entrepreneur of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Business of the Year
