Dunblane Community Council
| Rachael RennertSecretary cc@dunblane.info | Anna Jarchow-MacDonaldChair cc@dunblane.info |
Minutes of the Dunblane Community Council held on Wednesday, 1 April, 2026 , at 7 p.m. in the Library, Dunblane. This is a “blended” meeting, although no-one attended by Zoom, which was available.
Present: Jonathan Failes (Vice-Chair), Karen Jenkins, Alan Booth, Caroline McArthur, Anthony Delleur, Rachael Rennert (Secretary), and Rachel Nelson. Annelise Bakri and Anna Jarchow-MacDonald arrived later.
In attendance: Councillors Thomas Heald, David Wilson and Alasdair Tollemache, Liz-Anne Richards, Yvonne Wyroslawska, Peter McGregor, Steve Mason PC Rennie and PC Collins, Margaret Bragg (Minutes Secretary).
1. Apologies
Apologies have been received from Peter Swindon, Calum Thomson, Councillor Robin Kleinman and Mairi Santolini.
2. Conflicts of interest and Chair’s remarks
As Councillor Tollemache is a member of the Planning Panel, he will refrain from commenting on planning applications.
The meeting was chaired by Jonathan Failes (Vice-Chair).
3. Adoption of minutes of 4 March 2026 and matters arising
The minutes were approved, proposed by Anthony Delleur and seconded by Karen Jenkins.
Cultural map The community council has sent a letter of support (see Minutes, March 2026).
4. Co-option of new community council members
There is no progress to report.
5. Reports
Police Report: See attached.
PC Collins reported that a training day for the Speedwatch group is to be held on 16 April. Councillor Tollemache reported that the group has been successful in its application from the Dunblane Development Trust’s Small Community Grant fund for money to purchase equipment.
Operations Report: See attached, provided by Terence O’Byrne.
Kinbuck bridge approaches Councillor Tollemache expressed disappointment that work has been delayed until the April-September works programme
Issues when traffic is diverted off the A9 Councillor Tollemache reported that Transport Scotland see no need for a meeting. He has written to the Police Area Commander requesting he attend a community council meeting. He pointed out that far more Police resources are used in dealing with an incident retrospectively than if they were proactive in preventing foreseeable problems.
Allanbank Road, Kinbuck There is as yet no resolution to this issue, which will be discussed at a future Planning Panel meeting.
Site at top of Beech Road Councillor Tollemache reported that the fence again fell down and enforcement to make the site secure is being pursued. Permission was given for the tree works.
SSEN works at Braeport and The Haining When it was reported that residents on Ramoyle and adjacent streets have not received notification of these works, Jonathan Failes said that SSEN should share information more widely. Alan Booth suggested that they be asked to repair the road up to Braeport.
Pedestrian bridge at the station It was suggested that, in view of his willingness to get involved and contact the relevant agencies, as reported in last month’s Minutes, Brian Roberts (Chief Executive, Stirling Council), should be contacted.
Planning Report
With reference to the application at Ledcameroch, a decision is still pending.
With reference to the application for a refuelling hub at Firs of Kinbuck, this has been refused. Ailsa Gray, the previous Chair of the community council, was thanked for representing the community council at the Planning Panel.
With reference to the Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP) and the setting up of the community council’s sub-committee, Anthony Delleur agreed to progress this. Action: Anthony Delleur.
Elected members
Councillor Wilson, noting that there is a Council meeting the next day, expressed his concerns over the out-sourcing and privatisation of the provision of school dinners. (See Minutes, March 2026.) He has contacted Jamie Oliver asking for his support. He reported there would be a move away from cooking fresh food to cook-freeze products in plastic dishes. When Rachel Nelson asked if this could be publicised to parent councils, Councillor Wilson supported this idea but warned that it is difficult to get the Council to provide information. He is going to pursue this at the Council meeting but warned that, because of the six-month rule, decisions already made cannot be reversed until after six months.
Councillor Tollemache reported that, at the Council meeting, he is going to propose a motion for the Council to recognise the volunteer litter-pickers through the area. A focussed campaign on 30-31 May will publicise their work and provide information and education for the public, including the cost of cleaning to the Council.
