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Dunblane Community Council
Graham Mowat
Acting Secretary
11 Caledonian Place
Dunblane
FK15 9AF
Tel: 07817748588
Ailsa Gray
Chair
Old Glassingall
Dunblane
FK15 0JG
Tel: 07775313038
Minutes of the Dunblane Community Council held on Wednesday, 10 April,
2024, at 7 p.m. in the Library, Dunblane. This is a “blended” meeting, with
some attendees joining by Zoom.
Present: Ailsa Gray (Chair), Graham Mowat (Interim Secretary), Terence
O’Byrne, Karen Jenkins, Calum Thomson, Jonathan Failes, Alan Booth. Joining
by Zoom: Stewart Corbett (Treasurer), Anna Jarchow-MacDonald.
In attendance: Councillors Robin Kleinman and Thomas Heald, Steve Mason
(Creative Dunblane), Jim and Margaret Leishman, Simon Learoyd, David
Storrie, Richard Gibbs, Fiona Carrick-Anderson, Cliff Gordon, Margaret Bragg
(Minutes Secretary). Joining by Zoom: Mairi Santolini, Jane Dalgleish.
1. Apologies
Apologies have been received from Councillor Alasdair Tollemache, Annelise
Bakri, Bridget Clark and the Police.
2. Conflicts of interest
As Councillor Kleinman is a member of the Council’s Planning and Regulation
Panel, he will withdraw during the discussion of the planning application
relating to Ledcameroch Walled Garden (agenda item 6).
3. Approval of minutes of 6 March 2024
With the amendment that the Civic Panel is due to meet on 25 April, not 20
April as minuted last month under agenda item 6, these were approved,
proposed by Terence O’Byrne and seconded by Alan Booth.
4. Police Report
The Secretary reported that PC Gilliland is retiring and he will find out who is
replacing him. Action: The Secretary.
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5. Chair’s Report: See attached.
Windburn wind farm In response to a request from the Chair, further maps
have been produced showing the visual impact of the turbines as seen from
Cromlix Hotel and flats near the High School. As the tips will be more obvious
from Cromlix Hotel than originally thought, the Chair will share the new maps
with them. Action: Graham Mowat. Calum Thomson has already publicised
them on the Dunblane website.
Concerns were raised over construction traffic, which will not be permitted to
turn right over the A9 because due to the road traffic risk. Returning traffic
is likely to use the fully segregated slips at Gleneagles and the Queen Victoria
school which would impact the local road network. Councillor Kleinman
agreed to raise this with Stirling Council. Action: Councillor Kleinman.
Cambushinnie substation (Scottish and Southern Electricity Network) Bridget
Clark and David Prescott have already circulated their comments after the
public meeting at Braco, attaching SSEN’s booklet detailing the project. A
further public consultation meeting will be held in June.
The Chair raised the potential impact of continuous noise produced by this
large substation and pointed out that Highland Council had to issue a noise
abatement notice to SSE (Scottish and Southern Energy plc) in response to
complaints over a similar substation at Beauly. The Chair agreed to write to
SSEN to find out what noise reduction measures they are planning. She also
agreed to include the suggestion made by Stewart Corbett that they produce
a noise map of the surrounding area. She will draft a letter for circulation and
comment. Action: The Chair. Councillor Heald agreed to raise with the
Council the potential impact of the substation on residents. Action:
Councillor Heald.
With reference to the potential community benefit accruing from this project,
Bridget Clark and Alan Booth have been working on a list of community
projects which could benefit. Any DCC members with suggestions for this
should contact Alan. Action: All
Dunblane Common Good Fund The Chair indicated that she is willing to
produce a paper for the next meeting of the Civic Panel outlining the
arguments as detailed in her attached report. In particular, she considers the
Council’s definition of common good assets as interpreted by Council officers
is too narrow and does not reflect case law. Assets were missing from
Dunblane’s Common Good Fund such as the Burgh Chambers. The Chair
agreed to submit her report to Stephen Bly (Community Council Enquiry Co
ordinator) with a request that this is put on the agenda of the next meeting of
the Civic Panel on 25 April. She will also send a copy to Councillor Kleinman.
