It’s time for Planning Ahead our regular round-up of all the latest Stirling planning applications you should know about There are proposals dotted across Stirling history and skateboarding are all in for a treat The National Wallace Monument is to undergo repairs to ensure the “longevity and safety” of the 156-year-old landmark Steel rods will be be inserted to secure stonework in some areas and certain stones will be replaced where erosion has put the monument’s iconic crown-like spire in jeopardy Cracks will be mended and defective mortar beds repointed Stirling Council gave the go-ahead for the work last week with detailed conditions about preserving the character and appearance of the A-listed structure Three separate planning applications have been lodged with Stirling Council seeking permission in principle for the future erection of single houses in the Lecropt area of the town Each of the three self-build plots would be subject to their own individual planning permission three family homes could eventually be built – two at 340 sq m and one at 480 sq m Killin Sports and Recreation Hub has submitted proposals to construct a pump track at the village’s Breadalbane Recreation Park the facility would be free for the community and suitable for all experience levels of which £92,000 has already been raised through donations The plans will be considered by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority Stirling Council has received a request to turn category B-listed 18th-century home Valley Lodge on Castle Wynd into six short-term let apartments The four-bedroom property, located a stone’s throw from Stirling Castle, went up for sale last May New plans propose converting the four-storey house into six one-bedroom flats the apartments would all have a double bed Last but not least, Dunblane looks set to get a new bakery and cafe on its High Street after initial approval was granted by Stirling Council the new food and drink spot plans to sell fresh There will be space for 15 to 20 people to dine with hopes of providing seating outside for the warmer months but customers will be encouraged to sit in make themselves at home and spend some time unwinding Wallace Monument stone repair Bridge of Allan self-build housing Killin pump track plans Valley Lodge holiday let proposal Dunblane bakery approved For more Stirling news and features visit our page or join us on Facebook Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments A woman who opened a clothing boutique in her hometown of Dunblane a year ago has reflected on its success and plans for the future Willow Boutique has been a staple of women’s clothing and baby wear in Stockbridge owner Gayle Blair decided to open a second location – this time in her hometown of Dunblane Her decision to return to Perthshire was motivated by a desire to be nearer family and to help take care of her ailing father Opening the new location became more than just a business expansion – it became a heartfelt tribute Gayle sees the new Willow Boutique in Springfield Terrace as a heartfelt tribute to her late father “My dad played a huge part in my journey as a business owner,” she shares “He helped me buy my first shop in Edinburgh “It means so much to me that he knew I was opening here before he passed away.” Gayle Blair’s first venture into self-employment came nine years ago when she opened the original Willow Boutique in Stockbridge Before taking the leap into self-employment she earned a degree in fashion and management She gained valuable experience from working in and managing fashion retail stores across Edinburgh “Being here has allowed me to stay close to family while also growing the business in a community that means a lot to me.” Both stores reflect Gayle’s core values: family One of the hallmarks of Willow Boutique is its commitment to sourcing from Scottish and UK based designers and suppliers “The quality is always first class and It’s so easy to work with local makers,” she says It’s how you give back to the community you live and work in.” In Dunblane she added a new distinctive feature to the shop: a pre-loved clothing department The initiative invites locals to bring in gently worn clothes giving them a new lease on life and helping customers shop affordably “It’s been going so well,” Gayle notes “People love the idea of cleaning out their wardrobes and knowing someone else will enjoy those pieces.” Gayle oversees the Dunblane store personally and travels weekly to Edinburgh where a trusted team member helps manage the day-to-day operations She has also embraced the power of social media where building visibility is still a work in progress sending out newsletters – doing as much as I can to remind people I’m here.” Dunblane looks set to get a new bakery and cafe A request to change the use of the space at 1-3 High Street from a hairdresser and retail premises to an eatery has been given the go-ahead The spot used to be home to The Glam House hair and beauty salon the new food and drink spot will sell fresh The Dunblane-based business owner told The Courier the aim is to create a “relaxed” bakery and cafe where people of all ages can “catch up with relatives or friends” Special seasonal meals showcasing local produce workshops and community events could also be hosted in the space in future It is hoped an opening date will be set by July and that the business will be up and running before summer 2025 ends Revised plans will soon be submitted for the renovation work, reducing the size of the planned ventilation flue, after the original design prompted an official objection One Dunblane local argued the flue “would have a detrimental impact on both the architectural integrity of the area and the visual amenity of the surrounding environment.” The smaller ventilation system will mean no frying in the cafe kitchen but causes less disruption to the look of the unit “We are operating within a conservation area and asking to restructure a place is a bit of a delicate matter,” said the business owner “The main hurdle was the ventilation “I hope they will forgive me that I can’t make chips.” support from the community so far “has been amazing” and Dunblane Community Council has given the venture its full backing The team behind the bakery has been “waiting for years and saving for years” to make this dream a reality “We will have to start really small because having to do all this work is a big weight on finances “Who knows in the future if we will want to expand In its decision notice Stirling Council said the new cafe “would contribute to the vitality and viability of the Dunblane ‘local centre'” and “enhance the character” of the conservation area.” A woman has been taken to hospital after a one-vehicle crash on the A9 near Dunblane She was the driver of a vehicle that crashed at 11am on Sunday The main route was closed northbound at the slip road to the B8033 Police Scotland posted just before 1pm: “The A9 is closed northbound at the slip road to the B8033 “This is due to a one-vehicle crash that was reported 11am on Sunday “Motorists are advised to seek an alternative route.” An update from Traffic Scotland at 12.45pm said: “The A9 at Ashfield is currently closed northbound due to a road traffic incident “Drivers are being diverted through local routes and should expect longer than normal travel times.” The road was fully reopened just after 4.30pm Police Scotland posted an update: “The female driver of the car has been taken to hospital for treatment “Motorists are thanked for their patience.” There was nothing unusual about the Wednesday morning in March 1996 when I headed into work at the Scotsman building in Edinburgh city centre schedules and forward planning conferences were drawn up nobody could imagine what was unfolding in a little school 35 miles away there were no Twitter feeds or WhatsApp devices to issue alerts of breaking stories – just the sound of phones ringing in the office with hints that something had happened in or around the premises of Dunblane Primary School The initial reports suggested there might have been a minibus crash Then there was the word from several members of a the public about a large police and emergency service presence descending on the town and they were all travelling in the one direction we were all confronted by the visceral horror of the mass murder of children and one of their teachers by an armed gunman which become everybody’s focus in an environment where everything else seemed trivial These incidents are mercifully rare even in the United States, where there have been several occasions, including at Virginia Tech in 2007 and Sandy Hook in 2012 when students and staff