by Communications TEAM | Jan 16, 2026 | Announcement
Kieran Johnston of the Scottish Water Land Strategy Team has send this invitation:
We’re pleased to share details of an upcoming tree planting volunteer day taking place in January at Cocksburn Reservoir, Stirling, delivered as part of Scottish Water’s woodland creation programme.
This event offers a great opportunity to get outdoors, support biodiversity, protect water quality, and contribute to Scotland’s journey towards net zero. Volunteers will be helping to plant native trees under the guidance of our Reservoir Ranger team, with all tools and teas and coffees provided.
Event details:
Date: Saturday 24 January 2026
Session options:
Further information and booking details can be found at the eventbrite link, and though free it is necessary to book places.
by Communications TEAM | Jan 16, 2026 | Announcement
Mairi McIntosh, Access and Sustainable Transport Office has communicated details of upcoming works that will impact sections of the core path network in the Bridge of Allan area over the next three months. These works will require two temporary diversions, both due to commence on Monday 19 January 2026. I hope that these temporary arrangements will not be unduly inconvenient for path users, and I am very pleased that the works being undertaken will help secure the long-term future of these much-loved routes.
She apologies for the short notice as permission from Naturescot as the Darn Walk diversion was dependant on their permission, which has just been received.
Diversion 1 – Core Path 9078Du/02 (Lecropt to Allan Water)
This diversion relates to the closure of the pedestrian railway bridge on Core Path 9078Du/02. The closure is required to allow Network Rail to carry out extensive repairs to the bridge.
Diversion dates: 19 January to 17 May 2026
Location: Railway bridge between Lecropt and the Allan Water
The map linked here shows the diversion over Gallow Hill:
Map of diversion between Lecropt and Allan Water
Diversion 2 – Core Path 9078Ba/16 (Darn Walk, Stevenson’s Cave)
The second diversion is located at Stevenson’s Cave on the Darn Walk and is required to allow for the replacement of the existing boardwalk with a new structure.
Diversion dates: 19 January to 2nd February 2026
In the map linked here, follow the green route, avoiding the red route past the Cave:
Map of diversion avoiding Stevenson’s Cave section of Darn Walk
by Communications TEAM | Dec 16, 2025 | Announcement
We have received this from the Communication Team within NHS Forth Valley regarding Pharmacies open on SUNDAYS throughout the Festive Season, and Winter Health Advice. Please see attached posters at:
Sunday-Pharmacy-Opening-Times-Winter-2025-26-poster.pdf
Winter-Health-Advice-Services-and-Support.pdf
Details of local health services and support available over the winter period can also be found on the Winter Zone of the NHS Forth Valley website. This includes details of local pharmacies which will be open on certain Sundays and over the festive period (including the Christmas and New Year public holidays), local flu and Covid-19 vaccination clinics and advice on how to access health information, advice or treatment for a wide range of injuries or illnesses. For more information visit www.nhsforthvalley.com/winter
by Communications TEAM | Dec 11, 2025 | Announcement
We have received this communication from Stirling Council regarding Festive Waste:
Households and businesses across the Stirling area will have temporary adjustments to their waste and recycling collection schedules over the festive period.
Residents are also being encouraged to recycle and re-use at a time of the year when there is typically increased waste and recycling produced at home.
There will be no waste and recycling collections on:
- Thursday 25 December – Christmas Day
- Friday 26 December – Boxing Day
- Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
- Friday 2 January – Bank Holiday
From week commencing 22 December through week commencing 13 January some collections may be different to accommodate these bank holidays.
All residents whose bin collection falls on one of those days can check their online postcode finder for any temporary collection dates.
To accommodate the adjustments, there will be no brown bin collections between:
Monday 22 December – Sunday 28 December and Monday 29 December – 4 January
Brown bin collections will resume from the week commencing Monday 6 January.
Residents are also encouraged to use their new glass recycling bins, which will provide additional capacity over the Christmas and New Year period.
