News
Stirling residents are being urged to get ready for the Scottish Parliament elections as early as possible
Scotland will go to the polls in less than three months’ time on 6 May and general voter registration closes on 19 April.
With a significant increase expected for postal votes amid the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic, the deadline for postal vote registration has been brought forward to 6 April to allow the anticipated surge in applications to be processed in time for the vote count.
Carol Beattie, Constituency Returning Officer for Stirling and Stirling Council Chief Executive, said: “The process of voting in this year’s election is going to look very different because of Covid.
“Significant changes will be made to polling stations and our vote count location to make sure everyone taking part in this year’s election in whatever capacity can do so safely and in line with government restrictions.
“If you’re 16 or over, it is time to start thinking about how this will affect you, especially if you want to use a postal vote. Our advice is to check if you’re registered now and consider your options for voting in the weeks ahead.”
The Electoral Registration Office for Central Scotland is the key source of information on voter registration for residents in Stirling.
Information on registering and methods of voting are available on its website and letters have already been sent to households across Stirling with the current voter registration status of occupants.
Pete Wildman the ERO for the Stirling Council area said: “I would encourage anyone who wishes to vote by post at this election to apply now for their postal vote.”
E-Books from Stirling Council Libraries are moving to a new platform
Access to digital e-books and audiobooks will switch from RBdigital to the Libby app on Tuesday 23 February, 2021.
Libby is a free, award-winning app where library members can continue to borrow and enjoy digital content from their public library.
Readers will still be able to access their current downloads on RBdigital for the length of the lending period for each title, even if that date goes past the switchover on 23 February.
However, after this point users will have to download and sign up to Libby to browse, borrow, and enjoy all the same great e-books and audiobooks which were available in the RBdigital app from Stirling Libraries.
There will be some downtime in the RB Digital app in the afternoon of the 23rd February during the switchover.
For more information, visit: https://www.overdrive.com/RBdigital-transition-preview
Download the Libby App here: https://www.overdrive.com/apps/libby/
Stirling’s Councillors have adopted a new household waste and recycling policy which includes a 100% concession scheme for the new Garden Waste Permit.
The £35 annual opt-in charge for garden waste collection will start on 19 April and will support the Council’s drive to improve its household waste collection services.
Residents in receipt of a council tax reduction will be eligible to receive their permit for no charge, along with those who receive a garden maintenance service.
A household with someone who is ‘severely mentally impaired’ may also qualify for the concession.
Almost 7,000 of Stirling Council’s householders will be entitled to the free service and will receive their permit directly.
The new policy consolidates the current practices of the Council’s waste and recycling services to households for ease of reference and transparency.
There are only four areas of current service provision which will change under the new policy:
* A household of five or more, rather than a household of six or more, with excess non-recyclable can apply for their standard 240L grey bin (general waste) to be swapped for a larger 360L grey bin.
* Households with more than two children in nappies will now be able to apply for the non-hazardous healthcare waste collection service – an additional 240L grey (general waste) bin.
* From April 2021, and once the current stock is depleted, the Council will no longer provide food waste caddy liners from Council buildings. Residents can put food waste in their caddy loose, line their caddy with newspaper or kitchen roll or purchase compostable liners from supermarkets or online.
* As part of the current standard household waste and recycling collection service, contaminated recycling bins are not emptied. Whilst the Council would encourage contamination to be removed, residents can now request a chargeable uplift for a contaminated bin.
Members of the Environment and Housing Committee approved the policy following a vote last week (11 February).
Convener of the Committee, Cllr Jim Thomson said: “The new waste policy brings together all the existing customs and practices of the waste service in one document which will be important for public awareness, clarity and enhanced service delivery to residents.
“I am pleased to see the policy include the 100% concession for the new garden waste permit for eligible households and we will shortly share more details with residents about this.
“While there aren’t significant changes to existing practice in the policy, I welcome the fact more households with larger families will be able to apply for a larger grey bin.”
The policy reflects the changes to the Council’s Waste Transformation Programme that was approved by Councillors in June 2020.
Almost 70,000 new grey and brown bins have been delivered to households (as of 10 Feb) as part of phase one of the transformation.
Vice Convener, Cllr Danny Gibson said: “There are a number of transformative changes taking place in our household waste collections, including the rollout of the new grey and brown bins, so it makes sense to create a new policy that takes these into account.
“Public feedback has helped us shape the changes to our household waste and recycling services, and we are committed to continuing engagement with residents during the transformation programme.”
