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"My name is Fern Milne and I work with Stirling Councils Community Development team with a remit of Area Forum Development. Previously, Area Forums in Stirling were established to allow any Citizen, Community Council, Partner/Agency, Heads of Service, Elected Members to come together to explore 'Themes' or 'Topics' and ensure that information was shared and that decisions were influenced more effectively. Due to a number of different factors the 7 Area Forums are no longer running.

We would like to work with Stirling's Citizens to explore 'The re-establishment of Area Forums', where we would co-design a model that would best fit the communities it represents. To start with, we would like to invite you along to a virtual meeting to share a little more information about the project and how you can get involved.   Below are two dates, if neither of these are suitable please feel free to email me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange a time that suits.

Tuesday 31st January 7-8pm Click here to join the meeting

Wednesday 1st February 7-8pm Click here to join the meeting

Kindest regards

Fern Milne"

Regards

SB

Stephen Bly, Community Council Enquiry Co-ordinator 

Community Development Team|Stirling Council|Old ViewforthStirlingFK8 2ET

T: 01786 233948 | M: 07792 362690E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. W: stirling.gov.uk 

Message from Bridget Clark 

The Glen Road withstood the winter storms Arwen and Eunice well at the start of the year.  

However it was a relief when the old drainage from the field drains above was restored in summer. Tom finished digging out the settling pond and the contour drain, and put pipes down to the victorian culvert BoA side. It is diverting a useful amount of water away from the steep slopes above the road. 

That has broadly completed the conservation works initiated in 2019, fundraised c£44,500.  Thanks to Ian and Tom for managing the works for maximum value.  Though we continue to respond to ongoing maintenance.

Thanks to Peter's Paths Team for scraping back vegetation BoA side, and at the high Wharryburn bridge.  

Grateful thanks to Stirling Council roads team who responded to Ian's suggestion for a 'stitch in time' bitmac seam repair at the gabions by the high bridge.

Good to see more orchids reappearing - both common and rarer ones.

Less welcome to see 16 mattresses dumped just below our section!  Thanks to Friends of BoA for removing them. Luckily fly tipping is rare, probably due to so many people passing through.

Keeping on top of ash die back, and drains after heavy rain.

Someone attempted to drive over the bollards - Dunblane end this time. 

And many thanks to the annual leaf blowers team organised by Stewart and Duncan, for a particularly demanding session this year.

We always get lots of grateful thanks when working along the road.  People find it very special.

 

 

Mountain cinematographer helps raise funds for Forth Valley Scouts


Dunblane's Keith Partridge received an International Emmy Award for his work on BBC’s flagship series ‘The Human Planet’.

 

Read the Stirling Observer article

 

 

 

 

 Dunblane project shares in funding to help takes ideas into action for communities

A number of rural Stirling community projects have been handed a cash boost from the Rural & Island Communities Ideas into Action (RICIA) fund.

Dunblane Christian Fellowship is to receive £5,000 to expand a toddler group and cafe service by removing an internal wall to create more space, furniture and expanding the volunteer and staff team.

More than 180 projects across rural Scotland will receive grants. The fund encourages and supports not-for-profit community groups with innovative approaches to community-led local development, including work towards net zero and just transition goals, tackling rural poverty and supporting rural communities through the cost of living crisis. “This investment comes at a critical time for our rural and island communities, who are disproportionately impacted by the cost of living crisis compared to the rest of the country. “I wish all the successful community groups well as they now look to take forward these projects and make a positive difference to their local areas.”

 

Conservation experts have been working on the distinctive stone feature on Dunblane’s historic Leighton Library building.

You can register to attend an event detailing the story of the renovations so far which is being held in the Cathedral Halls on the 1st June.

Article from Stirling Observer 6 January 2023

The carved tablet, or cartouche, on the A-listed building’s east facade was removed early November.

It is part of a restoration project estimated at around £460,000 at Scotland’s oldest purpose-built library, built in the late 17th century.

Edinburgh-based conservator Graciela Ainsworth – who restored the statue of John Cowane at Stirling’s Cowane’s Hospital – took the cartouche to her workshop in the city to assess its condition to recommend conservation treatment.

The Leighton Library Trust has now applied for listed building consent ‘to repair the cartouche removed from the east elevation and currently in storage and then, following repair, to reinstate the cartouche in the niche on the east elevation’.

It follows consent for its removal which was granted in 2021.

The latest application includes a document from the conservator outlining how she aims to proceed with the work.

It states: “Proposed work to repair the cartouche and reinstate it in the niche on the external east wall of the Leighton Library.

