News
The Big Dunblane Survey is a public consultation project running through 2023 with the survey expected to go live in late summer. The aim is to gather the opinion of residents on a range of topics that affect our town and villages. All residents that live within the remit of the Dunblane Community Council are invited to take part (this includes Ashfield and Kinbuck).
The survey aims to do 3 things
Previous Plans
Town Centre Charrette & Community Action Plan
In 2015/16 Dunblane Community Council, Dunblane Development Trust and Discover Dunblane came together to turn the results of the Town Centre Charrette into a Community Action Plan which it is hoped will bring improvements and new activity to Dunblane.
Dunblane's previous Action Plan had expired at the end of 2014, after much had been achieved. It is hoped that the draft Community Action Plan reflects the needs of Dunblane – residents, businesses and visitors – and that the actions are aspirational but achievable. The draft Plan shows what the community wants to achieve – and will help to get other partners involved, raise funds for new projects – and get the wider community of Dunblane involved.replica rolex oyster 20mm old style buy rolex replica reptime bst replica blue rolex
The Town Centre Charrette : What Happened?
Why a Charrette and why the Town Centre?
Over the past 40 years Dunblane’s community size and needs have outgrown its centre. It was hoped that the Charrette would help define, design and develop our town centre to appropriately support the whole community through business, service and leisure amenities over the next 20 year. Also, the Stirling Local Development Plan has a stated intention to create a Spatial Strategy for Dunblane town centre and “environs”. A Charrette leads to an action plan that guides the best use of available resources. With funding from the Scottish Government Charette Programme we were able to hold the Charrette in April 2015.
What happened in the Charrette?
In March, working with PAS our consultants, we held a series of preparatory exercises included a survey, “issue raising” community workshops and activities involving school children. Local people attended a 4 day event (the Charrette) in April to generate ideas for designing the future of their town centre by addressing several questions including: How could it function as a focal point for community interaction? What should its boundaries be? How could the spaces within those boundaries develop to satisfy future community need?
What was the outcome?
A Vision was developed to help guide our actions in the future: ‘The Dunblane community wants the Town Centre area to be a vibrant, healthy and inclusive place for people to live, work and visit’. Ideas generated at the Charrette workshops helped formulate FIVE principles for the future development of our town centre:
- Vibrancy & sustainability
- Accessibility
- Capitalising on our natural and built heritage.
- Supporting community cohesion.
- Meeting the future needs of the community.
What happened after the Charrette?
A report was published in September and the Steering Group (now called the Dunblane Community Partnership) has been considering the report and developing a draft Community Action Plan.
To help develop the Action Plan, a report & proposed action plan was produced. In January 2016, everybody living or working in Dunblane was invited to give their views on these action proposals through an online survey. From the survey, the priority areas from which clear immediate actions should be identified are:
- Balancing the accessibility needs of pedestrians, businesses and car users in the Town centre area
- Improving the Riverside area
- The future maintenance and development of public services/buildings, particularly with regard to public toilets
- Further investigation of future opportunities for use of space in and adjacent to the town centre
The Community Action Plan
Representatives of Dunblane Community Council, Dunblane Development Trust and Discover Dunblane took the information generated through the Charrette and the responses from the online survey and put together a draft Community Action Plan to guide activity and partnership working and support our efforts to raise funding. The draft Community Action plan has Five Themes and Ideas for future actions. A copy of the draft Community Action Plan can be found here
1. A Vibrant and Sustainable Town Centre for People and Community Activity - concerned with the promotion of the town centre and its facilities.