have been killed on campus in shooting tragedies But the very notion of somebody behaving in the fashion of 43-year-old Thomas Hamilton seemed unthinkable  – which is one reason why the details of how he scraped ice off the window of his van at his home in Kent Road in Stirling as the prelude to journeying to Dunblane with a weapons cache police confirmed how he had entered the school gymnasium with four legally-owned handguns indiscriminately at shocked little boys and girls and those who were looking after them There was heroism from staff members who found themselves in the midst of Britain’s worst-ever mass shooting but managed to stumble into a store cupboard with several injured children sustained wounds in the head and both legs but somehow managed to make her way to the same cupboard with a number of the children in front of her Nobody could have predicted the fashion in which Hamilton behaved that day Although he was regarded as something of an “oddball” by other people in the community no-one believed he was remotely capable of inflicting such terror on innocent victims as he did before killing himself inside the school property In the mobile classroom closest to the fire exit where Hamilton had been standing Catherine Gordon instructed her Primary 7 pupils to get down onto the floor just before he fired nine bullets into the classroom It was one of a string of close escapes for some of those in the school 16 children and a teacher were dead and 15 others were injured There was grief and revulsion throughout Scotland in the aftermath of the massacre Even for those of us who had covered the Piper Alpha disaster and the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 the events at Dunblane seemed the essence of wickedness and the haunted expression on the faces and tears in the eyes of people both in Dunblane and everywhere else in the days ahead testified to the conflicting emotions Scotland on Sunday news editor William Paul recalled his reaction on that terrible morning and in the days ahead as the scale of the atrocity became clear He said: “The tip-off calls began to trickle into the office early on [Wednesday] that there had been an incident at Dunblane Primary school ambulances…all the evidence that this was something big “I dispatched a reporting team before knowing the full facts and had a feeling of physical sickness as the truth emerged “The violent deaths of young children was an unimaginable tragedy but there was a need to suppress emotion and adopt a professional attitude to get the job done emotion took over again in the front page image of a snowdrop with its head bowed in apparent grief and bewilderment.” Numbness and incomprehension were the feelings of those in Dunblane who tried to pick up the pieces of their lives in the ensuing months and years most of the pupils who were at the school – including a young Andy and Jamie Murray – have progressed with their lives and privately voiced a prayer for those who weren’t so fortunate Those of us who covered any aspect of the story always felt we were intruding on the grief of others the mention of those terrible events a decade earlier prompted the response from one resident: “Not this again Are we going to be one of those places which is forever linked to something bad?” Yet the words of one of the locals in the aftermath testified to how Hamilton’s killing spree had rocked them to the core had cared for five of the children who perished on an ordinary morning in their classrooms She said: “They were all beautiful wee things Some of the youngest at the school who survived thought that the gunfire came from Power Rangers or Ninja Turtles or superheroes They didn’t know until the end how black the real world can be.” Lord Cullen had already led the inquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster which claimed the lives of 167 men in the North Sea in July 1988 And he investigated thoroughly the circumstances which had led to the murder of 16 children and one of their teachers at Dunblane Primary His subsequent report recommended that the Government introduce tighter controls on handgun ownership and consider whether an outright ban on private ownership [of such weapons] would be in the public interest It also urged changes in the level of security measures at Scottish schools and the vetting of people who worked with children under the age of 18 The Home Affairs Select Committee agreed with the need for restrictions on gun ownership but stated that a handgun ban was not appropriate Determined to press for tougher regulations the Gun Control Network was founded in the aftermath of the massacre and was supported by some parents of the victims of the Dunblane and the [1987] Hungerford shootings Bereaved families and their friends also initiated a campaign to ban private gun ownership and this became known as the Snowdrop Petition thousands of us gathered at Murrayfield for a rugby contest between Scotland and the Barbarians to raise money for the Dunblane Fund one where the minute’s silence at the beginning meant you couldn’t hear a pin drop at the ground despite the presence of a crowd of more than 32,000 spectators And although no sporting contest could transcend the grief the Dunblane International – which the visitors won 48-45 – was a festival of rugby and a celebration of life it was a fitting and worthwhile memorial to the 17 innocents who died at the hands of a crazed gunman revealed in a documentary in 2019 that he and his family had known the man who committed the Dunblane killings spoke of how he had previously shared a car with Thomas Hamilton and attended his children’s clubs Murray and his older brother Jamie were in lessons in March 1996 when Hamilton burst into the gym hall armed with four handguns The Scot opened up about the tragedy for the first time in the Amazon Prime Video documentary Andy Murray: Resurfacing and explained how tennis became an ‘escape.’ He told film-maker Olivia Cappuccini: “You asked me a while ago why tennis was important to me Obviously I had the thing that happened at Dunblane “I am sure for all the kids there it would be difficult for different reasons we had driven and dropped him off at train stations and things “My feeling towards tennis is that it’s an escape for me in some ways Because all of these things are stuff that I have bottled up.” Ed Kavanagh opened Dunblane’s first gender neutral barbershop almost three years ago As well as offering stylish cuts for people of all ages Red & Co has become a “safe space” in the town Ed, a father to two teenagers, is acutely aware of the stresses young people today face He wants anyone who sits in his barber’s chair to feel comfortable opening up about their struggles without the fear of judgement The 54-year-old from Dublin also likes to share anecdotes about the colourful career he enjoyed before moving into the hair and beauty industry a decade ago Ed worked for the events team at Gleneagles Hotel in the 1990s before joining London record label Eagle Rock Entertainment he liaised with big name acts including Eminem but after his children – now 18 and 19 – were born Ed now has client list of around 1,000 at his Dunblane High Street studio and is often fully booked up to a month in advance Ed said: “My job is more than just giving someone a short back and sides “Because I operate a booking system it’s often just me and my client in the studio It means they have space to deflate and chat “I think this is particularly important for young people right now and it means a lot to me to provide that safe space for them.” “Having your hair washed and cut is relaxing and because I am open with people about struggles I have faced they feel more comfortable opening up to me.” Ed retrained as barber at the prestigious London School of Barbering 10 years ago after a successful career in events While at Eagle Rock Entertainment in the early 2000s he worked on video campaigns for top acts – including Fatboy Slim’s famous 2002 Brighton beach concert his most memorable showbiz encounter took place behind the scenes with Robert Smith Ed recalls: “I was a big fan of The Cure in my youth and so when I met Robert Smith I was a bit lost for words “He was so down to earth and offered me a can of Stella from a plastic bag and we had a chat and a beer “He is a real showman on stage but behind the scenes he was just a regular guy.” Ed became a stay-at-home dad when his daughter Daisy and son Dylan were young He set up a local afterschool club but was keen to turn his hand to “something more creative” he worked from a salon in Falkirk before setting up on his own in Dunblane in the summer of 2022 Ed is keen to dispel the myth