Sports - Andrew Butchart has been selected as one of the lead stars for the Scotland Commonwealth games team for 2018 having had another highly successful year in 2017. In September, Jamie Murray and partner Martina Hingis won the US Open mixed doubles having previously won the same event in Wimbledon. Meanwhile brother Andy and his wife Kim had their second baby girl. Not to be out done, mum Judy received her OBE and rejoined Strictly for the Christmas special. Many other Dunblane athletes took part in the Stirling Scottish Marathon with plans announced for a half marathon to join the full one next year.
Life on the High Street - Our butchers - John Hill and Benetts continued to make it big in the world of PIEs with top awards being won. Sadly, the Sherrifmuir Inn closed down but Juniper Restaurant started up in Old Churches House offering a menu that has been very successful in Tillicoultry. In December, RBS announced that their branch in Dunblane would close, following in the footsteps of the TSB. The streetscaping scheme around the station finished early in the year with the Allan Water Bridge re-emerging from the building work complete with raised flower beds. For much of the year we had a chicane on the dual carriageway while part of the bridge was raised to allow for electric trains to Dunblane in late 2018 - early 2019. Sadly if we went in to Edinburgh or Glasgow for a night out, it was a rather slow bus taking you home from Polmont or Croy.
Culture and Events - The fling was a success again with Dougie McLean headlining the Saturday night in the Victoria Hall.
October saw the E-Bicycle event take place.
We're not getting quieter, with Holmehill, Park of Keir and Hillside housing developments all continuing to generate strong views in both for and against camps.
And Finally - Dunblane's population stands at 8,830. It is the second biggest settlement in the Stirling Council area.
Have a great 2018!
Thursday 30 November
5.00pm – 9.00pm
Congratulations to Judy who becomes the third member of the Murray family to be honoured after her two sons. She received the honour from Prince William for services to tennis, charity and women's sport
September 2017 Update
The northbound section of the B8033 from the roundabout at Claredon Place to the junction of Stirling Road and the southbound section of the B8033 from the junction of Beech Road to the roundabout at Claredon Place. Sunnyside will also be closed for its entire length. All roads closed from 9-10-17 until 23-10-17 to ensure public safety during bridge works. Alternative route : via Claredon Place-Springfield Road-Doune Road-A820-A9- B8033-Perth Road and vice versa. NB: Claredon Place will be open to two-way traffic.
February 2017 Update
- The bridge works will commence around the end of May 2017.
- The project will run for between 9 and 12 months.
- Network Rail plan to hold two drop-in sessions in the Victoria Halls for residents before the works commence.
- Every household will receive an information leaflet in March or April.
- Updates will be provided to residents who live within 500m every 6 to 8 weeksSunnyside will be closed to traffic and pedestrians (except for residents who will be able to walk to their houses).
- Clarendon Place will become two-way for traffic.
- Traffic will be two-way for the section of the B8033 on the abattoir side between the bus stop on the south side and mid way along the main road bridge over the river.
The only road bridge over the railway in Dunblane needs to be partially rebuilt. The bridge on the Perth Road Dual Carriageway needs to be raised to allow for electric trains between Dunblane and Edinburgh / Glasgow by next year. Engineers had previously thought that lowering the level of the track would be sufficient to install wires but due to flooding and other safety issues, they now need to raise the level of the bridge. Updated regulations also require higher parpapets on bridges over electrified railways.
The bridge is built in two halves - the original and the new when the road was dualled. Fortunately the road no longer requires to be dualled in any case so this should allow disruption to be less.
The Kerse Road bridge in Stirling has a similar issue which means it will be closed for a year from May, following the . Diversions to Springkerse will be in force.
Calling all cycling
Dunblaners
Whether you are regular confident free-wheeling road/mountain bikers, relying on electric motors, still on your balance bike or just thinking of starting from scratch, we want to meet you.
Dunblane by Cycle is a new community group that emerged after the success of Discover Dunblane's participation in European Mobility Week in September 2016.
Our primary aim is to support cycling as a practical and safe means of everyday transport for all ages within, to and from Dunblane
LAUNCH EVENT
Sunday 7th May from 1:30-3:30 pm
Braeport Community Centre
All committed or aspirant cyclists are welcome to drop-in and join us (preferably with wheels!) to:
- learn more about our plans for the year
- get advice on how to prepare your bike for summer
- sample some of Dunblane's cycle ways
- have some family fun
For further information:
- drop an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- look at a summary of how we plan to operate
- see our full constitution.
- explore local cycling routes on Dunblane's Green Travel Map
Bartys lawyers in Dunblane is to merge with WJM. It will be business as usual once the merger goes through at the end of May. WJM has offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness.
There are of course other lawyers in Dunblane such as McLean and Stewart.
