News
Network Rail has recently carried out the final phase of enhancement works at Dunblane station to help improve service reliability on Scotland's Railway. |
Work started in January 2023 to deliver a £11.2m programme, part of a wider Scottish Government investment that will improve connectivity and enhance capacity for both passenger and freight trains. As there is no 'turnback' facility at the station due to the current track layout, trains arriving at platforms 2 or 3 at Dunblane station have to continue north to use existing switches and crossings further along the line. This means the railway between Dunblane and Perth can become congested, constraining the timetable and network resilience during times of disruption. In this final phase of the project, over two weekends in early September, Network Rail and its contractors (Rail Systems Alliance Scotland, Babcock and Arcadis) installed a new crossover section of track. No trains operated through the station during this time. Once the new crossover comes into use next year, it will mean trains can depart from Platform 3 using this section of track when heading south from the station. This will help reduce the time it takes for a train to turn back towards Stirling by up to 13 minutes. In turn, this will free up capacity through the route and make services more reliable. Chris Sharkey, Network Rail's senior programme manager, said: "The first two weekends in September saw the culmination of many months of work in allowing us to deliver this critical and final part of the project. "Our engineers have carried out extensive preparatory works in advance of the crossover being craned into position. This includes installing new overhead line equipment and making modifications to platforms to support the signals for the new section of track. "We appreciate the inconvenience our activity caused customers and those living closest to the railway over those two weekends. "I want to thank people for their continued patience as we completed this work, which will deliver more reliable services for passengers and freight by reducing the impact of future unplanned disruption on the route." ScotRail had a replacement bus service in operation over both weekends. Customers were advised to check before they travel via www.scotrail.co.uk and www.nationalrail.co.uk If you have any questions about this work, you can contact Network Rail's 24-hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41. For the latest information and progress updates, follow on Twitter @NetworkRailScot. |
Further to my attendance at the recent Community Council meeting – I can confirm that the request for links to information in relation to internet safety and scams was shared by PC Gilliland in the Community council report as follows
https://www.scotland.police.uk/advice-and-information/
Internet safety - Police Scotland
Scams and frauds - Police Scotland
There is also a further helpful site I have found with lots of information in relation to recently reported scams and online safety for students from trading standards which can be found on the following link
Trading Standards Scotland Bulletin 10 August (mailchi.mp)
It also has links to numerous other agencies and supports.
If there is a way you can think of sharing this with our communities please let us know – we have a number of leaflets at the station which we would also be happy to share I hope you find these helpful and I will arrange for a few posters to be made up for distributing within the community.
PS Sarah Stephenson (C0508)
Stirling Rural Community Policing Team
Dunblane Police Station
Forth Valley Division
Police Scotland
I'm writing to update you on progress on the Drumbrae site that the University of Edinburgh has recently purchased.
The University plans to use the site to create woodlands to sequester carbon, and also improve biodiversity and heritage understanding. We’ll do this through managing woodland and open habitats and engaging in projects with community and special interest groups, while maintaining access for local communities.
Over the last few months, we have been seeking early engagement with local communities through a survey to hear what is important to them on this project. This survey is now closed, and we will be using the responses gathered to inform aspects of our plans for Drumbrae. Our next steps are outlined below:
Drop-in information session
We hosted a Drumbrae Consultation event for members of the public. Our team were at this event to discuss and explain the draft proposals. Large-scale maps were on display, and people were able to share their views. It was held on Friday 25 August 2023 in the Bridge of Allan Sports Club
Woodland creation at Drumbrae: share your views
Everyone is welcome to view our plans and respond to our consultation survey. Over the coming weeks, we will be adding more information to our website, including detailed site maps, nature and heritage surveys. The survey will open from Monday 28 August to Friday 29 September 2023. All the information on Drumbrae, including the consultation survey can be found here: edin.ac/drumbrae-consult.
Please feel free to share this information with relevant groups and individuals. Our website will be kept up to date with the latest information.
Yours sincerely,
Yvonne Edwards
Forest, Peat and Rural Land Manager
University of Edinburgh | Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | +44 (0)131 651 3000
www.ed.ac.uk/sustainability | The Boilerhouse, High School Yards, Edinburgh, EH1 1LT
Twitter: @edsust | Facebook: EdinburghSustainability | Instagram: ?@uoe_sustainability
From earler in the year
A Land Management Plan is being proposed for land to the North West of Dumyat.
See the website; Download the plan
Quoting from the website
'Drumbrae is a newly acquired site of around 431 hectares that will be managed by the University of Edinburgh to create woodland and improve open habitat. It is in the Ochils, near the city of Stirling, north of Bridge of Allan. It sits in the Stirling Local Authority Area.
A new Land Management Plan is being produced to map out and guide what we will do at Drumbrae.
It covers:
- woodland creation
- increasing biodiversity
- engaging with local communities, local to the site and internally at the University of Edinburgh.'
The land was on the market recently for £1.850m. Here is the sales brochure.
Early work for the next Stirling Local Development Plan is underway, and we wanted to let you know of a few key elements that may be of particular interest to you.
