News
The Press Release from Holmehill Ltd
The community group that has been protecting Dunblane’s Holmehill from development for more than a decade was told on Thursday 7 June that Holmehill has a new owner – a local charity that is intent on maintaining and improving the area.
David Prescott, Chair of Holmehill Community Buyout said - ‘Over the last 13 years, the group has sought to secure this lovely green space for public access and has successfully opposed several planning applications to build over Holmehill. We are overjoyed that a newly established local charity has bought Holmehill, expressly for the benefit of the community. This is an exciting new phase for Holmehill and for all of Dunblane and we look forward to working with the new owners, who have committed themselves to involving the community in the future of Holmehill. They plan to start consulting on their plans in the next few months’.
Note for editors:
The Holmehill Community Buyout Group was formed in 2004 to buy Holmehill using the, then new, Land Reform legislation. In 2005, they took Scottish Ministers to court in a landmark case to assert our right to pursue community ownership of the land. Since then the group has contributed to work aimed at improving land reform legislation.
In 2005 Holmehill was acquired by local developer, Allanwater Developments, who produced a plan to build up to 50 houses. In response, the local community came together to resist this and to campaign for the retention of - what is seen locally as - an important green space in the heart of the Cathedral city.
Subsequent planning applications and appeals by Allanwater Developments were all refused and Holmehill has continued to be designated at Public Green Space in the Local Development Plans.
Contacts
David Prescott (Chair) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 07944 680648
Volunteer Befrienders needed
Could you spare a couple of hours a week as a volunteer befriender?
We are looking for volunteer befrienders to build relationships with people living with the early stages of dementia in the Stirlingshire area. We match befrienders with people who have similar interests so they can be encouraged to pursue loved hobbies or supported so they can build the confidence they need to take up new hobbies. This might be visiting a garden centre, having a walk or even just having a coffee and chat in the person’s home for two hours per week (full training, ongoing support and expenses paid).
If you are interested, please contact Gisele at Town Break on (01786) 476797 or by email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Town Break is a Registered Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SCO20526
Now five fruit trees are damaged in Laigh Hills orchard
Article by Robert Fairnie from the Stirling Observer 9 May 2018
Article by Robert Fairnie from the Stirling Observer 18 April 2018
Two fruit trees have been stolen from a community orchard in Dunblane. Police are investigating after a Black Oliver cherry and a Sweet Prune damson were dug up and taken away by crooks last week. Those responsible would have had to cart the trees, complete with stake and protective netting, out of the park without being detected. A Clydeside apple tree was also pulled up and thrown over a nearby fence but has since been recovered and replanted. All three were introduced to the Laigh Hills by volunteers over a weekend in December as a community orchard, comprising 300 fruit trees in total, was created.
The £5000 project, which was led by the Friends of the Laigh Hills, was made possible thanks to the hard work of the community and funding from the Tesco Bags of Help grant scheme. Police visited the orchard after last week’s theft and they want anyone with information to come forward.
Alan Booth, of Dunblane Community Council, said: “That somebody would do this is disappointing for all those who gave up their time to help plant the trees. “We would urge users of the Laigh Hills to join Friends of the Laigh Hills group and notify us if they see anything unusual – be that things going wrong that need attention or new sightings of plants or animals that they want to share. “The good news is that the vast majority of the 300 trees we planted in December are now thriving.” The community orchard is thought to be one of the biggest of its kind in the area with a vast collection of trees planted to produce fruit in years to come. The trees came from a specialist fruit tree nursery near Perth and include Clydeside, Scot’s Bridget, Stirling Castle, Lemon Queen, Green Chisel, Gordon Castle and Black Oliver.
Mr Booth added: “The orchard will be a great asset, encouraging wildlife as well as producing fruit for all to enjoy. “It forms part of our plans to make the Laigh Hills a better place for people and wildlife.
“We are keen to add names to the Friends of the Laigh Hills group to take this forward, so anyone who is interested in getting involved, or just telling someone if they see something going wrong, please get in touch withy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..” Members of the group are also hoping to embark on a project to plant wildflowers in the area in coming weeks too. Anyone with information on the fruit tree theft is encouraged to contact police on 101.
