Download or view in pdf format
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, 8 May,
2024, at 7 p.m. in the Library, Dunblane. This is a “blended” meeting, with
some attendees joining by Zoom.
Present: Ailsa Gray (Chairman), Graham Mowat (Interim Secretary), Karen
Jenkins, Calum Thomson, Jonathan Failes, Alan Booth, Anna Jarchow
MacDonald, Annelise Bakri, Fiona Plumtree.
In attendance: Councillors Robin Kleinman, Thomas Heald and Alasdair
Tollemache, Bridget Clark, Liz-Anne Richards, Ferdi Van Zyl, Margaret Bragg
(Minutes Secretary). Joining by Zoom: Mairi Santolini.
1 Apologies
Apologies have been received from Terence O’Byrne.
2. Conflicts of interest
Councillor Kleinman and Councillor Tollemache are members of the Council’s
Planning and Regulation Committee and Civic Panel.
3. Approval of minutes of 10 April 2024
These were approved, proposed by Calum Thomson and seconded by Karen
Jenkins. The Secretary has been notified by Stephen Bly (Community Council
Enquiry Co-ordinator, Stirling Council) that the minutes of the December 2023
meeting have not been formally approved. The Chair agreed to circulate them
and ask for approval from community councillors. Action: The Chair.
4. Police Report: See attached.
With the retirement of PC Gilliland and the redeployment of PC Ross Barclay
to a new role as a school-based officer, Dunblane is without a community
policeman at present. It was agreed that the Secretary will contact Police
Page 1 of 7
Sergeant Sarah Stephenson at the Dunblane police station to ask about future
policing. Action: The Secretary.
5. Chair’s Report: See attached.
Dunblane Common Good Fund The Chair has submitted a Note on behalf of
the community council to the Council with a request that this be put on the
agenda of a future Civic Panel meeting. She regards the Note as a working
document which can be updated as information becomes available. Andy
Wightman has confirmed the community council’s interpretation that the
Burgh Chambers was likely a common good asset in Dunblane. The relevance
of this is that if Creative Dunblane were unable to take over the Burgh
Chambers and the Council were to sell the building, the proceeds would go
into Dunblane’s Common Good Fund. Alan Booth suggested that the
community council invite the Council lawyer who is advising the Civic Panel
to a meeting to explain the legal position, as given to the Council, with
reference to Dunblane’s common good assets. Andy Wightman could be
invited to participate by Zoom as well. The Chair agreed to contact Stephen
Bly to request this. Action: The Chair. (See also the Laighhills pavilion under
AOCB.)
Cambushinnie substation (Scottish and Southern Electricity Network) The
Chair has written to SSEN highlighting how Dunblane might be impacted by
noise pollution and pointing out that mitigation measures have to be built into
the design from the start. Councillor Heald’s enquiry about this to the
Council’s Environmental Health department has not elicited a useful response
as they claimed they were unaware of the problem of noise pollution.
The Chair also highlighted the impact on local roads of construction vehicles
on the B8033, especially in view of the fact that this is the relief road when
the A9 is closed. Kinbuck Bridge, which is frequently damaged, would be
unable to take the added traffic. SSEN would have to make good any damage
they were responsible for. Fiona Plumtree said that Auchinlay Road would
also be impacted and at present is in need of resurfacing. It was agreed that
resurfacing this road could be included in Terence O’Byrne’s operational
report. Action: Terence O’Byrne.
It was noted the cumulative effect of construction traffic for the substation,
the proposed Windburn Windfarm and the electrification of the railway line,
all using rural roads that connect to a particularly dangerous section of the
A9. There is the added danger of additional traffic, especially large vehicles,
using the non-compliant slip roads at the Queen Victoria school, which has
been raised before.
Windburn windfarm The Secretary has emailed Cromlix Hotel with the
updated visual impact maps but has not had a response from them yet.
Councillor Kleinman commented that no formal application has been
submitted and emphasised that consultation will be part of the planning
Page 2 of 7
process. Richard Callander (Senior Planning Officer, Stirling Council) has
agreed that the community council will be included in this process.
B8033 speed reduction between Dunblane and Kinbuck The Council has
agreed to reduce the speed of the road to 40mph in line with the principle that
the speed restriction on the whole road has to make sense, without sections
of higher speed limits. The Council also recognised the large number of
vulnerable road users on this road, such as pedestrians. This will be added to
the programme of works and Terence O’Byrne will take this forward. Action:
Terence O’Byrne. The suggestion of Alan Booth that a road sign indicating it
is a “mixed use” road should be installed was also agreed and Councillor
Tollemache will take this forward. Action: Councillor Tollemache.
