Sunday Pharmacy Opening and Winter Health Advice 2025–2026

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

Festive waste details announced for Stirling households

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

 

Tesco Stronger Starts funding for projects supporting children and young people – Apply Now

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

M9 Overnight closures Dec 8 to Dec 13/14 2025

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

M9 Southbound closure and overnight diversion through Bridge of Allan, Mon 24th — Thurs 27th 2025

BEAR Scotland, acting on behalf of Transport Scotland, are planning to carry out essential works on the Southbound M9 Motorway, between junction 11 and junction 10. The resurfacing improvements will address existing defects within the carriageway, ensuring the integrity and safety of the motorway network at this location.  

To ensure the safety of the workforce and members of the travelling public, it is necessary to close M9 southbound carriageway from junction 11 – junction 10, during works. The works have been provisionally programmed to commence on Monday 24th November 2025 for a duration of 4 nights between the hours of 19:30 and 06:00.

During this period of closure, a signed diversion route will be in place for the southbound traffic wishing to utilise the M9. The diversion route will exit the M9 via junction 11, onto the A9 (through Bridge of Allan on Henderson St) until the Airthey Roundabout. At the roundabout take the first exit, follow the road until the Causewayhead roundabout then take the second exit onto Alloa road. Stay on Alloa road until the Manor Powis roundabout and take the third exit onto the A91. Follow the A91 until the Stirling services roundabout and rejoin M9. Please find attached diversion drawing for clarity.

Access for emergency vehicles will be maintained at all times and all traffic management will be removed out with working hours.

If you require any further information any of the proposed works please do not hesitate to contact   SEConsultationroads@bearscotland.co.uk.

Full details: https://www.traffic.gov.scot/more-details?sid=pSEU202523782&type=proadworks

Verified by MonsterInsights