Community in Action
Allan Water, Retaining Wall Restoration, Dunblane
A partnership project between Dunblane Development Trust and Stirling Council is about to restore a section of the collapsed Riverside Walk in Dunblane.
A section of the Riverside Walk, the recreational path that runs along the banks of the Allanwater just below Dunblane Cathedral has been fenced off and closed to the public since 2011 when it was washed away by the river in full flow following a period of extreme wet weather.
The local community led by Dunblane Development Trust has been working to see it restored and reopened as the walk is a valuable asset of cathedral city life for both locals and visitors.
Stirling Council has set aside £100,000 towards the necessary work and Dunblane Development Trust has also attained a £10,000 grant from the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Environment Trust and has raised over £2,000 from local public donations to allow the restoration to take place.
Stirling Council Environment Convenor, Councillor Danny Gibson, said: “We know just how important this part of Dunblane is to the local community and what a jewel in the crown it is of their visitor offering which is why we have pledged such a significant sum. Stirling Council is delighted to support the community’s aspirations and efforts to have the Riverside Walk restored and reopened.”
Altogether the project is likely to cost up to £110,000 and the Dunblane Development Trust, acting as agent, has appointed IKM Consulting Ltd as the principal contractor. The works will be overseen by Stirling Council’s Localities and Infrastucture service. Weather permitting the project is anticipated to be complete by mid September 2016.
Roy Nicolson, chair of Dunblane Development Trust, said “after years of campaigning and effort by the trust’s volunteers, the local community will be delighted that the reinstatement of this valued riverside walkway is now being undertaken.”
Club of the Month – August 2016 - Dunblane Explorer Scout Unit
If you would like your organisation featured in future months, please get in touch – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dunblane Milvus Explorer Unit is a fantastic group of young people between ages of 14 and 18, who are interested in adventure, meeting new people and travelling away to camps close and afar. Recent camp locations include Fordell Firs and Kashel, and these are just private camps. Some of the Unit also go to national camps like the Blair Athol Jamboree. These are a fantastic way to push yourself out of your comfort zone and do many activities that you never would do before. The best thing about the Milvus unit is that it predominantly relies upon the explorers themselves and not the leaders. Since it is such a tight but approachable group, you will get to know everyone sooner or later after joining; the unit has seen a high influx of newcomers lately , we were in mid teens before Christmas, but now the unit member numbers are in the mid-twenties. The main and most popular as well as recognized event in the unit is the infamous film night, which happens twice a year, once before Christmas and once at the end of term, the films are a surprise but always a pleasant one, and plenty of food is involved as well. The unit meets every Friday night during the school term at 7:45PM, (but don’t worry, its far from a sacrifice), at the Dunblane Scout Hall next to the fourways roundabout. The leaders are David and Nick Morris and can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , so come along and have some fun with a fun lot of people!
By Diarmid Thomson (Explorer)
Saturday 6 February & Sunday 7 February
For all Dunblane Residents
Meet Community Councillors and people involved with the Development Trust to share your ideas and views about:
* The future use of our historic Burgh Chambers.
* How our young people could fund their own projects
* The outcomes from our Town Centre Charrette
* Developing our Laighills Park
* The Development Trust’s activities
Drop into the Burgh Chambers
Saturday 6th February - 11.00am and 3.00pm
Youth Project Workshop
* Are you between 15 and 21 years old?
* What do you think is needed in Dunblane?
* How would you spend £30k to make it happen?
Come to the Dunblane Centre
Sunday 7 February - from 1.00pm to 3.00pm
Do you want more information?
From 20 March to 8 August 2016 Queen Street Station (Upper) will be closed. As a result there will be fewer direct trains on the Dunblane/Glasgow route and journey times will be longer.
Download the new customer leaflet
Mornings : On weekday mornings (according to thetrainline.com) the trains will run as follows:-
05.46 arriving at 07.25 (direct)
07.08 arriving at 08.20 (one change)
07.44 arriving at 08.50 (one change)
08.13 arriving at 09.20 (direct)
08.28 arriving at 09.50 (one change)
09.07 arriving at 10.21 (direct)
Evenings from Central Station : On weekday evenings, trains will be at (good ones in red):-
16.37 arriving at 18.16 (two changes)
16.46 arriving at 18.16 (three changes)
17.19 arriving at 18.22 (direct)
17.47 arriving at 18.50 (direct)
18.05 arriving at 19.14 (direct)
18.07 arriving at 19.44 (one change)
18.17 arriving at 19.44 (two changes)
19.10 arriving at 20.39 (one change)
Evenings from Queen Street : On weekday evenings, trains will be at:-
16.31 arriving at 17.54 (one change)
16.59 arriving at 18.22 (one change)
17.01 arriving at 18.16 (2 changes)
17.22 arriving at 18.44 (direct)
17.31 arriving at 18.44 (one change)
18.01 arriving at 19.14 (2 changes)
18.22 arriving at 19.44 (direct)