Councillor Heald noted that the Council has provided advice to schools about accompanying children not their own to events. However, there is still confusion. (See Minutes December 2025.)
He also reported that the drainage issues on the A9 near the Keir roundabout are being discussed by the landowner and Council.
When asked about litter on the A9 bypass, Councillor Tollemache reported that he has already raised this issue with Council officers. It is the Council’s responsibility to clear litter off the lay-bys and along verges.
Councillor Tollemache reported that there is further consultation to be held by the Council on the Local Development Plan.
Councillor Heald reported that the Council plans to demolish three-quarters of Council garages in Dunblane, many of which are in a state of disrepair. Priority will be given to residents for the remaining garages. Steve Mason asked what would happen to the cleared site.
6. Community
Residents’ Forum
30th anniversary commemorations Anna Jarchow-MacDonald reported that the affected families and the Dunblane Centre expressed their appreciation of the work of the community council in the commemorations.
Pedestrian crossing on the Perth Road Yvonne Wyroslawska reported that, as a parent crossing the Perth Road with children, she has often felt unsafe using the pedestrian crossing because of speeding cars going through the crossing even when she is on it. The Council have stated that the results of their survey indicate that this crossing is safe. On contacting the Police, she was told that they would need video evidence, which would be impossible to provide at the time of the offence. Councillor Tollemache has asked for a review by Council officers and he has requested the installation of raised platforms and a light-controlled crossing. He agreed to find out the results of the review. Action: Councillor Tollemache. If, once the re-assessment has been done, the Council still deny a change is necessary, then the next step would be to organise a petition. She was also advised to report any incidents to the Police. These would be recorded and if there were enough recorded complaints then the Police would be obliged to act. It was agreed to publicise this more widely to the parent councils and to encourage people to notify the Police of any incidents on the crossing. Rachel Nelson agreed to co-ordinate this. Action: Rachel Nelson. Caroline McArthur agreed to publicise this on Facebook. Action: Caroline McArthur. Annelise Bakri commented that statistics on the number of children and where they cross the Perth Road would be useful supportive evidence. Councillor Wilson reported that the Council has a CCTV monitoring van which could be used to monitor the crossing, particularly at school times and suggested that the community council request its use. The Secretary agreed to send Yvonne Wyroslawska contact details for the Police. Action: The Secretary.
Sports
Cycle storage and repair station The Secretary has been in contact with Cath Wilson (Energy and Transport Project Officer, Stirling Council) and the bottom of the lift at the station on the Victoria Hall side has been agreed as the site for the bike hanger. It has been requested that a bike repair station be situated adjacent to this. An application for funding for £5,000 for this from the Forth Valley Community Led Development is going ahead, as was suggested previously (see minutes December 2025). However, as the Council is supportive of the plan for a repair station at every hanger, even if the application is not successful, the repair station would still go ahead.
Schools
Yvonne Wyroslawska reported that Newton Primary will be 30 years’ old in August and a fund-raising campaign is being organised for play equipment. The community council agreed to publicise this.
Community support
Citizens Advice Bureau Anna Jarchow-MacDonald reported on a meeting she and Rachel Nelson had with Martin Roberts and Craig Anderson from the Stirling Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) online. In the past, advice sessions were held in Dunblane Library, but this is not a private space. Since then, Dunblane has lost its banks, and the cost of living has soared. There is a need to provide advice to people on how to access the funds and support available to them; Councillor Wilson stressed this should be available to all residents. A discussion arose over a suitable venue for CAB sessions, and it was agreed to pursue the possibility of having alternate meetings at the High School and the Dunblane Centre. The CAB use a booking system so people make appointments in advance. It was agreed by the community council to progress the idea of a pilot programme of fortnightly sessions and Anna Jarchow-MacDonald agreed to pursue this. Action: Anna Jarchow-MacDonald.
It was noted that only 9% of the funding for the CAB comes from the Council and a discussion arose over how to fund sessions in Dunblane, if they continue after the pilot. The cost of one advisor one day a week would be £7,000 per year. Callander community council manage to do this and Anna Jarchow-MacDonald agreed to circulate the report indicating how much these sessions have benefited its residents. Action: Anna Jarchow-MacDonald. Considerations on future funding would involve the Council, the DDT, and the community council.
