News
Dunblane Area Maps – Update time!
Please complete the User Survey - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DunblaneMaps
The printed maps are running out, and need to keep up with local developments – e.g. the new trails on Sheriffmuir, new housing and road crossings etc.
Funds have been secured via ‘Paths for All’, from the ‘Smarter Choices Smarter Places Open Fund’, and the project is co-ordinated by volunteers through Dunblane Development Trust.
The new printed maps will be given to schools and public, and continue to be available online at Dunblane.info on the local walking, cycling, running pages. The station map posters will also be updated. The User Survey will provide information on how people use the maps, and help to update the Walking and Cycling Improvements report which highlights local issues.
The remaining 2016 Maps are now available from;
• ‘Weigh Ahead’ Dunblane High St
• Doune Information Centre (Post Office)
• Recyke-a-bike at Causewayhead
• Also some poster Index Street maps in A2 size are available – contact 01786 825741
You can read more about walking, cycling and running around Dunblane on this website here.
User Survey link : Survey link
QR code for survey : 
Carbon Choices: Common-sense Solutions to our Climate and Nature Crises
by Neil Kitching
Coming from Scotland, host of the global 2021 climate conference, Carbon Choices tells the greatest story on planet Earth. How one group of sociable animals came to emit 40 billion tonnes (40,000,000,000) of an invisible gas each year, changing the chemistry of the atmosphere and the oceans, and steadily destroying the environment and life support systems that we depend on. We have unwittingly driven the world into a climate and wildlife crisis by the endless extraction of raw materials and our excessive consumerism - primarily by wealthier people and countries
Carbon Choices considers the psychology that drives us to buy more ‘stuff’ and whether this makes us happier. In plain language, it describes ten building blocks that provide us with a foundation to build sensible climate change solutions; and five common-sense principles to guide us in the decisions that we make.
By applying these principles to our daily lives – our diets, homes, travel, shopping and leisure - we can regenerate nature, improve our society, be healthier, happier and lead more fulfilled lives.
This popular science book concludes with a green action plan for government, business and individuals to make better Carbon Choices. The book will fill any gaps in your understanding of climate change and nature loss and lays out the solutions including a green action plan for government, businesses and individuals. It will motivate you to change your behaviour and maybe even inspire you to campaign to change the behaviour of businesses and government.
Available for £10 from Meldrum Newsagent, Dunblane Post Office and Weigh Ahead, or £5 e-book on kindle.
One third of all profits will be donated to rewilding projects. Further information is available at www.carbonchoices.uk
Murder Under the Microscope: A Personal History of Homicide
by James Fraser
Most murders are not difficult to solve. People are usually killed by someone they know, there is usually abundant evidence and the police methods used to investigate this type of crime are highly effective. But what about the more difficult cases, where the investigation involves an unusual death, an unusual killer, or is complex or politically charged? In these cases, bringing the accused before the courts can take many years, even then, the outcome may be contentious or unresolved.
In this compelling and chilling memoir, Jim Fraser draws on his personal experience as a forensic scientist and cold case reviewer to give a unique insight into some of the most notable cases that he has investigated during his forty-year career, including the deaths of Rachel Nickell, Damilola Taylor and Gareth Williams, the GCHQ code breaker.
Inviting the reader into the forensic scientist's micro-world, Murder Under the Microscope reveals not only how each of these cases unfolded as a human, investigative and scientific puzzle, but also why some were solved and why others remain unsolved or controversial even to this day.
‘Jim Fraser has been at the forefront of forensic science in the UK for decades... A superb story of real-life CSI.' Dr Richard Shepherd, bestselling author of Unnatural Causes
'Powerful... Fascinating' Independent
A new £1 million ‘Scotland Loves Local’ fund will provide grants of between £500 and £5,000 to hundreds of projects to promote town centre and online businesses.
The funding aims to support small scale improvements that will help motivate people to shop, eat and relax within their community whilst ensuring public health safety.
Grants can be put towards providing safe shopping information for residents and tourists, the installation of public health infrastructure such as protective screens, physical distancing markers, hand sanitising equipment and PPE.
Applications close November 25th. More info here : https://www.gov.scot/news/new-grant-for-local-projects/
The Community Climate Asset Fund (CCAF) is a £3.5 million Scottish Government fund, administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful, which provides capital funding for community-based organisations to reduce emissions and support a green recovery from COVID-19. Deadline 12 noon on Monday 9 November 2020
The four key criteria of the fund are:
- Climate Impact – Your assets should reduce greenhouse gas emissions in your community, and help you to raise awareness and understanding of climate change and encourage people in your community to adopt lower carbon ways of living.
- Community Benefit – Your assets should provide clear benefits to your community, including those beyond your own organisation.
- Deliverability – Your application should demonstrate that you can complete your project and spend your grant by 31 March 2021.
- Maintenance – Your application should demonstrate that you have an appropriate maintenance plan as well as the resources to ensure that this is achievable. T
The fund can support projects which fall under seven main headings:
- Energy efficiency measures in community buildings
- Equipment to support community food growing
- Electric vehicles and charging infrastructure for community-run car clubs
- Cycles and facilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Electric bikes and charging infrastructure for community groups running existing climate change projects
- Equipment to reduce waste in your community
- Equipment to support an established community wood fuel scheme
Grants range between a minimum of £1,000 and maximum of £100,000.
For more details go the KSB website
Dunblane Community Council FoI Requests
DCC made two FoI requests to Stirling Council in relation to the handing of the Park of Keir planning application.