that barbers are just for cis men He advertises his studio as “gender neutral” and is proud that some of his trans clients travel for miles to see him He said: “It doesn’t matter to me how someone identifies – it matters to me the type of haircut they want Once a style that was mocked in popular culture Ed also revealed the mullet is making a return The ‘modern mullet’ – which often incorporates a skin fade and longer hair on top – is fast becoming a popular requests among his younger clientele Primary school parents received report cards for other children in a data breach at a Dunblane school It’s understood parents of children in primary classes 1-3 at Dunblane Primary School received the wrong report card on Friday An email from Shirley Gallivan and Ruth Allan It read: “We would like to apologise for an error which has taken place this afternoon linked to the school reports for primary 1-3 children which has now been rectified by the IT team who created the reporting system “We have reported this as a data breach to the data protection team It continued: “We will issue the reports early next week Parents with further concerns have been asked to contact the council’s data protection team directly The local authority the breach was caused by “human error” A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “Following discussions with the school we can confirm this incident was caused by human error and we are investigating this further “We take this matter seriously and would like to apologise for any alarm or distress caused.” For more Stirling news and features visit our page or join us on Facebook A five-bedroom family home on one of Dunblane’s most prestigious addresses has gone up for sale was built in 2010 and sits close to the town’s railway station to the left of the reception hall is the lounge with a log burning stove – set within a windowed nook – a real feature of the room A bright family room sits at the back of the ground floor which is open-plan to the kitchen and also allows access to the playroom The playroom can be utilised in several ways and has glazed French doors opening to the patio Next to the family room is the kitchen with a dining suite large sliding patio door and an island featuring a wine fridge study and shower room can also be found on this level Some of the rooms on the ground floor also benefit from underfloor heating The upper hallway includes doors that lead to a private upper terrace The master bedroom contains an en-suite bathroom with a freestanding bath and shower Two further bedrooms feature en-suite facilities with the other two bedrooms sharing a shower room The family bathroom sits next to the master bedroom The house is accessed by electric gates into a paved driveway with the large back garden bordered with mature trees and with a feature paved patio CCTV cameras are installed to cover the external area The property is being marketed by Halliday Homes for offers over £1.25 million A six-bedroom home with outdoor TV area and views of the Wallace Monument is also up for sale A new bus service is set to connect Dunblane and Lochearnhead in Stirlingshire with Fort William and Edinburgh Electric bus operator Ember will launch the new route on April 16 with four daily return services The buses will travel between Edinburgh and Fort William The operator says more stops will be added to the service over the summer A single adult ticket covering the full journey from Edinburgh to Fort William will cost £23.10 when booked online Tickets from Dunblane to Fort William will be £18.50 or £13.50 from Lochearnhead A journey from Edinburgh from Dunblane will be £5.90 and £10.90 between Lochearnhead and the capital Ember announced earlier this month that its fares had increased by 8.5% due to inflation and other factors Meanwhile, Stagecoach bus fares in Dundee, Perth, Angus and Fife are set to rise by as much as 11% on April 27 Stirling locals have expressed concern over a proposed new cycling and walking path connecting Dunblane and Bridge of Allan The suggested plans involve replacing the southbound carriageway on the B8033 road between Keir Roundabout and the Dunblane Centre roundabout with an active travel route for pedestrians and cyclists The existing northbound carriageway would become a two-way road But some residents feel the road is too busy to be a single carriageway Others say there are better nearby routes to develop into a path for bikes and walkers Locals shared their worries in the comment section of an online public consultation about the new path which is phase two of Stirling Council’s north Stirling active travel project One respondent wrote: “I’m concerned about the proposed exit from the Keir roundabout onto the B8033 “It is already hazardous when there is a build up of traffic coming down the A9 from Perth as lorries can fail to stop “Narrowing the exit to allow on/off traffic onto a single carriageway road does not seem a good option.” Several replies suggested redeveloping old railway tracks in order to avoid disrupting the road set-up One person wrote: “This is a busy road leading out of Dunblane and there is plenty of grass banking/space which could be adapted to include a cycle lane “This would allow it to connect with the existing cycle track (National Route 765) which forms part of the old railway line into Doune.” Other commenters felt the nearby Glen Road route would be better suited to redevelopment One reply said: “I don’t think the current plan is appropriate given the volume of traffic entering and leaving Dunblane via the current access road from Keir Roundabout “The Glen Road is perfectly serviceable for cyclists albeit some places will require cycling in single file “Improvements could be made to Glen Road which would surely be much cheaper and help save budget which could be used to cycle path the Manor Powis to Causewayhead route?” Stirling Council’s online public consultation about the active travel route opened on March 17 and will close on May 31 Residents are being encouraged to give feedback and suggestions on the proposed changes A consultation about phase one of the project is also underway and will end on May 31 Phase one aims to connect Causewayhead to Bridge of Allan via a new walking and cycling route By introducing pedestrian and bike friendly infrastructure the council hopes to help the city reach its climate objectives and improve the health of the public Residents claimed previous works to create a cycle path in Causewayhead caused “carnage” locally Dunblane’s famous Hydro hotel is set to be restored to its former glory following its acquisition by a top Scottish hotel group The Courier can reveal Apex Hotels bought the 200-bedroom Victorian property in the centre of Dunblane last week Old Meldrum and Pitlochry – paid an undisclosed “multi-million-pound” sum for the Perthshire hotel The hotel group now plans to embark on an extensive renovation project to “breathe new life” into the four-star establishment Apex chief executive officer Angela Vickers said: “We want to preserve the beautiful Victorian building and restore it to its former glory – to breathe new life into it without losing sight of its roots “It is a wonderful hotel with both history and presence and is in a great location – with quick access to the central belt and the Highlands “It is early days but we plan to undertake a phased refurbishment project to ensure the busy hotel does not need to close This will include room and public area refurbishments “We will also be carrying out building infrastructure work, including roof upgrading.” She added: “We have been looking back at the amazing history of the building and the many events it once hosted in particular its Scottish ceilidh evenings and hope to be able to reintroduce some of these in the coming years.” In a first for Apex the hotel will continue to run as a Doubletree by Hilton resort Angela explained: “The acquisition of the DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro is our first hotel operating as non-Apex hotel and demonstrates our strategy to continue to grow and diversify our portfolio “The Hilton brand aligns with our passion for offering consistently high standards of service to both business and leisure guests.” Built in 1878 as a health spa resort – then known as The Dunblane Hydropathic Establishment – Dunblane Hydro was once one of Scotland’s most popular country retreats and its grand balls became legendary Repurposed as a military hospital during the First World War and a boarding school for evacuated girls during the Second World War it was bought by hotelier Sir Rio Stakis in 1962 and its popularity again surged following a period of several