Along with the policy, the committee report also includes a list of waste and recycling requirements for the public, such as container presentation times, contamination guidelines, collection of missed bins, assisted collections and bulky uplifts.
To view the report, the policy and guidelines, please click here to download the agenda papers.
A recording of the Environment and Housing Committee meeting is available to view on the Council’s YouTube channel.
Note to editors
1. For further information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or contact 01786 233015
2. The creation of the Garden Waste Concession Scheme was undertaken by the Senior Manager of Environment and Place under delegated authority in consultation with a number of elected members and the Chief Finance Officer.
3. Stirling Council serves 94,330 residents and a thriving business community in an area stretching from the scenic Campsie Fells to Stirling’s vibrant city centre and the imposing Trossachs Mountains. Located within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, the area features breath-taking scenery and some of Scotland’s top visitor attractions including the Castle and Wallace Monument which are testimony to Stirling fascinating past. Our vision is to deliver more agile and responsive services and work with our employees, partners and communities for the benefit of all. The Council is committed to building on Stirling’s strong reputation as a business and investment location by positioning the area as an economic and cultural powerhouse.
Mark Henderson
Senior Media Officer
Stirling Council
Old Viewforth
Desk: 01786 233015
Mobile: 07468 470007
my.stirling.gov.uk/news
Ext. 33015
Here are pictures of three of the new benches now in place on Holmehill.
They were carved from some of the trees which had to be taken down and were designed by children at the local Primary Schools - the theme is Scottish Wildlife.
This High Street building, that was brought back from the brink by local community action, recently transferred ownership and the three flats are now for sale. The future ownership of the shops is presently unclear.
The building at 22 to 24 High Street had been owned for many years by a Stirling-based landlord with many vacant properties around Central Scotland. He has now died and executors for his estate put the building on the market just before Xmas and it was sold. In their turn, the new owners have put the three flats up for auction.
The owners' intentions in relation to the two shops is unclear; one is presently occupied by Morgage Advice Brokerage; the other was until relatively recently occupied by Sew Marvellous
Through the Community Council, the community secured funding from Tesco Bags to undertake essential repairs to the building and get its facade newly painted - read the article published at the time
Forth Valley COVID-19 Partnership: Funding Open
The Forth Valley COVID-19 Partnership has launched a new grants programme, distributing funds to support communities and people affected by COVID-19 outside of hospital.
The Forth Valley Covid-19 Partnership consists of the NHS Forth Valley Endowment Fund (better known as Forth Valley Giving), the three Third Sector Interfaces (CVS Falkirk, SVE and CTSI), and both Health and Social Care Partnerships operating in the Forth Valley.
Together they will oversee the new Community Partnership Grants Programme, which will distribute £126,000 of local grants, and is open to any registered charity, community interest company (CIC), community or voluntary group with a bank account delivering services in the Forth Valley area.
The grants are only open to organisations offering support to the following types of work:
* support for unpaid carers
* people affected by drugs and alcohol
* people isolated and lonely
* groups helping with wellbeing and mental health community support
* suicide prevention
* bereavement and end of life support
Phase One will offer seven grants up to £15,000 each with Phase Two offering small (up to £2,000) and micro grants (up to £1,000).
The closing date for Phase One is Monday 1st February. The launch of Phase Two will start on Tuesday 2nd February and close on Friday 26th February.
For more information, see the full guidance notes which include details on submitting an expression of interest
Time is running out to have your say in helping Stirling Council set next year’s budget through the Big Budget Conversation.
The local authority launched its budget engagement process for 2021/22 on 23 December, 2020 with the stark message that services must change to meet an £8million funding gap. Transformation of how the Council delivers services will continue in the years ahead, with a further £30million needing to be saved over the four years to 2024/25.
Residents are being asked to tell the local authority what matters most to them through an online survey on the new Engage Stirling platform, which closes on Sunday, 24 January. Responses from the survey will be coupled with officer proposals and added to the responses from the recent Residents Survey and Locality Action Plans that have been developed throughout the year to provide a comprehensive package to inform Councillors’ budget plans in the coming months.
Residents have until midnight on Sunday, 24 January 2021 to get involved.
Convener of Stirling Council’s Finance and Economy Committee, Cllr Margaret Brisley said: “We’ve had 100s of response so far and would ask everyone who can to get involved and take part in the survey. Help us understand what matters most to you by engaging in this Big Budget Conversation.
“We face a substantial budget gap of at least £8million next year and options for closing it are more limited than normal, given services are already not operating as usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Council has also incurred significant additional costs and loss of income in the current year because of the virus, and this is likely to continue into next year.
