Download or view in pdf format
THORNHILL & BLAIR DRUMMOND COMMUNITY COUNCIL
23rd April 2024 at 7:30 pm
Thornhill Community Hall
Minutes
1. Present and Apologies
Present: Elaine Blanchard (EB) Secretary, Alison Newlands (AN) Minute Taker, Hector Muir
(HM) Chair, Al Rawlinson (AR), Rowena Coulthard (RC), Veronica Bachelor (VB), Gary
Thompson (GT), Moira Russell (MR), Sam Campbell (SC), Gillian Riley (GR), Sara Fullerton
(SF), Gabriela Ingle (GI), Cllr Elaine Watterson (EW), Campbell Millar (CM), Hamish Taylor
(HT)
2. Approval of minutes of meeting on the 5th March 2024
Minutes approved.
Approved by EB
Seconded by GT
3. Matters Arising
Bear Scotland - Deanston Bridge Survey Results
No update at present. EW commented that the survey on Deanston Bridge needs to be
carried out during peak times to get an accurate reflection on the issues. EW advised that
Councillor Dean Lockhart previously raised an issue regarding funding for road repairs in
Stirling and the problems around funding for reactive roads repairs and potholes. EW
advised the TBCC to contact Stirling Council for the outcome of this issue. EB agreed to
contact Stirling Council.
Doig Street Water Pressure
RC advised that Scottish Water has been out, and a flow reader was installed on a pump,
which has reported a problem with low water flow. HT suggested reaching out to the
Scottish Fire Brigade to verify the water availability, emphasizing that it could pose a health
and safety concern if the fire service could not access water during a fire emergency. RC
agreed to contact the Scottish Fire Brigade.
Thornhill Primary School – Flashing sign
EB advised the warning signs are to be installed beside the primary school, no confirmed
date for installation.
Cycle Path
HM advised that work has now started on the new cycle path from Kirk Lane to the Smiddy.
Thornhill Recycling Station
Stirling Council informed EB that they have the option to either have the fencing repaired by
them or TBCC take on the responsibility themselves, along with ownership. A repair
estimate of £850 has been provided by a local contractor.
EW advised to look at local funding initiatives to meet the costs of the repairs, for example
the Community Pride Fund or Landfill fund. EW advised TBCC to speak to Jean Cowie at
Stirling Council regarding available funding options.
4. Reports – External
a. Transport Scotland – Traffic Alleviation at Safari Park
HM advised that he has written to the Evelyn Tweed MSP highlighting the road safety
issues. Response received that a road survey is currently being carried out in the area.
b. Police Scotland
HM tabled the Police Report and verbally updated TBCC on the following topics:
Antisocial Behaviour
No reported incidents.
Road Safety
No reported incidents.
Theft
On the 11/03/2024 & 12/03/2024 2 thefts occurred in the Blairdrummond area. A male has
been arrested and charged.
On the 29/03/2024 a theft occurred on a property in Sommers Lane, enquiries are
continuing.
TBCC agreed to go back to Police Scotland to update the report template and report on
incidents in the area that have been omitted from the report. HM
c. Stirling County Councillor
EW advised that the Stirling Council budget has now been set. This was an enormous task
for all involved with some cuts in services and voluntary redundancies are now going ahead.
EW advised that the Stirling 900 Event would be taking place on the 26th April with various
events taking place throughout the day.
5. Reports – Internal
a. Chair
No update.
b. Secretary
No update.
c. Treasurer
GT updated the meeting with the current financial information.
Treasurer’s Report: £333.75 in the bank account to date. GT advised that he has applied for
a debit card and the paperwork has now been received.
d. Planning
AR Report circulated prior to meeting.
AR advised of ten updates and changes received for planning in the area.
e. Thornhill Community Trust/ Futures Group
EB advised that there has been a slight delay with the local place plan. The AGM will be held
in the next few weeks.
f. Blair Drummond Community Hall
No update.
g. North Common Trust
No update.
6. Community Council Business
a. New TBCC members
TBCC invited Veronica Bachelor and Campbell Millar to become full Community Council
Members
Nomination for Veronica Bachelor
Proposed – Al Rawlinson
Seconded – Gary Thompson
Nomination for Campbell Millar
Proposed – Elaine Blanchard
Seconded – Hector Muir
No objections Veronica Bachelor and Campbell Millar both elected on to the TBCC.
b. Dunsire and Partners’ development in Thornhill
No update at present.
c. Slow Down sign/flashing light on A873 after B8031 (near Coldoch Road) towards
Stirling.
As per matters arising agenda item.
d. Doig Street Water Pressure
As per matters arising agenda item.
e. Traffic/Speeding in Thornhill
As per matters arising agenda item.
f. Reporting process update from Stirling Council
EB advised that Stirling Council have introduced a new reporting tool for Community Councils. The
Community Council Enquiry process has been developed to ensure the wide-ranging enquiries made
by our Community Councils to our Services can be tracked, monitored, and evaluated to improve
responses, in terms of both time and quality.
An issue is raised at a Community Council meeting.
A Community Council decides the enquiry whether the issue is a community or personal
issue.
A Community Council makes an enquiry through to the Enquiry Line
ccenquiries@stirling.gov.uk from their generic email address,
The Enquiry is logged and is given a unique reference number,
The Enquiry is directed to the appropriate Service with the 10 working day timescale,
The Service responds to the Community Council through the Enquiry line.
Enquiry Line closes the enquiry.
7. Residents Forum
No comments.
8. AOB
Speed Limit on B822
Resident query asking how we might get a speed limit placed on a section of the B822, from
just south of the Flanders Moss entrance to the 30 limit south of the village.
We know from LPP/CAP consultations the community would like a safe walking
route to Flanders Moss
The road has no pavement.
We know that more generally, the community wants safe active travel routes to
other communities/villages.
EW advised that TBCC should look at the Road Safety Framework to 2030 published by the
Scottish Government.
The Framework sets out a vision for Scotland to have the best road safety performance in
the world by 2030 and an ambitious long term goal where no one is seriously injured or
killed on our roads by 2050. It sets out new strategic outcomes for road safety, built around
the safe system approach, coupled with a comprehensive performance management system
to monitor progress.
In addition, EW advised the TBCC to look at the Active Travel Funding Opportunities through
Transport Scotland. They can allocate funding to partner organisations who are responsible
for delivering walking and cycling infrastructure and behaviour change projects across
Scotland.
SEPA Flooding
HT advised the TBCC that SEPA’s consultancy on potentially vulnerable areas for flood risk
management in Scotland closes on the 24/06/2024. Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) are
areas where significant flood risk exists now, or is likely to occur in the future, and they help
Scotland to understand and prioritise where work could benefit the most.
9. Date, time, and venue of next meeting
4th June 2024 at 7:30pm Blair Drummond Community Hall.
Action Points
Member Responsible
EB
Contact Stirling Council regarding issue
raised by Dean Lockhart on Stirling
reactive road repairs and potholes.
Contact Scottish Fire Brigade regarding
availability of water in Doig Street
RC
Funding options for Thornhill Recycling
Centre fence repairs – contact Jean Cowie
Stirling Council
EB
Contact Police Scotland to amend report
template and report on incidents omitted
from the report.
HM
Meeting closed 20:50.