owners – including the Hilton Group – the hotel was purchased by the Ability Group officially launched as a DoubleTree by Hilton venue It underwent a £12m refurbishment and award-winning celebrity chef Nick Nairn was invited to launch his flagship restaurant at the hotel we can't find the page that you are looking for Use the search box below to continue, or return to the homepage Plans for a previously controversial service station on the A9 northbound between Stirling and Perth have been resubmitted for consideration by Stirling Council the original proposals (which included plans for a hotel restaurant and drive-thru) were rejected in 2022 submitted by Graham and Sibbald on behalf of GB Grove Ltd requests permission to build a petrol station and a shop the service station would be located around 500 metres south west of Balhaldie Farm was previously used for commercial forestry The design for the newly proposed low-carbon fuel station feature plans for hydrogen storage a solar farm with associated battery storage There would be a total of 20 EV charging points for cars The petrol station would have space for 12 vehicles to refuel at one time storage and a kitchenette are also included in the plans A 2018 proposal for roadside services at the same Firs of Kinbuck site was withdrawn in 2019 due to concerns it would become more of a “destination” than a stop-off point for motorists The initial plan was for a larger development with a petrol filling station A revised application was submitted but there were still objections to the hotel and restaurant a judicial review was submitted and the application was returned to Stirling Council’s planning officials This decision was then appealed to the Scottish Government, which dismissed it in 2022 Stirling Council has not yet made a decision on the new service station plans nearby Perth and Kinross Council has no objections Transport Scotland has asked for an extension in the consultation process until the transport assessment can be audited the development will be focused on being a refuelling and charging station supporting Scotland’s net zero targets The application reads: “The applicant has significantly reduced the scale of the development and the development is purely focused on the delivery of charging/fuelling facilities to meet market need and Scottish Government policies.” It also notes that the site has an existing access point would ensure that “both sides of the A9 are serviced with necessary charging and re-fuelling facilities” The A9 southbound is currently served by Shell and Starbucks at Balhaldie For more Stirling news and features visit our page or join us on Facebook Dunblane’s forthcoming new community cinema and arts space is advertising for a project lead to manage the venture an initiative which hopes to transform the town’s vacant Bank of Scotland building into a thriving social venue Community not-for-profit organisation Dunblane Square described it as a “fantastic opportunity” The successful applicant will manage operation of The Bank and deliver the facility’s programme Experience in the arts and running a multi-use community centre is also sought The job would begin as a part-time role at 22.5 hours per week before becoming a full-time position of 37.5 hours per week from October 2025 The salary is listed as £35,000 pro-rata. Applications for the role close on April 4 The Bank, which is currently being renovated Dunblane’s former Bank of Scotland closed in July 2022 and the building was then obtained using a £411,250 grant from the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund the local community will have access to a cinema hospitality events and volunteering opportunities all housed within the High Street premises the former banking hall will become an entertainment space with room for 100 people suitable for screening films or hosting musicians An extension for a commercial kitchen and extra space for events is also on the cards while the forecourt could become a garden space The Bank is expected to open in November 2025 Drivers will divert through Dunblane during roadworks on the A9 Amey is undertaking essential road repairs on the northbound carriageway will replace white lines and road studs on a 5km stretch between Keir Roundabout and the B8033/Kinbuck off slip Work will run from Monday March 31 until Saturday April 5 the northbound carriageway will be closed from 7.30pm to 6.30am each night During the closure, an overnight diversion through Dunblane will be in place Northbound traffic on the A9 will be diverted at Keir Roundabout onto the B8033 through Dunblane Drivers will follow the route to gain access to the A9 northbound via the Kinbuck on slip Drivers wanting to access the A9 northbound at Stockbridge can join the A9 southbound to Keir Roundabout then follow the B8033 through Dunblane to the A9 Kinbuck northbound on slip Northbound traffic looking to exit the A9 at Stockbridge for the A820 can take the B824 at Keir Roundabout and follow the route to join the A820 The A9 southbound will remain open as normal during the works Motorists are advised to allow extra journey time while the maintenance is carried out the closure and diversion will be removed by 6.30am on Saturday April 5 Two areas in Stirlingshire have been ranked as the top two Scottish communities to live in a new list Bridge of Allan and Dunblane topped Garrington Property Finders’ Best Places to Live in Scotland index for 2025 The property agents ranked 160 Scottish cities The value for money of the properties available in communities was also considered topped the list after scoring highly across Garrington’s categories It was also judged to have good value for money with house prices rising by 4.8% over last year House prices in Scotland increased by an average of 6.9% in 2024 an average home in the area cost £245,544 compared to a Scottish average of £189,000 Garrington said the historic spa town is “dotted with handsome Victorian villas” and noted its proximity to Stirling University The agent also ranked Bridge of Allan 11th in its wellbeing category due to its golf course and other sports facilities Garrington judged Dunblane to be the second-best place in Scotland to live The town is just three miles north of Bridge of Allan and topped the agents’ natural beauty category It put this down to Dunblane’s “stunning countryside and riverside walks” Andy Murray’s hometown also ranked fifth for value for money with house prices in Dunblane also increasing by 4.8% Perth (7th) and Cupar (13th) also ranked in the top 20 overall list Alistair Forbes Architect has been commissioned by a local applicant to fashion three family houses from the property including a B-listed Georgian manse joined by two listed terraces dating from the 18th and 19th centuries A B-listed chapel likely dating from the 16th century is also included in the plans the applicant wrote: "Scottish Churches House dates from the 1700s and forms a terrace of buildings within the Dunblane Cathedral square the buildings have been adapted and utilised for a range of functions including as a religious study centre and since 2013 a hotel "The applicants’ have purchased the buildings following the hotel operator’s intention to close the business Their aim is to return the buildings back into residential use through a design approach that will enable the terrace to be read as a series of distinct but integrated buildings as originally designed and to respect the setting and character of the Cathedral Square." Interventions revolve around reinstating the original vertical party wall subdivision and replacing roof lights with period-accurate dormers At the northern end of the terrace horizontal windows will be swapped out for vertical variants to match existing with a new main entrance to the rear behind a new render canopy.   