- Devise a promotional and marketing strategy
- Maintain and promote commercial activity in the town centre
- Explore how adequate provision of public toilets can be achieved
2. An Accessible Town Centre - concerned with walking and cycling, parking and public transport.
- Devise a signage and mapping strategy to promote walking and cycling routes
- Develop street design where pedestrians and vehicles share the roadway
- Create a revised Parking Strategy (to include cycle parking)
- Develop car sharing/pooling with online support
3. A Town Centre that Capitalises on its Natural and Built Heritage - concerns the assets in the town centre (green spaces, buildings, the river) and how they can be preserved, improved and promoted
- Devise a programme for enhancing the riverside; including the Millrow area
- Improve parklands and preserve green spaces
- Establish and promote walking tours
- Enhance the fabric of town centre buildings and street frontages
4. An Inclusive Town Centre that supports Community Cohesion - concerns supporting greater involvement of local people in activities that reflect the needs of all sections of the community
- Clarify options for community management of existing Council property
- Explore how the community could be better organised to deliver agreed actions
- Develop stronger links between different interest groups in Dunblane
- Explore volunteering strategy to encourage more people to actively engage in community life
- Foster stronger links between local schools and community to explore needs of
5. A Town Centre that meets the Future Needs of the Community - concerns looking at how future development is managed
- Explore options for further integration of the dual carriageway area with town centre activity
- Undertake a longer term study for the future development of town centre
Other reports
The Charrette : Full report and outcome summary
The Survey : Full report and summary
Dunblane Town Centre : A spatial overview
The Windfarm Fund for 2023 is now open to applications - find out more
https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/lifestyle/property/4396342/pretty-dunblane-cottage-in-running-for-scotlands-home-of-the-year/%26ct%3Dga%26cd%3DCAEYACoTMzU5MzE0NTIyMjQ4MDg5Nzg4OTIcOGUyNjE4OWM0MmYzNjdiNDpjby51azplbjpHQg%26usg%3DAOvVaw0oMDPQzuhVSgr_S933XkaO&source=gmail&ust=1685525466564000&usg=AOvVaw2UtrnFe0IP0rSvHGbEw23t">Pretty Dunblane cottage in running for Scotland's Home of the Year - The Courier
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https://www.thebigdunblanesurvey.com/
This survey will gather the needs and wants of the residents on a variety of important topics to inform what is written in the Local Place Plan. These topics include:
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Housing
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Revitalising our town centre and villages
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Local economy and jobs
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Promoting tourism, heritage and culture
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Community events and income generation
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Public services, community support and facilities
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Public transport, roads and active travel
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Green spaces and biodiversity
A fund raising Ceilidh is to be held to raise funds for Strathcarrron Hospice
Saturday 3 June from 7.00pm in the Victoria Hall, Dunblane
Giant Hogweed is growing fast at this time of year throughout Dunblane and people are reminded of the dangers of this plant..
There is good news, it is on the decline and has been for 9 years now since members of DDT and the Community Council first started spraying. Terence O'Byrne reports that he did a first spray in the Laighills late April this year and revisited last week. There are very few plants.
He has been out on a total of 6 days across the piste, again, few plants but spraying what comes up each year. Stewart Corbett has been helping for the last 3 years, he is doing Kinbuck and Balhaldie.
Terence says : "I looked at my notes from 2016, the areas I sprayed this year required 3 knapsack sprayer loads, in 2016, in excess of 60 loads were required . This demonstrates the effectiveness of our efforts".
Please see the article from Stirling Council below.
Public warned of Giant Hogweed dangers
For Immediate Issue – Monday 15 May 2023
Stirling residents are being reminded of the dangers of Giant Hogweed and its potentially harmful impact on health at the start of Invasive Species Week (15-21 May).
The invasive and toxic plant is found throughout the UK, mainly by lowland riverbanks, in rough pastures and on wasteland.
Giant Hogweed can grow up to 5m tall and contact must be avoided as the sap is phototoxic, causing serious skin burns under sunlight that can reoccur for many years.
As we head into its growing season, Stirling Council’s Land Services Team has a programme of work to assess and treat hogweed growth on Council land.
If Giant Hogweed is found on private land, however, it is the responsibility of the landowner to take steps to eradicate the plant.
To help raise awareness of the risks of Giant Hogweed, Stirling Council schools and nurseries are also sharing information about the dangerous plant with pupils and families ahead of the summer holidays.
Jen Preston, Convener of the Environment, Transport and Net Zero Committee, said: “We strongly advise the public to show caution around Giant Hogweed as we move into the growing season and the summer months.
“Our staff have been treating the plant in various locations across Stirling this year and we will continue to do all we can to control it on Council land.
“Giant Hogweed is highly invasive and spreads easily. It poses a serious risk to humans and animals and people should not touch any part of the plant, while pets should also be kept away from it.”