“Residents must be under no illusions - significant budget reduction measures will have to be considered to set a balanced budget for 2021/22 and time is running out for the public to have their say.”
Vice Convener, Cllr Alison Laurie, said: “Our staff have shown remarkable resilience and adaptability to deliver essential services to the people of Stirling in the most challenges of circumstances.
“That challenge is now greater than ever before as a result of the financial pressures we are facing so we must continue to transform and adapt the way we deliver for the people of Stirling.
“It’s crucial that the people who live and work here have their say in guiding how we do that.”
This letter was sent to the Dunblane community on 16 January on behalf of the BBC
Dear Sir/Madam,
I hope you don't mind me writing to this email address out of the blue. I am a series producer working for Two Rivers Media and I am writing in an attempt to notify the local community in Dunblane about a documentary series that is currently being broadcast on BBC Scotland, an episode of which makes mention of the tragic events of 1996. The series is called The Years That Changed Modern Scotland and is being broadcast on the BBC Scotland Channel. The series looks back over the last 50 years in Scotland, to explore how the way we live, work, play and vote has changed. It is presented by Kirsty Wark and two episodes covering the 70s, 80s and early 90s have already been broadcast. Our 3rd episode is due to be broadcast next week on 19th January at 22:00 on BBC Scotland, and will be repeated the following day, 20th January, at 20:00. This programme covers the period from the early 90s up until 2008, and while it does not focus on, or go into detail on, the events in Dunblane, it does mention what happened and also makes mention of the Snowdrop campaign and the changes to gun laws the followed. This is done through the use of news footage from the time.
I wanted to make efforts to let people in Dunblane know about the episode but have been unable to establish whether there is a community group or network that would be best to contact. I am therefore contacting you to ask whether there might be an appropriate way of passing this message on to those who might want to be made aware.
If anyone has any questions about any of the above, please don't hesitate to contact me on this email address.
Kind regards
Catherine Abbott
Series Producer, Becoming Scotland
Getting the Right Care in the Right Place (changes to the way we access A&E)
A&E is always there for those who need it
The way people access A&E services is changing to keep patients and NHS Scotland safe this winter – making sure everyone gets the right care in the right place.
Local A&E departments remain open for those who have a life-threatening emergency.
However, to ensure patients have the fastest access to the treatment they need, anyone with a non-life threatening condition who would usually go to A&E should now call NHS 24 on 111 first, day or night, to be directed to the right NHS service.
If A&E is the most appropriate place to provide the right care, patients will either be directly referred to A&E by NHS 24 or a telephone or video consultation with a senior clinical decision maker.
For further information on where to access the right medical care, visit www.NHSinform.scot/right-care
More...
From the Secretary, Dunblane Community Council
The Community Council has received comments/complaints from a number of people
about the lack of salting/gritting of the pavements and footpaths around
the town Certainly some of those I use are quite icy The road gritter
seems to have been round but pavements seem to have a lower priority.
We were not sure if the pavement gritter has been out - there is not a
lot of evidence that it has been. Our chair, David Prescot, asked
Graham Houston, our elected member of the administration of SC and posed
the questions:
* What has happened? - has the Council changed its priorities?
* Given the priority being given to Active Travel and the critical
importance of avoiding fall injuries to reduce the load on our hospitals
(and reduce the risks of people catching Covid in hospital) then
gritting and salting the pavements seems like a critically important
task.
* I understand that some community volunteers have been out in places,
especially where there are vulnerable people but there is not a lot of
grit for them to use - and with DIY stores shut less chance of getting
some.
Alan Booth
From: Councillor Graham Houston
I also have had some people in touch with me and I did notice that the
pavement on the High Street just at the library was particularly bad.
The pavement tractor has been doing the usual route in the early
mornings but I think it did miss one day last week and I am still
waiting to hear the reason for that. I reported it at the time to Bruce
Reekie.
We moved to priority 3 treatment on Wednesday and as of yesterday we
will have had a period of 120 hours adverse weather and a 5 day weather
forecast predicting severe weather wintery conditions which means the
treatment moves to priority 4 routes.
Priority 4 routes cover the remainder of the public road network. Within
Priority 4 routes; priority will be given to locations such as difficult
junctions, gradients, bends or short, sharp incline, together with
reasonable lengths of carriageway adjacent to these specific problems.
I have asked Bruce Reekie if a drop of salt/grit mixture could be
deposited at the Millrow Car park for the public to help themselves as
it looks like this cold spell with be with us for a few days yet.
I attach the detailed policy covering the implementation of the various
priorities which I hope Is helpful.