All comments are pre-moderated and must obey our house rules The A9 northbound carriageway near Dunblane has reopened after a crash Traffic Scotland confirmed that the main road was closed just after 8am on Saturday due to the RTC with police diverting traffic on to local roads Drivers were also advised to seek an alternative route and should expect longer journey times A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We received a call from police at 8.03am regarding a road traffic accident near Dunblane “Crews attended to assist with moving the cars and left the scene at 8.39am.” Police Scotland has been approached for comment Boutique Hotelier Apex Hotels has announced plans to sink investment into restoring Dunblane’s Hydro hotel to its former glory after officially acquiring the property last week The family-owned hotel group is on a rapid expansion trail with the takeover of DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro marking its third acquisition of the year Now Apex Hotels has revealed plans to embark on a multi-million pound refurbishment project at the 200-bedroom Victorian property with bedrooms and public areas given a revamp  “It is early days but we plan to undertake a phased refurbishment project to ensure the busy hotel does not need to close “We will also be carrying out building infrastructure work The hotel will continue to operate under the Hilton brand in a partnership with Apex Hotels Vickers explained: “The acquisition of the DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro is our first hotel operating as non-Apex hotel and demonstrates our strategy to continue to grow and diversify our portfolio “The Hilton brand aligns with our passion for offering consistently high standards of service to both business and leisure guests.” Built in 1878 as a health spa resort – then known as The Dunblane Hydropathic Establishment – Dunblane Hydro has had many uses since including a military hospital during the World War I and a boarding school for evacuated girls during the World War II Apex Hotels, a family-owned hospitality business founded by Norman Springford, owns 12 hotels across a UK wide portfolio. The group recently acquired the five-star The Vineyard Hotel and Spa in Berkshire The company has acquired a range of new hotels in recent months as it continues to grow and diversify its portfolio these include Pine Trees country house hotel in Pitlochry and Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course in Aberdeenshire A brewery and taproom is expected to open in Dunblane before the end of 2024 has found its first permanent premises on the town’s Duckburn Industrial Estate The unit is close to M&S and around a 10 minute walk from the railway station Matty only recently signed the lease and got the keys but he already has big plans for the space and is keen to start brewing and pouring beer as soon as he can “We’ve been trying to find a home for probably about a year and a half,” he says As well as brewing a range of craft beer on-site the 38-year-old plans to host monthly themed family-friendly and dog-friendly taproom events in the brewery with space for around 130 people to sit and enjoy a drink The former rugby player hopes to be able to screen future Six Nations games and other live sports games in the taproom He also has ambitions to cook and serve hot food provided he can secure the proper council permission All being well, he intends to start brewing in Dunblane before the end of the year and to open the taproom for the first time on December 21 the brewer says he would like to organise an annual Dunblane beer festival inviting guest craft breweries from further afield to serve their beers alongside his own Matty started Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing from a garage in London in July 2021 Following a stint working in oil and gas in Aberdeen he relocated south to do an MBA at London Business School before eventually retraining as a brewer When Matty and his wife made the decision to relocate back to Scotland, they spontaneously chose to settle in the Stirling area “It was probably the best shoot-from-the-hip decision we’ve ever made,” he smiles Matty is currently the only Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing Brewery staff member – aside from his dog and his “very understanding” wife he hopes to be able to employ local people who have struggled to find jobs due to being neurodivergent or having autism to work at the brewery with him Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing already makes a range of craft beers available to buy online Matty is looking forward to serving them in pint glasses to his taproom customers Though his products range from alcohol-free lager (0.5% ABV) to 5% IPAs he is passionate about producing great-tasting session-strength beer of all types Session beers have an ABV of less than 5% – Matty’s own all come in between 3% and 4.2% Dunblane’s craft brewery will host its first taproom event the Saturday before Christmas which moved into a unit on Duckburn Industrial Estate in October will open its doors to the public on December 21 A range of the brewery’s own beers will be available on tap cider and whisky will also be offered for anyone who might prefer those to a pint Customers can enjoy a drink on-site in the taproom attached to the brewery or purchase cans of beer to take home with them It will also give beer lovers an opportunity to see the Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing brewing set-up for themselves Owner and brewer Matty Dixon said: “I’m nervous and excited to welcome people through the doors for the first time “I’m really hopeful folks will enjoy themselves enough to come back each month – not just because of the great experience but so they can enjoy witnessing first-hand the evolution of the space and my employment mission for folks with physical and/or neurological diversity.” the inaugural taproom day will have a country music theme “We promise: no Slade or Mariah Carey,” said Matty cowboy boots and hats are all absolutely recommended Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing Brewery will also host its first Social Sunday the day after the taproom event the brewery will be open to anyone who would like some company Matty said: “Mental health is something close to my heart and I’ve always battled with the feeling of loneliness and struggling to feel as though I belong “I’m determined to make the brewery a place for anyone and everyone “I’m going to run Social Sundays the day after every monthly taproom event “No expectations – you don’t even have to chat just come down and be around other people and don’t be alone.” Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing recently had a new brewery floor fitted and its brewing equipment is now in place in its new home Though Matty hasn’t begun making beer in Dunblane yet Originally from Banchory in Aberdeenshire, Matty started Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing from a garage in London in July 2021 The brand’s products range from alcohol-free lager (0.5% ABV) to 5% IPAs Matty is passionate about producing great-tasting session-strength beer of all types Session beers have an ABV of less than 5% – Matty’s own all come in between 3% and 4.2% A 50-year-old woman has been taken to hospital after a four-car crash on the A9 near Dunblane Emergency services were called to the northbound carriageway after the crash at around 4.40pm on Wednesday The road was shut for about two hours The extent of the woman’s injuries is not known A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “At around 4.40pm on Wednesday we were called to a four-vehicle crash on the A9 northbound near Dunblane “Emergency services attended and a 50-year-old woman was taken to hospital “The road was fully reopened around 6.45pm “Inquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances.” David Wilson of Scottish Labour has won Dunblane and Bridge of Allan’s by-election becoming Stirling Council’s newest member the Labour candidate was elected at stage six with 44.6% Scottish Conservatives candidate Stuart McLuckie came second A total of 907 votes (22.2%) did not transfer In terms of first preference votes, Mr McLuckie received a total of 1,143, and Mr Wilson 952. However, because the by-election was a single transferable vote, voters’ other preferences saw Labour achieve the transfers required to be elected SNP candidate John Watson received 770 first preference votes and the Greens’ Andrew Adam was close behind with 659 – a result Scottish Greens present at the vote count said they were pleasantly surprised by They were followed by Dick Moerman of the Liberal Democrats with 345 Speaking moments after the election results were announced an emotional David Wilson said he was “in total shock” “We weren’t expecting it,” he commented “We’ve really done a lot of hard work over the last six weeks “And we do have a lot of work for myself because we’ve been talking to the people of Bridge of Allan and Dunblane and I will honour what I’ve said to the electorate there.” The new councillor said he wasn’t sure what his first priority will be once he gets started but that he has “a list that’s quite extensive” after speaking to constituents while campaigning “There are things I want to investigate to see if we can help people,” Mr Wilson added we’ve got issues with education and we’ve got a lot of people that are having real problems getting access to the help they need And I want to see what I can do for