Giant Hogweed has long, green stems which branch out into clusters of small white flowers. Typically these are 2-3m in height bearing flower heads up to 80cm across and the lower leaves are often 1m more in size and distinctively spikey.
The weed can be confused with the common hogweed, cow parsley, elderflower or bishop’s lace. It’s set apart by its purple-hued stem, thin spines and leaf stalks covered in spots.
Where it grows, Giant Hogweed out-competes native flowers and reduces species diversity. Due to its hazards it also prevents access.
To report a sighting on Council land, please contact 01786 404040 or fill out our online form. Members of the public can also report an invasive plant sighting on private land via the Scottish Invasive Species Initiative or by contacting the landowner.
The bright colours of disposable vapes are sadly proving a great attraction to children across the country including Dunblane. Dunblane Community Council and Stirling Council are teaming up to lobby for greater controls. In particular, they are asking for :
- A Health campaign about the damage vaping can cause
- Guidance for Teachers
- Tightening of present policing of the Law that under 18s can't buy vapes
Further background on present laws is here :
https://www.gov.scot/policies/smoking/electronic-cigarettes/
Have your say :
We are delighted to announce that we have @natlibscot #TouringExhibition Scotland’s Photograph Album opening 4th-17th May at Dunblane Library.
This free exhibition features display panels of the Library’s moving image collections and a case of objects for some hands-on fun.
More...
A round up of recent sporting headlines from Dunblane. Full details can be found on the Facebook or Twitter pages linked below. More sports to follow soon!
Reimagined Cromlix Opens its Doors
New era for the hotel owned by Andy and Kim Murray
On Monday 27 MArch 2023, Cromlix country house hotel, in Dunblane, opened its doors after a three-month renovation. The five-star property owned by Kim and Andy Murray has refurbished its 15 bedrooms, most of its bathrooms and all common areas of the hotel, including the bar, restaurant and billiards room.
There is a new entrance via the vestibule at the front of the property, with a valet parking turning circle at the top of the grand driveway.
The restaurant, rebranded as The Glasshouse and fronted by Executive Head Chef, Darin Campbell, will also be opening today, with a fine dining menu focussed on locally sourced, thoughtfully prepared ingredients and seasonal produce. The hotel's bar will feature signature cocktails with garnishes from the Kitchen Garden.
In January this year, the hotel moved to self-management by the Murray family, with several new appointments being made: General Manager, Barry Makin, Sales & Marketing Manager, Emily Shields and Revenue & Reservations Manager, Eilidh Leishman. Rosemary Spenke of The Hotel Management Company was brought on board to oversee the move to self-management and rebrand of the hotel.
The renovations of the hotel were managed by Kim Murray who worked with interior designer Suzanne Garuda of Garuda Design, architect Fergus Purdie and a team of local Scottish artisans, suppliers and designers to reimagine the 149-year-old building.
The aspiration for the new Cromlix is to reshape expectations of the country house hotel experience, where guests can unwind, be themselves and enjoy a characteristically welcoming stay in an elegant yet unfussy environment. The bedrooms have interiors with a relaxed country feel and have all been named after flowers and herbs which can be found onsite in the hotel's 34-acre grounds and private gardens – for example, Lavendar, Viola, Thyme, Rosemary and Verbena.
The hotel retained many pieces of furniture in the refurbishment, but has added new items for comfort and style. New artwork adorns the walls of the hotel, many paintings and prints personally selected by Andy Murray and others on loan from the Royal Scottish Academy.
In addition, Cromlix has a new brand identity and website which was created with Scottish agency, 80 Days, and illustrator Gary Bullock. The new logo was inspired by the Virginia Creeper that covers the front of the building and blazes a glorious red every September.
Commenting on the reimagined Cromlix, Kim Murray said: "We have had an incredible team putting in a mammoth effort for over a year to get to today, when we can finally open the doors to our new-look Cromlix. I'm extremely proud of what everybody has achieved and it is exactly what I hoped for. The Murray family has had a connection to this building since 1982 and after a decade of ownership we are looking forward to the future with a real sense of excitement. This was the first phase in a series of planned works to breathe new life into both the property and the business".
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, please visit Cromlix.com, noting that the new website will not be live until end of April.