We need your input to help us finalise our Local Place Plan for Bridge of Allan. After a successful engagement day on 24 May in the Church Hall, our engagement boards are now in the local library until Friday 13 June. If you get the chance please pop in and leave your thoughts on our feedback sheets, or come say hi to us at Picnic in the Park on 14 June at Memorial Park.
Don’t worry if you cant make it in for any reason – there are other ways to stay involved. Our key themes and question areas are laid out below – just drop a comment or an email with anything you want us to capture.
Biodiversity and Greenspace
- what can we do to enhance, protect and increase biodiversity?
- How could we make better use of our greenspace including parks and woodland?
- Do we need more / different opportunities for community food growing
Getting Around, Transport and Active travel
- Is our current public transport provision usable and accessible?
- Is the cycle and walking network sufficient to support active travel?
Housing
- People have told us Bridge of Allan needs more housing. Are there areas in Bridge of Allan that you’d support or oppose for more housing?
- What type of housing would you like to see or do you think we need? This could be 3 bed plus homes, 1-2 bed homes, sheltered housing, starter/affordable homes, flats, or other options?
- What does affordable housing mean to you?
Our Physical Environment
- Do you think we have sufficient parking in Bridge of Allan? If not, where might we need additional parking options?
- What would you like to see happen with the vacant sites around the centre of Bridge of Allan?
- What kind of things do you think should happen with the vacant Guala (plastics/UCP) site?
Drop us an email contact@ccbridgeofallan.org.uk or comment below with any thoughts
There are a number of ex hotels and old buildings which have been empty for some time and remain unsold. They are becoming at risk of deterioration. The council should be asked to either impose requirement on the owners or consider compulsory purchase to create housing of some sort
The UCP site should be used for a I’d of housing at least 35% affordable of a variety of types depending on assessment of locals needs
I also strongly believe that mini hydro electric should be installed at the weir. SEPAs objections should be examined by independent experts and if appropriate challenged.
Consideration should be given to community wind construction
People will always oppose any sort of housing being built near where they live – especially if they’re homeowners, as they’ll worry that the value of their houses will be affected. They’ll always say, “I’m not a NIMBY but …”.
So, if more housing is needed in a given area, the local authority needs to have the power to make decisions that are in the interests of the wider community as a whole (including and especially people who aren’t in stable accommodation currently), rather than such decisions being derailed by people who are lucky enough to own their own homes near the proposed site(s).