Dunblane Development Trust (DDT)
Anthony Delleur reported on a meeting about the Laighhills and the progress of drawing up a report on the cost of the proposals. Alan Booth stressed the importance of consulting with the community about changes to the Laighhills and Councillor Tollemache indicated that proposals will first go to the DDT and then the public.
Jonathan Failes reported that it is hoped to organise another DDT open evening after wider publicity about its work.
7. Environment/Sustainability
Community gardens Annelise Bakri’s application for funding from the Council’s Community Growing and Park Well-Being Fund has been successful in being granted £5,000 for community gardens in different parts of Dunblane. She reported that they are looking at the area near the telephone box, the garden at the High School, the Laigh Hills Orchard, and the garden at Weigh Ahead. Later this year, she hoped to repeat the success of the community opening of the High School garden last June.
Forestry Alan Booth reported that the Forestry Commission has published a survey on the Kippendavie Forest Plan. He agreed to look at this, in particular with regards to the issue of heavy timber lorries using the Glen Road, and will report back at the next meeting. Action: Alan Booth.
Laighhills Alan Booth has circulated a draft of the Terms of Reference for the Friends of the Laighhills group.
Holmehill There has been a meeting, organised by the owner of Holmehill (Bill Carman from the Carman Family Foundation Trust), between the St Andrews Botanic Garden, and community members from the DCC, DTT, and other local volunteer groups, over future plans for the meadow behind Braeport. Anna Jarchow-MacDonald expressed concern over the ponds and the danger to children. It was noted that the wall between this area and the Braeport is in need of repair and there needs to be a gate in the gap. She reported that St Andrews Botanic Gardens are involved in producing planting plans and viewed this as a good opportunity for community help. However, she queried how the plans are discussed and decided on, and also raised the question of maintenance. She agreed to find out about the wall and suggested that plans could be displayed in the Library. Action: Anna Jarchow-MacDonald. Alan Booth thought that the plans from St Andrews Botanic Gardens were to be submitted to Bill Carman. It was noted that the purchase of Holmehill by Bill Carman had prevented development on this open space.
8. Internal
Communication It was noted that the dunblane.info website is changing, and this will entail the re-posting of previous community council Minutes.
Treasurer’s Report
9. AOCB
Social media Jonathan Failes reported on the need for the community council to be better at publicising meetings, and getting information out on what the council does and why it is doing it. He stressed the need for transparency and consistency. Anna Jarchow-MacDonald proposed having a template covering the projects raised by the Community Action Plan, to show who is responsible and showing progress. Details could be posted on dunblane.info. Jonathan Failes has put a rough plan together.
Burgh Chambers Steve Mason reported that there is to be a Grand Re-opening in May with poet and author Jackie Kay and local dignitaries present. There is to be a poetry-reading session for schoolchildren with Jackie Kay in the evening.
Steve Mason reported on the popularity of the tabletop game session at the Burgh Chambers. He also reported on the three-day Allt Festival, to be launched by Craft Central on 4 June, replacing the previous Open Studios programme.
The Bank Anthony Delleur agreed to find how the work on the building is progressing. Action: Anthony Delleur.
Dogs Caroline McArthur reported that she has met with the Dog Warden who is willing to speak to the community council about the regulations covering unruly dogs. He would need an official invitation and it was agreed to send one to him and to publicise his attendance when agreed. Action: Anna Jarchow-MacDonald. Councillor Tollemache stated that the Council was going to look at what ‘under control’ and coming back on command means. He reported at the December 2024 meeting of the community council that the Council was taking advice on dog control regulations in parks and agreed to raise this again with Council officers. Action: Councillor Tollemache.
10. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Dunblane community council will take place in the Dunblane Centre at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, 6 May 2026.
The meeting ended at 9.20 p.m.
This is a true representation of the meeting.
Jonathan Failes ………………………………………………….. Date …………………
Vice-Chair
Rachel Rennert …………………………………………………… Date …………………
Secretary