Action: The Chair. Councillor Kleinman will let her know if it is on the agenda.
Action: Councillor Kleinman.
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The Chair suggested that, in the event of an unsatisfactory response from the
Council, other options were open to community councils such as contacting
Audit Scotland, raising a Parliamentary petition or a court action.
Steve Mason agreed to send her a copy of the title deeds and relevant historical
minutes relating to the Burgh Chambers, the ownership of which is part of the
dispute over the Common Good Fund. Action: Steve Mason.
SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) flood risk at Glassingall
Planning approval was given for a development at Glassingall, with Stirling
Council being unaware of the risk of flooding in this area, which impacts
planning decisions. A member of the public has written to the Council and
SEPA asking why this was not designated a flood-risk area..
SEPA has started a consultation on Potentially Vulnerable Areas at risk of
flooding, and, in the attached report, the Chair detailed the various sites in
the community council area. The Chair asked Councillors to look into this
and asked for it to be publicised through social media.
Local Development Plan (LDP) and Local Place Plan (LPP) The Chair expressed
concern about the lack of transparency of the process, by which the
community council is kept in the dark of communications between developers
and the Council. She agreed to use a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to
the Council to find out more. Action: The Chair. She repeated her suggestion
that developers be invited to produce information in the form of presentations
for the community to see and comment on. (See minutes March 2024.)
In response to the community council raising concerns over the lack of
funding and support, Keith Brown MSP has written to Joe Fitzpatrick MSP,
Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning, and Mark Russell
MSP has also given his support.
Anna Jarchow-MacDonald reported that Glasgow Council were able to fund
the use of consultants and architects to help them, and the chair comment
that while Callander had received funding and support from Stirling Council
and the National Parks Authority to help them to draw up their LPP. In
comparison, no funding, support or even statistical information is available to
help draw up a LPP for Dunblane.
The Chair reported that at a meeting she and Terence had with Stirling Council
planning department, they expressed that the LPP should be little more than
a pictorial representation of what development and assets the community
wants where. This view appears to be narrower and different from earlier
interpretations of this new legislastion by Stirling Council. One of the key
issues is that Dunblane is trying to prepare its LPP at the same time as Stirling
Council is preparing their new Local Development Plan. The process is
particularly confusing and there is no support.
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The Chair pointed out the need for all community councillors to agree on a
way forward and Terence O’Byrne suggested that community councillors met,
apart from the monthly meeting, in order to establish the approach DCC will
take on Dunblane’s LPP. The Secretary suggested that the questionnaires used
by other communities could be used as the basis of consultation with
residents. Stewart Corbett felt that the Dunblane Development Trust should
be invited to participate. Other groups could be asked to comment at a later
stage. Mairi Santolini called for the views of young people to be considered.
The idea of a small working group was supported.
6. Planning Application 24/100107/FUL (Community)
As a member of the Council’s Planning and Regulation Panel, Councillor
Kleinman withdrew during this discussion.
This planning application refers to a proposal for two eco-huts, for family
visitors, at Ledcameroch Walled Garden, which has attracted over 30
objections from neighbours, some of whom are attending this meeting. The
main objections include: access for construction traffic, emergency vehicles
and visitors; water running off the hill and drainage; parking for visitors;
impact on wildlife; sewage capacity; increased traffic in the cul-de-sac
Ledcameroch Gardens; and attracting vandalism when the huts are not
occupied. The Chair also raised the increased risk of flooding.
The Chair indicated that the community council will also submit an objection
as the proposed development was contrary to the Local Development Plan.
Because of the number of objections, this application will go before the
Planning Panel.
7. Burgh Chambers Update
Steve Mason reported that an appeal has been made to the Council for a six
month delay in Creative Dunblane taking over the building, as, although grant
applications are in the pipe-line, they have been unable to meet the three
month deadline originally given. This situation has arisen because the Council
gave Creative Dunblane three months to make the project viable or the
building would be sold. Although the co-working space is being used, funding
is needed to refurbish the building and increase the number of co-workers.