them.” Speaking before the election took place told The Courier: “I believe in public service “My qualifications and 20 years’ experience of working in local government mean I know and understand how I can make it work for you and key services such as education and employability.” According to Stirling Labour’s website Mr Wilson is a keen road cyclist and hill walker with a passion for the environment The by-election was held to replace former councillor Ewan Dillon Dillon was sentenced to perform unpaid work after being caught with child abuse material The 21-year-old resigned on the day he admitted to downloading indecent images of children He was initially elected as a Labour councillor and became an independent in October 2022 – one month after being caught by police Thomas Heald of the Conservative Party was elected to represent Dunblane and Bridge of Allan in place of former Provost Councillor Douglas Dodds is also represented by Alasdair Tollemache (Green) and Robin Kleinman (Conservative) Pupils at a Dunblane military boarding school suffered “dreadful abuse” according to the chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry by Lady Anne Smith on behalf of the inquiry revealed that children at Queen Victoria School (QVS) suffered sexual physical and emotional abuse from the late-1950s to the early-1990s a cricket bat and wooden dusters were used by teachers to harm children Young male pupils were also subjected to violence and “unofficial punishments” by older boys in authority – who were prefects or monitors – during the 1980s They were tied to chairs with bags over their heads and one child received threats of being thrown down a lift shaft described as “cruel and terrifying” by Lady Smith was found to be commonplace in the senior boarding houses Children were also sexually abused by two teachers who taught at the school between 1973 and 1993 groomed and abused multiple primary six boys He reportedly used a mixture of “kindness and intimidation” to present himself as a father figure as well as his “use of innuendo” When his conduct was revealed to authorities a system for child protection had already been established Abusive practices conducted by staff and pupils went “unchecked” She said: “Factors that enabled abuse to occur included inadequate management and oversight and undue adherence to a robust military culture “The culture of the school was such that pupils were subjected to initiation ceremonies there was a hierarchy that enabled abuse of power by senior pupils not treated as the children they were.” The judge added that staff “encouraged pupils not to clipe or report” QVS has apologised for abuse experienced by children who had been entrusted into its care Lady Smith said: “The current management and the MOD now understand that there is no room for complacency given the abuse that has taken place since 2010 despite the child protection systems and policies that had been put in place.” QVS was constituted by a Royal Warrant initiated by Queen Victoria but enacted by her son The school initially only educated the sons of Scottish servicemen but is now open to all children of military personnel Cases of abuse have also taken place at other Scottish boarding schools, including Fornethy House For more Stirling news and features visit our page or join us on Facebook A red Hyundai i10, a white DAF truck, a red Kia Sportage and a white Volvo XC40 were involved in the crash. The crash occurred on Wednesday around 4.40pm on the northbound carriage, around half a mile from the junction of the B8033. Emergency services attended and the 50-year-old driver of the Hyundai was taken to Ninewells Hospital. The road was closed for around two hours while enquiries were carried out. Sergeant Fraser Easton said: We are continuing our enquiries to establish the full circumstances. I would urge anyone who may have information or dash-cam footage which could help to come forward. “Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 2258 of January 8.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" The impact Murray’s success had on his hometown allowed a place scarred by tragedy to embrace the chance to be defined by something else I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Andy Murray didn’t put Dunblane on the map. It was already there, sitting quietly between Stirling and Perthshire in central Scotland, when a sleepy town home to a few thousand people became the scene of Britain’s deadliest mass shooting. Murray was eight, his older brother Jamie 10 when on 13 March 1996 a gunman broke into the gym hall at Dunblane Primary School and killed 16 children aged between five and six and their teacher Both Andy and Jamie are survivors of the Dunblane massacre. Andy’s class had been on their way to the gym hall when the first shots were heard and they were taken to hide in the headmaster’s office, sheltering underneath a window. Their mother, Judy Murray later revealed how she raced to the school to join the hundreds of parents gathered at the gates on the Doune Road not knowing if their children were alive or dead where Murray explained that within two years of the shooting his parents had divorced his older brother had left home to join an academy and it all contributed to him suffering from anxiety tennis has been his way to escape from the trauma of the past It remains remarkable that the career of Britain’s greatest ever sportsperson and one of the darkest days in the country’s modern history are linked in this way, and yet, it is only part of the story. At 37, Murray has played the last match of his career at the Paris Olympics as well as a time to reflect on his historic achievements and the legacy he leaves behind allowing a town scarred by tragedy to embrace the chance to be defined by something else At which point, it is perhaps necessary to mention that while I cover tennis for The Independent and have reported on the later years of Murray’s career for work I grew up in Dunblane and attended the same primary and secondary school as the Murrays on the same sanded local courts as the Murrays did while I would not want to speak on behalf of Dunblane and the thousands who live or have lived there I do not think I would be alone in sharing the immense sense of gratitude that is owed to one man and his racket Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Andy Murray, at 37, played the final match of his career at the Olympics for what you have done for Dunblane","description":"The impact Murray’s success had on his hometown allowed a place scarred by tragedy to embrace the chance to be defined by something else A stunning “one-of-a-kind” home in Dunblane has come up for sale Kinness House is within walking distance of the town centre and is on the market for offers over £915,000 The “landmark in contemporary architectural design” was completed in 2024 and has five bedrooms and three bathrooms the property was “meticulously designed” to create a living space that is both “distinctive and unrepeatable” At the heart of the home is a split-level lounge with a wood-burning stove and French doors leading directly to the patio area This open-plan space leads to the bespoke kitchen which features an impressive island The entire ground floor benefits from underfloor heating the master bedroom boasts a Juliette balcony overlooking the garden and a large en-suite bathroom with dual sinks while a separate dressing room sits to the side The second bedroom also features an en-suite shower room There are also two further double bedrooms A single bedroom – currently used as a home office – and a family bathroom complete the property the home sits within an extensive wraparound lawn garden A well-equipped patio area is the perfect space for entertaining guests and alfresco dining There’s also a private driveway and an integral double garage The listing reads: “Standing in perfect harmony with its surroundings this extraordinary property represents a landmark in contemporary architectural design “This one-of-a-kind home was meticulously designed to create a living experience that is both distinctive and unrepeatable.” a private driveway and integral double garage provide ample parking for the property Nearby, a picturesque countryside cottage in Argaty – between Doune and Dunblane – is on the market for just under £500,000. The Courier recently spoke to a Perthshire couple’s bespoke £740k house which has come up for sale in Gateside, Fife.  