Have Your Say survey
To help us start the process of producing the new Local Development Plan (LDP), we want your views to inform the preparation of an Evidence Report. This is an initial information gathering stage that will lay the foundations for the new LDP. You can find out more about the LDP process on our Developing our next Stirling Local Development Plan page - Developing our next Stirling Local Development Plan | Stirling Council.
Your views will also inform the preparation of a new Local Transport Strategy (LTS). The LTS will lay out the Council’s plans to improve all aspects of transport across the entire Stirling Council area. With this in mind, we are keen to understand where there are any transport-related problems in your area, which can cover any transport type. Please find the link here: https://engage.stirling.gov.uk/en-GB/folders/have-a-say-in-the-future-of-your-place
Self-Build Register
Self-build housing is where an individual (whether acting alone or with other individuals) commissions or is personally involved in the design and construction of a dwelling that is intended to be the individual’s main residence once it is built. We now invite you to register your interest by completing the registration form available through this link: https://www.stirling.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning/development-planning/self-build-housing-registration-and-list/
Local Place Plans
Work has begun on assisting our communities in the preparation of their Local Place Plans. A resource hub has been set up to answer questions, provide resources and give guidance at any time. This can be viewed here: https://www.stirling.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning/development-planning/local-place-plans-lpp-resource-hub/
If you are intending on producing a Local Place Plan and haven’t spoken to us already, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if further information would be useful to you.
We hope to be in touch again soon to provide further updates.
Best regards
Stirling Council LDP team
As part of its wider strategic campaign ‘Your Water, Your Life’, Scottish Water has committed to install outdoor water bottle filling stations across Scotland to encourage and promote the use of refillable bottles which customers can fill up with one of the country’s best-loved products - our nation’s tap water.
The benefits of topping up with fresh, great-tasting tap water are clear - it’s good value and good for the pocket, it’s good for the environment and it’s good for health. https://www.yourwateryourlife.co.uk/whats-new/
We have been piloting different locations and partnership opportunities, and would like to advise you of our proposal to locate a TUT in Dunblane to serve local patrons, community groups and visitors. This would also further complement existing Top Up Taps and future locations we have in planning for the wider area
We will go through for planning permission to be granted for this location where public consultation will be open but I would like the opportunity to engage with you directly in the first instance.
We are interested in locating a TUT near by the famous golden post box.
I look forward to hearing from you and hearing any feedback you may have.
Amy Methven
Corporate Affairs, TUT Project Manager
Phone: 01414830746
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dunblane school receives military charity's Recognition Award
To formally acknowledge extra endeavour, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity in Scotland, the Regional Recognition Award (RRA) was established earlier this year.
So far, the RRA – a specially commissioned SSAFA Scotland Region engraved shield – has been awarded to individuals, be they volunteers or staff, for their sterling contributions to the welfare of serving personnel and veterans, and their families.
But in a break with this new tradition, the RRA has been awarded to a school. Queen Victoria School in Dunblane has received this major accolade to mark the very successful collaborative production of Archie's Issues, sponsored by SSAFA with The Collaborative Veterans in March 2023.
The production of Archie's Issues was hailed as "... a triumph..." by theatregoers, and the effort by pupils and staff of Queen Victoria School was critical to its success.
Graham Meacher, SSAFA's Scotland Regional Chair, said: "The support, interest, enthusiasm, and creativity displayed by Queen Victoria School pupils and staff in the production of Archie's Issues made making the school a collective recipient of the Regional Recognition Award an easy decision.
"Quite simply, without them, the production would not have been the success it was, and so it is entirely fitting that SSAFA in Scotland recognises their superb effort, and we plan to build on the excellent relationship established."
The presentation was made at the dress rehearsal for The Grand Day at Queen Victoria School in the presence of Sarah Chester (Executive Producer), Liz Miller and Billy McWilliam representing The Creative Veterans, Mary Kenyon (Chairman SSAFA Forth Valley), and Headmaster Donald Shaw in front of the school body.
The next Regional Recognition Awards will be announced in August.
For more information, visit ssafa.org.uk/scotland.
More...
A Land Management Plan is being proposed for land to the North West of Dumyat.
See the website; Download the plan
Quoting from the website
'Drumbrae is a newly acquired site of around 431 hectares that will be managed by the University of Edinburgh to create woodland and improve open habitat. It is in the Ochils, near the city of Stirling, north of Bridge of Allan. It sits in the Stirling Local Authority Area.
A new Land Management Plan is being produced to map out and guide what we will do at Drumbrae.
It covers:
- woodland creation
- increasing biodiversity
- engaging with local communities, local to the site and internally at the University of Edinburgh.'
The land was on the market recently for £1.850m. Here is the sales brochure.
Wind2 and Octopus Energy are proposing a 15 turbine windfarm behind Alva and Sherrifmuir.
https://windburnwindfarm.co.uk/
This will produce green energy with less wastage than offshore wind. but some may be concerned about any visual impact.
Have your say :
Dunblane Sports Club were celebrating 100 years of tennis at the weekend with a family fun day and an adult fun tournament.
The first 2 tennis courts on the site were opened on 11th July 1923 by Mrs Donaldson of Kilbryde Castle with a pavilion and 2 further courts added in 1924/5.
The courts have recently been resurfaced with artificial clay.
The club is planning a gala dinner in the Hydro in September. More info on their Facebook page.