He is still awaiting a response from the Council. The Chair pointed out that,
in her opinion, the Burgh Chambers should have been included in Dunblane’s
Common Good Fund into which the Council should have been paying rent.
Steve Mason agreed to send a copy of the title deeds to Alan Booth.
8. Operational Report: See attached.
Terence O’Byrne has produced a 16 point report and highlighted certain
issues.
Cycle lane works on the B8033 These have been completed although the
southbound carriageway has still to be cleaned out.
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Kinbuck bridge approach road alterations The Chair requested, through the
elected members, that Stirling Council contact Transport Scotland expressing
their concerns that, when traffic is diverted from the A9 onto the B8033 and
across the Kinbuck bridge, it inevitably gets damaged, and the consequent
expense for repair falls to the Council.
Kinbuck Road 40mph request The reasons for refusing this have not been
given by the Council.
Traffic management issues After a meeting with the Roads Manager, Terence
O’Byrne has received assurances that in future the community council will be
involved at an early stage of planning of traffic management.
Water ponding and rust on railway bridge Terence O’Byrne is going to contact
Councillor Tollemache for his support to encourage Network Rail to attend a
community council meeting.
Removal of lollipop school crossings To replace manned school crossings,
two light controlled or zebra crossings, are planned – one on Doune Road and
the other on Old Doune Road – once sites have been agreed. These will be
installed during the school summer holidays. The Secretary will contact
Stephen Bly (Community Council Enquiry Co-ordinator, Stirling Council) about
the proposed sites. He agreed to copy in Councillor Kleinman who will contact
Angela McGibbon (Traffic and Road Safety Team Leader, Stirling Council).
Action: The Secretary and Councillor Kleinman.
SSEN upgrade work in east Dunblane It was agreed that information about
road closures be publicised on the Dunblane website when they are imminent.
10. Local Place Plan
The suggestion (see agenda item 5) that a small group meet in the next three
weeks to discuss this was agreed. Jonathan Failes and Anna Jarchow
MacDonald have been looking at National Planning Framework 4 to identify
specific questions.
11. Communications Report
Calum Thomson reported that he is updating the Dunblane.info website with
the agenda items of the community council. He suggested that the agenda be
altered to align with themes in the LDP, and tailored to these themes. However,
the agenda should also include community projects, such as the Burgh
Chambers, the Bank or the Dunblane Centre. Terence O’Byrne suggested that
short reports be compiled before meetings for people to read through. The
Chair suggested that agenda items could appear in rotation to allow more
forward planning of what is going to be discussed.
12. AOCB
Deer problem Richard Gibbs attended a meeting of the community council
last year (see minutes June 2023) to raise concerns over the number of deer
on the roads and gardens in Dunblane and the spread of Lyme disease. He
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reported that NatureScot is now involved, and they are prepared to cull the
deer if there is a sufficient number of complaints or a number of traffic
incidents. They will send a drone up to monitor the spread of the deer. In the
first instance, the landowner is responsible and NatureScot is going to contact
them. It was noted that deer have been displaced because of forestry work on
Sheriffmuir. The Chair agreed to contact NatureScot to ask them about
measures to assess and manage the deer population round Dunblane. Action:
The Chair.
Christie Clock The Chair understands that Historic Environment Scotland
does not have the capacity to insist that the clock gets rebuilt and queried
why, when Stirling Council has a budget deficit and is cutting vital public
services, £1 million is to be spent on this. Councillor Kleinman reported that
other options are being pursued.
Cricket Club An email has been circulated from the Cricket Club who are now
training in Doune as the Laighhills pitch is unplayable, which is disappointing
after the club has spent time and effort to establish themselves there. The
Council’s attempts to improve the drainage have not worked.
Blossom Day Anna Jarchow-MacDonald received support from the community
council when she proposed a community “Blossom Day” to revive interest in
orchards, hopefully in May.
13. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Dunblane community council will take place at 7 p.m.
on Wednesday, 1 May, 2024, in the Library, Dunblane.
The meeting ended at 8.50 p.m.
This is a true representation of the meeting.
Ailsa Gray ………………………………………………………. Date …………………
Chair
Graham Mowat …………………………………………………. Date ………………….
Interim Secretary
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