A drink-driver had to be pulled from his blazing car by workers after crashing at roadworks on the A9 near Dunblane Anthony Todd had downed half a bottle of rum before the crash in the early hours of the morning on August 28 last year He failed to see a set of traffic lights and hit the back of a waiting car Drunken Todd’s Citroën C3 burst into flames and he had to be helped from the vehicle Stirling Sheriff Court heard the 63-year-old still had a half-empty bottle of booze on the passenger seat Fiscal depute Ann Orr told the court: “At 2.30am there were roadworks being carried out on the A9 “The accused’s vehicle was seen coming along the southbound carriageway and hitting another vehicle that was sitting hitting the verge and hitting traffic cones “One worker went to the assistance of the accused who was in the driver seat and saw a half empty bottle of Captain Morgan’s rum in the passenger seat “Another worker had to help as the accused was struggling to walk by himself “Police attended and the vehicle was in flames when they arrived. “The accused was in the central reservation and police had to help him over the barrier “An ambulance was called because he was struggling to breathe and appeared to be in pain “When speaking to police on the roadside he said he had had half a bottle of Captain Morgan’s.” Todd was taken to hospital for checks and a blood alcohol reading more than 1.5 times the legal limit was taken said: “I know what I did was wrong.” He admitted driving carelessly and with excess alcohol (80mgs/ 50) Sentence was deferred for reports and he was banned from driving in the interim For more local court content visit our page or join us on Facebook The A9 was closed northbound for two hours after a crash near Dunblane Emergency services were called to the crash at Allanwater Bridge just before 5pm on Wednesday The road was closed at around 5.30pm and fully reopened at 7.30pm Bridge of Allan and Stirling were sent to the incident as well as a heavy rescue unit from Easterhouse A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to an RTC on the A9 near Dunblane at 4.53pm Bridge of Allan and Stirling and a heavy rescue unit from Easterhouse.” Traffic was queued to Bridge of Allan as emergency services dealt with the crash Police Scotland has been contacted for more information A 50-year-old driver is at Ninewells Hospital in a serious condition more than two days after a crash on the A9 near Dunblane The incident happened at around 4.40pm on Wednesday January 8 The collision occurred near Allanwater Bridge on the northbound carriageway around half a mile from the junction of the B8033 The 50-year-old driver of the Hyundai was taken to Ninewells Hospital The road was closed for around two hours while enquiries were carried out Sergeant Fraser Easton said: “We are continuing our enquiries to establish the full circumstances I would urge anyone who may have information or dash-cam footage which could help to come forward “Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 2258 of 8 January.” A huge Dunblane home with a heated indoor pool and a lily pond  has hit the market The five-bedroom Landrick Lodge on Perth Road is surrounded by a 1.7-acre garden The home enjoys lovely views of the countryside thanks to its elevated position just to the east of the town a porch leads to a spacious dining hall with access to a breakfast area an office/lounge space and a library and study room To the right of the porch is a modern kitchen and dining lounge with access to the patio and garden there is access to the luxurious indoor swimming pool and there is also a large balcony overlooking the lily pond there is a guest suite consisting of a sitting room with huge windows and a balcony overlooking the lily pond a bathroom and a kitchen with garden access There is a mezzanine sitting room upstairs and a gallery leading to a large bedroom and a further three spacious bedrooms each benefitting from an en-suite bathroom The main bedroom has a balcony overlooking a small orchard and wooded area the “idyllic” garden has seating areas for outdoor dining along with lawns and trees The property is being marketed by Halliday Homes for offers over £875,000 Elsewhere in Stirlingshire, a hotel in Strathyre is set to go to auction with a £395,000 guide price Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments. © DC Thomson Co Ltd 2025. All Rights Reserved. by providing communities with greater access to sports ITV News Correspondent Peter Smith reports A project led by Sir Andy Murray's mother Judy to build a £20 million tennis centre near Dunblane in Scotland has been scrapped According to the Murray Play Foundation charity increasing costs and problems with planning permission meant the Park of Keir project was no longer viable A statement from the charity said “significant increases in construction and protracted discussions with governing bodies” were among the factors behind the decision It was hoped the centre would serve as part of Sir Andy’s legacy after its completion The 37-year-old called time on his career this year, making his final Wimbledon appearance in a doubles pair with his brother Jamie and competing in the Paris 2024 Olympics alongside Dan Evans Judy Murray won an eight-year planning battle to build the complex south of Dunblane at the end of 2021 But the scheme continued to face opposition from local campaigners due to the site being located on greenbelt land and new luxury housing being included in the overall development A Murray Play Foundation said: “Judy has been involved in promoting sport and tennis her whole life "This not-for-profit project was an opportunity to build a base in Scotland that would have lasted beyond her lifetime and given the next generation greater opportunity to access courts Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News The statement said that although 12 years of work had gone into the now-scrapped project the Murray family wanted to stay committed to growing the game in the UK “We will now take time to consider what other initiatives might be aligned to the purpose of our charity which is essentially to provide more people – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds – with the opportunity to pursue sport fitness and physical activity," it continued who gave evidence at a public inquiry involving the project in 2016 said the shelving of the Park of Keir project provided an opportunity to focus on building an “appropriate” legacy for Sir Andy’s success He said it was "important" that the Park of Keir had been "saved" by shelving the scheme “I am proud the local community has stood up and protected Park of Keir,” he said “At the heart of this project was an exclusive luxury housing development that would have been damaging to the local landscape and would have eroded ancient woodlands and crucial greenbelt land." Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.. The suspect’s mental health will be assessed while Merseyside town deals with the aftermath of the atrocity that targeted attacks on groups of children at play are mercifully rare in the UK The worst in British history was the Dunblane massacre in March 1996 when a gunman walked into a school and killed 16 children and a teacher carried out his attack in the picturesque Scottish village opening fire on a class of five- and six-year-olds had previously been removed from the Scouts after concerns were raised about him The Dunblane massacre led to a toughening of firearms law who was convicted of an attack on an infants school in Wolverhampton armed with a machete and homemade flame thrower in July 1996 Campbell was convicted of wounding seven people and adults he outlined the sense of perceived grievance that drove his attack The jury at Stafford crown court heard Campbell told police: “They hadn’t done anything personally but they had contributed to the pressures I’ve had by jeering at me if I walked past They just say things like I’m a loser and a failure and that They called me ‘celibacy’ and words like ‘tramp’.” said he felt in a similar position to Hamilton: “I see myself having difficulties and being sort of victimised and pressurised unnecessarily So I think I should share that pressure with other people and attacked some people like I did.” Campbell was ordered to be detained indefinitely was jailed for three life terms for attempted murder and three for grievous bodily harm for a flame thrower attack at Sullivan upper school in Holywood He suffered from an untreated personality disorder and was a former pupil at the school For Merseyside police their investigation into the attack on the children’s dance class in Southport is just beginning Detectives will be rushing to identify any addresses their suspect has links to and searching them They will also be trying to identify any electronics gain entry into the devices and scour their contents for any clues The urgent