Graham Houston
The Friends of Holmehill contacted the website team with an update about the new owners’ plans for Holmehill. Here is their email
We recently asked The Carman Family Foundation for an update as to what has happened over the last few month. The response from Bill Carman is below:
Over the last few months:
1. The Braeport meadow has been tilled and the seedling trees removed. 54 small-medium sized decorative trees have been planted in groups of 3, with 10 more (a bit bigger) to go. Some outlines of paths have been created - these will probably be finished with plastic matting and grass growing through the plastic.
2. The paths on the top have had leaves removed.
3. The paths going down to ground level have also been cleared to a reasonable state. We need to think of more permanent solutions.
4. The chip paths need an alternative surface - any ideas of what might look natural yet last for a few years? The weeds on either side have been dug out.
5. Some of the Scots pines have been eaten (rabbits?). They have been replaced and tubes now keep the rabbits out with wire mesh to keep the deer off them.
6. Around the grasses next to the tennis court we have planted a bamboo hedge.
7. Wire has been put back into the metal posts of the old fence to stop people tumbling down the hill
8. 150 longer tubes were supplied by the Woodland Trust to replace the short tubes.
Next year jobs include:
1. Planning for a pond at the bottom of the meadows
2. Moving the shed next to the red lodge (or getting a new hut) for storage of garden equipment.
3. Planting snowdrops in february.
4. We are in discussions with people on types of plants to put under the new trees on the meadow. We want colourful plants of all sizes which will attract pollinators and birds. All suggestions welcomed.
5. Next year, we will roundup the edges of the paths on the top in April.
6. Putting Up a chain barrier to stop people driving on to the grass on top.
7. A few more "nice" trees for around the perimeter of the grass on top.
8. 4 carved benches will be made this Winter, 3 representing each primary school, using the wood we took off the hill 2 years ago.
Someone who currently works with me will be at Holmehill for 2 days per week from now (ish).
The Friends of Holmehill can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Carman Family Foundation cab be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Text drafted by Pete Bicheno, Glassingall Resident
SEPA has not taken the witness statements they originally promised and instead they “….are continuing to conduct other enquiries into the events …”
From the Stirling Observer 18.11.2020
“A man has denied destroying a bat roost and the nest of a wild bird while carrying out demolition of a house on Stagecoch tycoon Dame Ann Gloag’s Glassingall Estate.”
“…David Kerr, of Cumbernauld, pleaded not guilty at Stirling Sheriff Court on Friday 13th November to offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994 and the European Communities Act 1972. “
Trial has been set for April 22nd.
Since the fire another demolition company has been on site and spent almost a month clearing up. The council granted permission for the demolition in retrospect.
Interestingly Dame Ann Gloag has put in for planning permission for a similar development at Beauly as she is proposing at Glassingall. See the Inverness Courier : 20.11.2020
Approval was granted on 01.12.2020 See the Inverness Courier:
Earlier text from July 2020
NEW Police launch wildlife crime probe at bus tycoon's estate following blaze Stirling Observer Article from 27 July 2020
Read Stirling Observer Article from 25 June 2020
Article below updated on 20 June 2020 - updates in Green
Some local residents on the Glassingall Estate sent a letter to Glassingall Estates Ltd in response to the demolition and burning of Glassingall House on the 11th and 12th of June. The full letter can be viewed here. A letter has also been sent to the Health & Safety Executive SEPA and the Council. SEPA has apparently responded and is now taking witness statements.
Glassingall Estates Limited is one of the companies in the Gloag portfolio. Dame Ann Gloag bought the estate over a year ago and a Pre Application Notification of Planning was submitted last year. This outlined a development of 135 chalets and an outdoor centre.
The local residents say that ‘the remains of Glassingall House appear to have materials looking awfully like asbestos lying around in the open in a fragile condition. Do not attempt to enter the area and please keep your children away. Asbestos is extremely hazardous and kills. People have been seen wandering around with their children within the fenced off area. This is a very bad idea. Please keep away’.
Here is a statement from Stirling Council
A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the demolition works at Glassinghall estate and can confirm investigations are underway.
“Demolition works of this nature are subject to statutory processes and require permission from the planning authority, in this case, Stirling Council. We can confirm no building warrant for demolition was requested from, or issued by, Stirling Council in relation to this work and we have taken immediate measures to ensure the site is safe.
“We are in discussions with the landowner regarding the submission of a building warrant to regulate the works already undertaken, and to cover the completion of the remaining unauthorised work.”
Here is a Tweet from Mark Ruskell MSP