Provided below is part of the response letter from Stirling Council (the full letter is in the file)
Your request for information – FOI/14249 and FOI/14250
I refer to your requests for information, logged by us as FOI/14249 and FOI/14250 in which you requested the following information.
FOI/14249
Please can you provide to me all emails, notes of telephone conversations and meetings and other communications between Stirling Council councillors and officers and their consultants and the applicants and their advisors, agents and supporters and also their consultants, from 20 January 2019 to today, in respect of the negotiations to achieve a "satisfactory conclusion of a planning obligation", as required by the Ministerial “Minded to Consent” decision on the Park of Keir appeal, published on Wednesday 30 August 2017.
FOI/14250
Please can you provide to me all emails, notes of telephone conversations and meetings and other communications between Stirling Council councillors and officers and their consultants and advisors and Scottish Government politicians, officers and their consultants and advisors, from 20 January 2019 to today, in respect of the negotiations to achieve a "satisfactory conclusion of a planning obligation", as required by the Ministerial “Minded to Consent” decision on the Park of Keir appeal, published on Wednesday 30 August 2017.
The Council's Response?
The information provided by the Council was extensive (80+ files) but heavily redacted.
The files are presented here (via Dropbox) without comment
Stirling Council has launched a consultation about Dunblane's High Street under the Spaces for People Initiative
Based on an article on the DDT website
As part of the Spaces for People Initiative, Stirling Council is committed to protecting public health by ensuring there is space for people to physically distance in public places.
Physical distancing is key to limiting the spread of COVID-19 when travelling for essential journeys, taking exercise or visiting shops and businesses.
It is important that our town centre environment allows us to move safely when walking, cycling and wheeling (in a wheelchair or mobility scooter).
The £0.5m funding that the Council has secured from Sustrans can be used for:-
- Selective road closures using planters or cones;
- Re allocation of road space for seating;
- Re allocating road space for wider footways;
- Re allocating road space for cycle tracks;
- Re allocating parking and loading;
- Reduced speed limits and/or traffic calming measures;
- Cycle parking;
- Removal of barriers to open up constrained spaces and remove pinch points.
The Council's objective for Dunblane's High Street is to reduce traffic and calm the town centre traffic allowing us to create more space to support local businesses and provide safe space for people to pass either on foot or bike.
Residents and local businesses can now express their views on a number of potential projects across the Stirling area and suggest alternatives by visiting the Council's Spaces for People webpage
Find the statistics here on the PHS Website
Click on Cases by neighbourhood
Then choose Stirling from the drop down menu.
In a table lower down on the right you will see stats for the Neighbourhoods in Stirling.
These include Dunblane East & Dunblane West
Practice Open for Business : We wish to inform our patients that the Practice has remained opened since the start of the covid pandemic and continues to do so. However, due to Government and RCGP guidelines, the doors are closed to allow controlled access for the protection of both patients and staff
Flu Vaccinations : This year the flu vaccination programme has been organised by NHS Forth Valley. The Clinics will be held at the Victoria Hall from 2-6 November. All eligible patients will be sent out an appointment. Patients should expect to receive their letters around 22/23 October.
Read the full Newsletter from DUNBLANE MEDICAL PRACTICE
The Ideas, Innovation, Improvment Fund is Now Open for another round of Funding
Closing Date 9th November 2020
The Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership have allocated funds from the Integrated Care Fund (ICF) for one-off grants to support the development of new or existing third sector initiatives which build capacity within communities in order to encourage health and wellbeing.
This money is being administered by SVE and CTSi through the Ideas, Innovation, Improvement (I.I.I.) Fund.
Applications for the Ideas, Innovation, Improvement Fund are invited from constituted groups and organisations to support initiatives which meet the following criteria:
Applications must:
* Be from Third Sector (voluntary) organisations - Third Sector organisations include community groups, voluntary organisations, charities or social enterprises; these groups must have a constitution.
* Support the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership to deliver integrated or joined up health and social care services - The money for this fund comes from the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership therefore activities need to support the vision of people living full and positive lives within supportive communities.
The closing date for applications is 9th November 2020. The Panel will meet shortly after this date and decisions will then be made as soon as possible.
If you would like to talk about an idea or would like support to complete the application please contact Lee Stevenson.
Tel: 01786 430000 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Click here to access more information, guidance and the application form.
"From walking or cycling to get your goat ice cream to online events, there are local food experiences for everyone to enjoy this autumn. Forth Valley Food Festival Website
Our attractive online cycle route (12) from Dunblane can take you to Loch Achray farm ice cream - now the Goat Route! See the route
Or you can choose a shorter cycle, or walk, along the traffic free section beside Loch Venacher."
More...
The Local History Society, in common with many other clubs and societies, has regretfully decided that we will be unable to hold any meetings for the rest of 2020.
We will review the situation after Christmas in the hope that we can resume as soon as conditions allow.
Thank you for your patience and stay safe.
Normally the children of Dunblane Cathedral would be meeting in the halls on a Sunday morning in three groups.
Pre School- Littlestars
P1 to P5- Superstars
P6 to S2- Megastars
We can’t meet up at the moment, but our website is open to all and we invite families to have a look at the Cathedral Kids area of the Dunblane Cathedral Website.
Every week you’ll find there, some thoughts and activities provided by the leaders and a short talk by our Associate Minister, Dorothy.
We love welcoming new members to Cathedral Kids so although we can’t meet in person, feel free to join us in spirit by visiting www.dunblanecathedral.org.uk and clicking on our Cathedral Kids logo, or follow this link: Cathedral Kids