“Carefully remove all ferrous fixings. Lessen the dark impervious sulphation layer. Lessen the cementitious residues, being careful not to disturb any early polychrome. Local consolidation and filling of the fractures on the back.

“Supply and installation of new non ferrous fixings, designed to suit the Cartouche and including sall marble repair at the head.

“Reinstallation of the cartouche into the back of the niche. Removal of previous dark cementitious render at the back of the niche, and application of new lime-based render to finish.”

Phase one of the library building’s restoration focuses on its exterior, including removing cement harling and replacing it with lime harling, replacing the crowsteps on the south end, and ensuring chimneys, the roof and slates are secure, as well as renewing windows.

The second phase will involve the conversion of the ground floor room, known as the Undercroft, into a state-of-the-art exhibition and visitor area.

Fundraising for the restoration project is continuing.

Leighton Library honorary treasurer Chris Onslow said: “It has been many years since this wonderful, old and unique building was restored and the Trustees are keen that by restoring the fabric, the legacy of this treasure will be secured for many generations to come.

“We continue to raise funds for the building works, costing around £350,000, and are planning how to raise funds for phase two which we anticipate will cost around £110,000.”

The Leighton Library collection - whose oldest book dates back to 1504 – has been taken into storage during the restoration of the building.

There are around 4500 books which include first editions like The Edinburgh Edition of Robert Burns poems (1787).

The building and collection is managed by the Leighton Library Trust, which originates in a bequest by Robert Leighton who was Bishop of Dunblane between 1662-1672.

By spring 2021 the building restoration appeal had raised £172,000 with generous grants having been received from, among others, The Pilgrim Trust and the Swire Charitable Trust.

Anyone who wishes to discover more about the library or make a donation can contact the trust at www.leightonlibrary.org.uk.

 

leighton photos 

 

 
Original article from 5 November 2022
From Scottish Field
The Leighton library, which is the oldest purpose-built library in Scotland, opened in 1687 and houses not only the private collection of Bishop Robert Leighton but many other masterpieces and first editions such as The Edinburgh Edition of Robert Burns poems (1787). The collection having been added to over the centuries now extends to around 4,500 books with the oldest book dating back to 1504.
 
The Grade -A library building, located in Dunblane is now 333 years old and is in urgent need of restoration and following a successful fund-raising appeal by the trustees of the library, the restorative works are now ready to go ahead which include repairs to the roof, leadwork, stonework, windows and doors as well as the marble cartouche and other works.
 
In preparation for the restoration work to begin in mid-November, the library had to be emptied and Doree Bonner International were tasked with the job of packing and storing the book collection alongside twelve chairs of turkie leather and the framed American Atlas maps.
 Emptying book cases 2
The packing of these valuable masterpieces required the upmost care and precision. A small team of Doree Bonners professional expert packers were selected to carry out the job - and as space was extremely limited in the library area there was only room for three packers.
 Books ready for wrapping
Each of the 4,500 books was taken from the bookcases separately and then carefully wrapped using acid free tissue paper, one piece per book, the acid free tissue gives protection to the book covers or bindings which are either leather or vellum. The packers wore white cotton gloves to handle the books, which were changed every day. 
 Book wrapping
The books were then placed in special lidded crates and forty to sixty crates were filled each day; packs of silicone gel have been inserted into each of the crates to absorb any moisture. 
 Book crates in container ready to go to storage
The crates were then carried to one of our containerised vehicles and taken to be stored in one of Doree Bonner’s secure storage facilities. With the library area now completely empty the restoration works will begin and it is anticipated that this will take around four months.
 Library empty
Colin Mcgregor – Special Projects Director for Doree Bonner International commented:
‘We are delighted to be a part of such a major project for the Leighton library, the handling of such historic pieces has been an honour. We look forward to returning the books to their rightful home when the restoration works are complete’
 
Alan Clevett – Leighton Library Trustee Executive commented
‘The Library Trustees and Executive have been delighted with the service provided by Doree Bonner and their on-site team.  A friendly welcome from the first morning, punctual, and very clear in explaining their daily objectives and combining those with the needs of the library. The team were clearly very experienced in handling rare books and treated them with the same care and attention that the library itself has for them!
 
Any unforeseen challenges were managed and resolved efficiently, and cooperation was excellent, gaining the full respect of everyone at the Leighton Library.  We hope you will care for our books, and we look forward to seeing them, and your team, when they are returned next year!

 

Donations can be made at www.leightonlibrary.org.uk

 

 

Historic Environment Scotland commences conservation measures at Dunblane Cathedral

Families urged to come forward to help identify gravestones.