The Household Waste Recycling Centres will be open and operating as normal, under winter hours, but will be closed on the following dates:
- Thursday 25 December – Christmas Day
- Friday 26 December – Boxing Day
- Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day
- Friday 2 January – Bank Holiday
All HWRC sites will be open as normal Saturday 27 December and Saturday 3 January. Lower Polmaise will be the only site open Sunday 28 December and Sunday 4 January as Balfron and Callander are closed on Sundays.
To access our Household Waste Recycling Centres it’s necessary to make a booking and residents can also check out opening times to arrange their visit when it best suits.
The festive period is a time when households might have more waste than usual and Zero Waste Scotland provide helpful information on ways to have a less wasteful Christmas.
Below is some advice on the best way to dispose of common waste and recycling items you may have at this time of year:
Wrapping paper and gift cards Standard paper, wrapping paper and gift cards should be placed in your green recycling bin. Wrapping paper or gift cards containing foil, glitter, ribbons or felt coatings are not recyclable and should be placed in your grey bin.
Cardboard collection If you have excess paper or cardboard during the festive period, you can take it to any of our Household Waste Recycling Centres at Lower Polmaise, Balfron and Callander.
Christmas trees You can recycle real Christmas trees within the garden waste skips at any of our Household Waste Recycling Centres, or you can chop them up and place in your brown bin, if you have a valid garden waste permit.
Convener of the Environment, Transport and Net Zero committee, Cllr Alasdair Tollemache, said: “Christmas is a time of joy and generosity, but it can also be one of the most wasteful periods of the year. By making a few simple choices, each of us can help promote a sustainable Christmas by protecting the environment we all share, from recycling wrapping paper to making sure bottles, cans and food packaging go in the right bins.
“Once again, our Household Waste Recycling Centres will remain open throughout most of the festive period if people have excess paper or cardboard or other bulky items that don’t fit in their bins.
“We would like to thank businesses and residents for their understanding around these temporary changes over the festive period. On behalf of Stirling Council’s Waste Services team, we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
For details on festive bin collections, as well as the opening times of our Lower Polmaise, Callander and Balfron HWRC sites, please visit: www.stirling.gov.uk/festivebincollections
by Communications TEAM | Dec 4, 2025 | Announcement
We have received this from Greenspace Scotland and Stirling Council:
Stronger Starts funding for projects supporting children and young people – Apply Now
Tesco Stronger Starts funds thousands of local community projects across the UK. We would encourage all groups and projects that support children and young people with a stronger start in life to apply. A wide range of projects fit the bill – improving school playgrounds, growing and food projects, outdoor play and purchasing kit for healthy activities. Projects that include a food element (e.g. providing healthy snack or lunch) are currently being prioritised.
The scheme provides grants of up to £1500 to local projects from across your region. It is open to all local authorities, registered charities and not-for-profit organisations. Applications needed now from youth groups, schools, sports clubs, and more. We particularly need applications for projects in your surrounding area.
greenspace Scotland’s team of friendly Community Enablers can support you to apply or answer any questions. To find out more or to apply, please visit the Tesco Stronger Starts page. https://www.greenspacescotland.org.uk/grant-funding
by Communications TEAM | Dec 4, 2025 | Announcement
We have received from Bear Scotland this notification of overnight closures or the M9 Dec 8 to Dec 13/14:
BEAR Scotland, acting on behalf of Transport Scotland, is planning to carry out essential landscaping maintenance on the M9
The works have been provisionally programmed to start on Monday 8th of December and will be in place until the morning of Saturday 13th. These closures will be in place between the hours of 19:30 and 06:00 on the Southbound carriageway between Junctions 11-9.
The closure is in place for landscaping works to safely remove large trees. Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times.
| All traffic to be diverted off Keir Roundabout to the A9, passing through Bridge of Allan to Airthrey Roundabout. Traffic to continue onto A907 to A91. Continuing to Muirton Roundabout, Skeoch Roundabout onto A9 before rejoining the M9 at Junction 9 Bannockburn |
If you require any further information or would like to comment on any of the proposed works please do not hesitate to contact Gordon Gill by email at GGill@bearscotland.co.uk