Flooding risk at Glassingall The Chair has written to Ryan Campbell (Senior
Flood Officer, Stirling Council) with video evidence of flooding events on the
Glassingall Estate. The increase in the number of flooding events may be due
to the large-scale tree felling at South Glassingall on Sheriffmuir and the re
routing of surface water from the A9 into existing burns. It was noted that
the landowner, in felling timber, should have put in place flood mitigation
measures, and this should be included in felling permissions given by the
Forestry Commission. The Chair will complete the survey from SEPA (Scottish
Environment Protection Agency) as reported at last month’s meeting. Action:
The Chair.
Councillor Tollemache has requested a meeting between Councillors, the
community council and the Flood Officer of the Council and will let the Chair
know when he has had a reply. Action: Councillor Tollemache.
Community policing PC Barclay, in his new role as a school-based officer, has
spoken to teenagers in schools and in other groups about the danger of
sextortion and is also going to contact parents. There are two websites which
give advice to parents and Calum Thomson agreed to publicise these on the
Dunblane.info website. Action: Calum Thomson. Mairi Santolini from the
Dunblane High School Parent Council highlighted the need for better advice
on online security and digital safeguarding for parents, and how to support
young people. The Chair agreed to work with the school. Action: The Chair.
Mairi Santolini agreed to give an update at the next meeting. Action: Mairi
Santolini.
Deer problem The Chair wrote to NatureScot (see last month’s minutes) and
the landowner is carrying out a cull.
6. Operational Report: See attached.
Terence O’Byrne has produced a 16 point report, with many issues remaining
unresolved.
Cycle lanes on the B8033 Bridget Clark reported that the new design seems
to be working well, although repeating that this is only a temporary solution.
Councillor Tollemache reported that the Council is planning to reduce the
Page 3 of 7
speed limit on the Perth Road up to the Queen Victoria school to 20 mph when
resources allow.
Kinbuck Bridge Terence O’Byrne reported that a width restriction will be put
in place on the approach road within the next three months. Councillor
Kleinman said that Stirling Council will exact payment for repair whenever it
is known who is responsible for any damage.
Removal of lollipop school crossings Terence O’Byrne has requested from the
Council statistics on the speed of traffic. The proposal is for light-controlled
or zebra crossings to be sited where the lollipop officers stood, but it was
pointed out that that would not be suitable for a crossing at the junction on
the Old Doune Road. Councillor Kleinman said that a full consultation exercise
will take place, involving the Primary School, and the work should take place
during the school summer holidays.
Memorial bridge A ramp up to the bridge on the Cathedral side has collapsed
and Councillor Tollemache reported that, after a considerable delay, it has
now been fenced off. He is pushing to have this repaired, even temporarily,
for The Fling at the end of the month.
7. Planning Report: See attached.
New substation at Millrow and network upgrade Alan Booth pointed out the
extensive reports associated with this and recommended that councillors read
them. He agreed to discuss this with Terence O’Byrne. It was suggested that
Bishop’s Walk be resurfaced as part of community benefit accruing from this.
Ledcameroch walled garden The community council submitted an objection
to the application and the Roads Development Team of the Council has
recommended refusal.
Change of use Alan Booth pointed out that a change of use has been granted
by the Council for a house at Stockbridge to allow it to be sold without a
Condition 7 (occupancy restriction). A discussion arose on who is responsible
for ensuring planning conditions are met. Councillor Kleinman said that
planning officers follow them up but that in difficult planning decisions it
could take a long time. The Secretary thought this a failure of the planning
system, whereby work has to start within 3 years of permission being granted
but can last as long as the builder or developer takes. Specific conditions
would only be looked at when applications were submitted for completion
certificates.
8. Local Place Plan (LPP)
Calum Thomson has circulated the latest version of the survey for review and
noted comments from Terence O’Byrne and Fiona Plumtree. It is hoped to
have the survey made public at the start of June, based on that used in Bridge
of Allan. If using surveymonkey, the Treasurer will need to check the council
has an up-to-date licence.