Works have commenced on the stabilisation, repair and re-erection of gravestones at the main entrance to Dunblane Cathedral.

The work, which is being undertaken by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) staff with specialist training in gravestone and monument inspection, will see repairs undertaken to improve access to the graves and the wider cathedral grounds.

The work will continue in 2023 on gravestones around the main entrance, with works progressing to secondary entrances and pathways.

HES has carried out inspections of 595 gravestones at Dunblane Cathedral, with more than 130 to date identified as dangerous and requiring repair. This is as a result of a number of factors, including age and exposure to the elements.

Responsibility for the maintenance of memorials lies primarily with the lair owner or family. To help progress the repair programme, HES is appealing to owners of memorials to come forward.

While some owners have been identified and are arranging repairs, HES is keen to involve the local community further in helping to identify more owners, as well as interpreting and recording the memorials in the graveyard to support the essential work being carried out.

HES is prioritising stabilisation works to memorials posing the greatest risk to the public, and some access restrictions are currently in place for health and safety reasons until repairs are completed. As these works are carried out, HES will continue to review the extent of the fenced areas to see where this can be reduced in order to lessen the impact of the access restrictions, with a rolling programme of phased repairs being undertaken.

Jessica Hunnisett, District Surveyor at HES, said:

“We’re pleased to be able to start work on repairing some of the gravestones within Dunblane Cathedral. We are prioritising memorials which pose the greatest risk and those which affect access to the cathedral.

“We know that the community is very keen for access to be reinstated and owners who are concerned that their memorials may be affected are encouraged to come forward and discuss how we can assist them in progressing repairs.”

Paul Nelson, Dunblane Development Trust, said: “The restored 12th century Cathedral is the centre of historic Dunblane, alongside the 17th century Leighton Library and Museum buildings. It is critical, for the businesses that operate in Dunblane High St, that the Cathedral is accessible and visitors are encouraged to come to the Cathedral and Dunblane. We are, therefore, glad that HES has commenced this work in the grounds of the Cathedral and look forward to the rapid completion of the improvements.”

Ailsa Gray, Chair, Dunblane Community Council, said: “We welcome the fact that work has started and look forward to working with HES in the interpretation and recording of the ancient stones within the graveyard. Such discoveries will underline Dunblane Cathedral’s position as an ancient monument of national importance.”

If your family plot is affected by safety closures, please contact HES at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 01786 823388 to discuss the condition of the memorial and arrange repairs if necessary.

More information about HES’s approach to gravestone and monument inspections and repairs can be found on the HES website.

Read the Scotsman

Read the Edinburgh Reporter

 

Interested in buying?

Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel 07851 317 186

Cromlix, the five-star hotel in Dunblane, has announced that it will be undergoing major refurbishments next year and moving to self-management.

From 3rd January 2023, the hotel will close its doors for nearly three months to upgrade bedrooms, bathrooms and communal areas, including the restaurant, and improve the grounds with new landscaping and planting.

The hotel, which was bought by Andy and Kim Murray in 2013, is also pleased to welcome three senior appointments to its team - Barry Makin as new General Manager, Emily Shields as new Head of Sales & Marketing and Neville Ablitt as Non-Executive Director.

Barry was formerly GM at The Scotsman Hotel and Hotel Indigo, both in Edinburgh, and has also held senior roles at The Principal Edinburgh George Street, The Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow and The Roxburghe Hotel, Edinburgh. Barry's extensive experience in the hospitality industry, coupled with his ability to manage teams effectively and consistently generate excellent guest satisfaction scores in his previous roles, will help him maintain an outstanding experience for guests at Cromlix.

Emily Shields was Senior Event Sales Manager at The Royal Yacht Britannia and held roles at Dundas Castle, Edinburgh, The Royal Crescent Hotel, Bath and The Dorchester, London. She will be tasked with helping to drive occupancy throughout the year, managing the relaunch of the property and creating an exciting roster of events for overnight guests and day visitors.

Neville Ablitt has worked in the five-star luxury hotel sector for over three decades, both in an executive and non-executive capacity. 

For more information, please stay tuned to our social channels, and visit https://cromlix.comCromlix will be reopening on 22 March, but the hotel reservations team will be available while the renovations are taking place for any bookings and enquiries.

-Ends-

Editors Notes

Cromlix Hotel was bought by former world number one tennis player Andy Murray and his wife, Kim Murray, in 2013. The hotel has 15 bedrooms and a self-catering Lodge house. Situated in 34 acres of private grounds, Cromlix also has its own chapel, loch, award winning restaurant, kitchen garden and tennis court. 

For more information about Cromlix, visit https://cromlix.com

 
 
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