Rail journeys to Glasgow and Edinburgh now back to normal
Since September 2016 rail journeys from Dunblane to Glasgow and Edinburgh have been disrupted in the evenings and at weekends due to electrification works, with replacement buses being used. Futher electrification work will be undertaken overnight. Services return to normal after 20 May 2018. Read more
Join DDT's Environment Group on the Allan Water Beach
Forth Valley artbeat from 9 to 17 June 2018
View the Forth Valley ArtBeat Website
Follow the Blue Route through Dunblane
Here are the local artists that are taking part:-
1. Lys Hanse
2. Eileen Wilson
3. Sarah Spofforth-McOuat
4. Rachel Davies
5. Gwen Dean
6. Irene Aylott
7. Maureen Mitchell
8. Camphill @Dunblane Library
9. Dunblane Art Club
10. Libby Yule
11. Laura Gill
12. Fiona McKenzie van Baardwijk
13. Central Scotland School of Jewellery
14. Tom McKenzie
15. Lorna Brown
16. Stewart Brown
17. Gio Martin
18. The Hut
19. Karen Ellis Sowerby
Ideas Innovation Improvement Fund 2018 Application Deadline 25 May 2018
A further round of the Ideas Innovation Improvement Fund has opened, with a deadline of 25 May 2018.
Applications are welcomed from voluntary and community groups, charities and social enterprises delivering projects which aim for people living full and positive lives within supportive communities.
Applications for up to £2000 for an individual organisation, or £6000 for organisations applying in partnership, will be considered.
Full details, and application form, on the attached document.
More...
Kerse Road in Stirling now closed for 6 months
Kerse Road Bridge Update - Urgent
We have been advised work is progressing well with the replacing of the New Rail Bridge to the extent they are bringing the full closure date forward by 1 week. The planned full closure for Kerse Road Bridge is being brought forward by one week. This commenced at 6.00 am on the morning of Monday 16 April 2018. Community Engagement Team 01786 233076
Parkland, Florida, USA Sign Dunblane's Book of Condolence
22 years ago messages of kindness and support flowed into Dunblane from all over the world.
For the next few days there is Book of Condolence for people to sign in Dunblane's 'Another Tilly Tearoom'
For anybody who would like to send a message to the families affected by the shooting at the school in Parkland, Florida. #neveragain#dunblanestandswithparkland#
Calls for repairs to fence on Laighhills after train kills dog
From the Stirling Observer 20 March 2018
A dog was hit and killed by a train in Dunblane at the weekend prompting fresh calls for repairs to be made to a fence at the railway line. Representatives from Dunblane Community Council contacted Network Rail to ask that they sort the structure which separates the Laighhills public park from the train tracks. The area is popular with dog walkers and concern is growing that the gaps appearing between the bottom of the fence and the ground are allowing pets access to the railway line. A seven-year-old Collie was killed after straying on to the train tracks during a walk with its owner in the park earlier this month. The dog’s distressed owner, who asked not to be named, told the Stirling Observer the pet spotted some rabbits on the other side of the fence and managed to get through. She said: “It was getting dark and he just went down the side of the hill to chase the rabbits I think. The fence is very close to the train tracks. “We were running around looking for him but couldn’t find him anywhere. We didn’t know where he had gone and it was getting darker and darker. ”The family became aware that something bad had happened when representatives from Network Rail arrived on the scene to say that a dog had been hit by a passing train. After finding the dog on the tracks he was taken home by his heartbroken family. His owner added: “There are a lot of people who take their dogs to the park which should be a safe area for pets .“I’ve spoken to some neighbours and they are also concerned about it. Dogs can scramble under some parts of the fence and larger breeds can jump over over other sections .”
Terence O’Byrne, chair of Dunblane Community Council, believes it’s lucky more dogs have not been killed on the tracks. He said: “The community council has reported this issue with the fence to Network Rail. “We expect them to make sure that the bottom of the fence meets the ground with no gaps and expect this repair to be done as soon as possible. We will keep a close eye on their response. “This fence is in a public park and as such must be more than simply ‘stock proof’. Dogs have been killed on the rail line for many long years. It is a matter of luck that more dogs have not been killed.”
A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Our maintenance engineers will inspect the lineside fencing in the area and make any necessary repairs. “Our fencing is primarily designed to help people stay off of the railway by showing the boundary between our infrastructure and other land. We would advise dog owners to always keep pets on a leash when in close proximity to the railway as fencing may not always prevent smaller animals reaching the line.”