General Interest

Parking Enforcement starts 3rd May 2017

Information from Stirling Council's website following warning signs being given out in Drymen week beginning 27th April.

Stirling Council's Enforcement Officers have begun parking patrols across the Council area.

Following the discontinuation of the role of Traffic Warden in 2014, concerns have been raised over the increased indiscriminate and dangerous parking and the non-compliance with on street parking restrictions, and as a result, the Council took the decision to introduce Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) within the Council area.

The introduction of DPE will move responsibility for enforcing parking, waiting and loading restrictions from Police Scotland to Stirling Council. This means that Stirling Council's Enforcement Team will be able to issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to any vehicle parked in contravention of parking restrictions, which will benefit all road users and pedestrians who are inconvenienced by indiscriminate parked vehicles, and allows the Council to better manage both on street and off street parking. There has been no change to the existing parking regulations so responsible drivers who park legally in accordance with the restrictions won't be affected.

First Midland Bluebird Ltd Bus Service Changes From 6 March 2017

The Public TransMidland Bluebird Ltd have registered the following changes to local bus services in the Balfron and Aberfoyle areas from Monday 6 March 2017.  These should help to address some of the issues that have been raised by elected members and other community representatives.

Service B9 Balfron to Balfron via Killearn, Croftamie & Drymen:

New Monday to Friday circular service departing Balfron at 0655, 1009 & 1309, providing connections to Services 10A & B10 for onward travel to Glasgow.
 

Services 10A/B10/C10 Balfron to Glasgow:

  • Monday to Friday B10 journey 1555 ex Glasgow: amendments to the intermediate running times;
  • Monday to Friday B10 journey 1640 ex Balfron: to operate from the High School at 1641 for after school clubs (note that no parking in bus bays to be enforced to allow bus access to the school);
  • Additional B10 journeys between Balfron and Aberfoyle (via Gartmore): Monday to Friday 1210 & 1350 ex Balfron and 1239 & 1422 ex Aberfoyle; Saturday 0856 & 1606 ex Balfron and 0922 & 1633 ex Aberfoyle;
  • Some Monday to Friday, Saturday & Sunday journeys extended to/from Balfron Cotton Street.

‘Read More’ for details of changes to all other routes and download a copy of the revised timetables.

Balmaha Forest work to start in February

At the BCC Meeting on Monday 30th January, David Robertson from the Forestry Commission advised us that work on the Balmaha Forest will be starting within the next 3 weeks and will continue until the end of March.  This news on long awaited works was much appreciated.

Sadly it was David's last piece of news for us as he is retiring and will be replaced by Will Huckerby.  The Councillors would like to take this opportunity to thank David for his support over the last year..

Diversions on Ben Lomond Hill Path

Ben Lomond hill path - Since May a series of path upgrade works have been taking place on the Ben Lomond hill path. The majority of the work has now been completed however further remedial works are planned during Nov/Dec. This will involve diverting a section of the main path during the works. It is expected that the diversion will be in place from 9th November for one month – see map for affected section.

Forestry Commission Report, East Loch Lomond

Forestry Commission Report, East Loch Lomond, October 2016

Sallochy Campsite

The campsite at Sallochy has been open this year since the end of March.  I am pleased to say that despite some very heavy rain in August that over the season we have enjoyed the highest amount of visitors and overnight stays we have ever had.  To some extent this reflects some of the wear and tear we have experienced on the camping spots   Helen Arthur and Moira, our site wardens have played an excellent role in making the site welcoming, friendly and well cared for.  This is not just my personal opinion but from comments received by the customers on our feedback forms on the website.  The site will be closed to campers as of 31st October this year.  During the winter closed period I hope to rectify some of the drainage problems and give the site some well needed TLC.

Ironworks Initiative

This year there have been a few incidents at the campsite this year, all of which have been resolved and dealt with effectively and promptly.  We are grateful for the input from the National Park staff and the Police for their help and support throughout the season.   We are hoping to be working with the Loch Lomond and National Park, and the Police staff next year to keep the number incidents to a minimum.

Ben Lomond Hill Path

As part of The Mountains and People project we are working in partnership with LL&TNP, SNH and the Cairngorms Outdoor Access Trust we are working to upgrade a number of hill paths including the quality of the hill path on Ben Lomond.   The work at Ben Lomond has recently been completed which appears to have made a significant improvement.

Balmaha Blue Route Felling

Following on from my previous report we had to cancel the planned felling at Balmaha.  It is now planned to commence during the month of December this year.  I will keep you posted with any developments. There will be no disruption to the West Highland Way which passes this area, as it will be kept open throughout the duration.

David Robertson                    

Recreation Manager  21/10/16

Your Community Needs YOU!

ACT NOW TO SAVE YOUR COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Nominations for new Councillors must be received by Stirling Council by Friday 21st October.

Without a Community Council we do not have an elected body with a mandate to consult the community and respond to requests for consultations from outside agencies such at the National Park and Stirling Council.

Nomination forms are available by emailing buchananccsecretary@outlook.com, from Drymen Library, or going to Stirling Council website.

We are looking forward to welcoming you onto the team for what we have found to be an interesting and challenging opportunity to help protect our unique, rural community.

Buchanan CC Update

Following the resignation of 6 Councillors at the end of June, Stirling Council’s Chief Governance Officer, Iain Strachan, advised: according to the Scheme of Establishment, “should circumstances arise that lead to the number of elected community councillors falling below HALF of the maximum permitted membership, the local authority shall be informed and shall undertake arrangements for an interim election to be held, as described with the Guidance Notes”.

Therefore, it has been agreed that the Community Council will continue with the remaining 3 Community Councillors, until interim elections are held. This is likely to be before the end of 2016. The Community Council can hold 3 meetings between now and the Interim Elections, they cannot co-opt in to the vacancies, the quorum for meetings remains a 1/3 or 3, whichever is the greater. In the event of the Interim Elections not bringing the number of Community Councillors up to the 7, Stirling Council would move to dissolve the Community Council. The election process will be organised and managed by Stirling Council Democratic Services.