Page 4 of 7
A discussion arose over how to use the work already done by Jonathan Failes
which Alan Booth stressed should not be lost. Although the Council’s focus
for the LPP is very narrow, it was agreed that the initial survey for this could
inform a future questionnaire, to find out more information about Dunblane
and cultivate a group of people willing to help in the community. The Chair
pointed out that the Council has brought out more surveys. She will submit a
Freedom of Information request to the Council to find out what
communication there has been between the Council and developers. Action:
The Chair.
9. Communication Report
Calum Thomson reported that he is updating the tracker of community
council actions on the Dunblane.info website. He felt it needed curating more
regularly and taken back to the community more often. He suggested that the
various actions could be shared round the councillors involved. The action
tracker could be reviewed as part of community council meetings.
The Chair said it would be useful as part of community consultation for
various bodies to come to council meetings as part of a six-monthly plan of
engagement.
10. AOCB
Community benefit Bridget Clark has been helping to produce a list of
possible community benefit proposals accruing from developments round
Dunblane. However, she felt that suggestions would be better coming directly
from the community council and will email the Chair with what she has
produced so far. Suggestions raised at this meeting include the resurfacing of
Auchinlay Road and Bishop’s Walk and upgrading the path at Ashfield.
Laighhills pavilion Ferdi Van Zyl introduced himself, stating he wanted to
develop the two concrete bases in the Laighhills, one of which currently
supports the pavilion changing rooms. There used to be a toilet block on the
second base, which is serviced for water, sewerage and electricity but the toilet
block itself was demolished some time ago. However, in discussions with
Stirling Council he has been unable to ascertain who owns the site. Councillor
Tollemache has raised the derelict state of the changing rooms with the
Council, and whether it is owned by the Council or is now deemed a common
good asset, without receiving a satisfactory response. He has asked to see the
legal advice given but has not yet had a reply. As Alan Booth reminded the
meeting, there has been a demolition order on it for at least 10 years, and the
Soccer Club once wanted to bring it back into use. The paintings on the
outside were part of a project by the Art Department at the High School. The
need for a toilet is supported, and Ferdi Van Zyl has plans for a public
convenience on the empty base. On the other base, he wants to erect a
seasonal, non-permanent structure to lease as a café. However, the initial
hurdle to overcome is over the Dunblane’s Common Good Fund and register
of common good assets and the Chair agreed to add the pavilion changing
rooms to her Note for the Civic Panel (see agenda item 5). This will take time
to resolve. In the meantime, Councillor Tollemache will press ahead with
Page 5 of 7
organising a meeting with the Environment Committee, elected members and
community councillors. Action: Councillor Tollemache. Councillor Kleinman
stressed that the community council has the right to consultation by the
Council as to what is or is not put on the register of common good assets.
AGM It was agreed to hold the AGM in August and request that a
representative from Stirling Council be present to chair the meeting. The
Secretary will ask for confirmation from Stephen Bly. The Chair has circulated
her intention to resign from the community council at this meeting and Calum
Thomson asked if the constitution allows for co-chairs. The Chair will find
out. Action: The Chair. Fiona Plumtree noted how important the present
Chair’s legal background has been and suggested the community council look
to co-opt another lawyer.
Ecofest Councillor Tollemache noted that an Ecofest is being held in Dunblane
over a few days this week.
Cycle rack Councillor Tollemache is trying to get the damaged cycle rack at
the gold postbox repaired by the Council.
Heritage path at Doune and Deanston In response to a query from the Chair
about, Councillor Tollemache will find out more from the Access Officer at
the Council.
Laighhills Alan Booth, Councillor Kleinman and officers from the Council’s
Land Services department have met to discuss the remedial work needed on
the drainage at the football pitches. There is a plan to discourage rabbit
damage which includes halting grass cutting for a few months. The Chair
suggested that the use of the Laighhills could be added to the second round
questionnaire as part of the LPP (agenda item 8).
Community noticeboard Annelise Bakri reported that there are often bins
parked in front of it and it was suggested that local residents be made more
aware of the need to keep the space in front of the board clear.
Orchard Blossom Day Anna Jarchow-MacDonald reported on the success of
this held on 5 May. In particular, she thanked Tilly’s Tearoom for providing
cakes.
11. Date, time and place of next meeting
The next meeting of the Dunblane community council will be held at 7 p.m.
on Wednesday, 5 June, 2024, in the Library, Dunblane.
The meeting ended at 9.05 p.m.
This is a true representation of the meeting.
Ailsa Gray …………………………………………………. Date………………………….
Chair
Page 6 of 7
Graham Mowat …………………………………………….Date …………………………
Interim Secretary
Page 7 of 7