need is to satisfy themselves that the suspect acted alone in the planning of the attack Other considerations will be seeking clues as to motive for the selection of the dance class and why it was visited with such violence The suspect’s mental health will be examined as will whether the suspect had any contact with the statutory agencies – police health services and social services – before the attacks and whether there was any hint of what was to come As people in Southport try to deal with the horror there are likely to be three formal processes after the attack inquests into the deaths and a specific one into the circumstances surrounding the death of a child Each local authority area has a child death overview panel that carries out an inquiry when a child is killed For emergency services workers who were first on the scene their bosses will try to alleviate any trauma said her officers were “shocked” by what they found the Merseyside force offers a programme called TRIM (trauma risk management) officers will be encouraged to take up one-to-one counselling Security at the dance class in Southport would have been light to nonexistent Such classes run on a financial shoestring asked about any question of tightening security at clubs for children said it was highly unlikely: “You can’t have children’s classes operating like a prison.” Three prospective Stirlingshire housing developments have been blocked by the Scottish Government A trio of appeals for separate projects in Thornhill Bridge of Allan and Dunblane were all dismissed by the Planning and Environmental Appeals Division this week some 160 potential new homes will now not be built an application to construct around 70 buildings for a mixture of business and residential use on land north-west of and at Burnside Works was submitted in December 2021 In the appeal decision notice the government’s reporter stated that the number of proposed homes could overwhelm the village of Thornhill’s existing infrastructure and increase commuting to other areas Allan Water Homes Ltd originally applied to erect 46 new homes (34 for private ownership and 12 for affordable housing) on land at Blairforkie Drive in Bridge Of Allan during July 2022 This project was dismissed by the Scottish Government with concerns raised over the intention to build on designated green belt land The decision acknowledged that the housing development “would contribute to the local and national economy and would deliver much needed affordable housing in a location that is within a 10 minute walk of the town centre” but countered that it would negatively impact existing residents of the local area In September 2022, Dunblane‘s Kippendavie Group Trust submitted an application for permission to build 44 residential properties (including self-build custom-build homes and affordable housing) on land east of Kellie Wynd This proposal also included plans for a neighbourhood community hub The application was not approved after an appeal and the issue of constructing on green belt land was among the deciding factors Response to Scottish Government’s decisions have been mixed Some Thornhill residents welcomed the news arguing that such a large development wouldn’t be suitable for the small village Bridge of Allan resident Inga Bullen said: “It is great that a community’s views have been supported by the planning system and that our objections to this proposal were listened to ‘If green belt can be built on it ceases to function as green belt’ If green belt can be built on it ceases to function as green belt: to prevent unsustainable development and urban sprawl and to protect the identity of settlements.” Others felt the decision was a snub for rural communities One social media comment read: “Things have to progress we need new affordable houses built for those who would like to return or remain in the village.” Conservative councillor for Trossachs and Teith said: “I am pleased that the position of both the council’s planning service and the community council have been supported by this decision “This application did not accord with the adopted local development plan “I would also want to place on record the significant efforts by the community council that ensured the residents views were sought and heard throughout the extended process a great deal of pressure to build new homes but all proposals must be in agreement with the LDP and proportionate to their proposed location.” Fellow Trossachs and Teith councillor Gene Maxwell of the SNP commented: “While there is a shortage of housing development needs to be appropriate and suited to its environment “While partially brown-field this proposal involved a significant amount of agricultural land and was excessive in scale it was entirely correct to reject it.” Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache said: “I am very pleased that the appeals have been dismissed “This protects local democracy within the local development plan and the need to protect green space and biodiversity.” Labour’s David Wilson, also a Bridge of Allan and Dunblane councillor said: “I would express support for protecting local green spaces and emphasise the importance of using existing vacant or derelict properties for new housing development rather than encroaching on green belt areas “I would also acknowledge the need for a variety of housing types and social to meet future demand in Dunblane and Bridge of Allan but stress that developments should be mindful of potential flooding areas and utilise brownfield sites I would note that repurposing neglected properties could improve the community’s appearance and stimulate local business opportunities which could make planning approvals more likely.” but could Andy Murray one day see a huge statue of himself towering over his home town of Dunblane Now the 37-year-old has hung up his racket following the 2024 Paris Olympics discussions have turned to how best to honour the three-time grand slam winner and create a lasting legacy in Scotland idea has been the proposed Murray legacy tennis centre on greenbelt land at Park of Keir Murray himself has said he hopes the development, which is being championed by his mum Judy, becomes a reality. not everyone agrees and many residents have put forward their own ideas as to how to recognise the two-time Olympic gold medalist in his home town We asked locals how they thought Dunblane should honour Andy confirmed the organisation was looking at options for commemorating both Andy’s and brother Jamie’s achievements Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache told The Courier that Andy’s success and “remarkable” career was an “inspiration” to the Dunblane community “It’s good to see a conversation opening up about his legacy,” he said “A fitting tribute would be a network of new and refurbished tennis courts in communities across Scotland with quality coaching for budding tennis stars from all walks of life.” Other locals backed financial investment in young tennis players from the town such as a scholarship programme in schools or clubs Local resident James Byrne suggested turning the current tennis centre building into a “really modern while Sarah Cullen thought the Cromlix hotel would be the perfect location for a tennis ball for local talent He believes Scotland needs a facility that can rival what England has and “elevate” tennis development for locals “A lasting legacy for the Murrays has got to be a top-class tennis facility which benefits from great transport links,” he told The Courier Conservative councillor for Dunblane and Bridge of Allan believes residents want a statue in the town’s centre said Andy Murray “deserves” a statue and local resident Helen Hutchison thought one of both the Murray brothers would be fitting Location ideas varied from near Andy’s golden post box to Dunblane Tennis Club – which some thought should be renamed to pay tribute to the champion. Christina Hay and Alan Dowie thought two large tennis rackets could commemorate Andy Murray’s achievement Other suggestions included the Keir Roundabout and B8033 roundabout near Queen Victoria School “I think having Centre Court renamed as Sir Andy Murray Arena will mean a lot more to him than anything,” added Alan A design similar to that of the Kelpies – the monumental steel horse-heads near Falkirk designed by Andy Scott – was favoured by many locals Stuart Mclean thought a similar sized statue of Andy serving would highlight his success saying: “Get the chap who made the Kelpies to make a sculpture representing Andy Murray and the other Dunblane champions could be incorporated in some way.” Other ideas to commemorate the champion’s career ranged from signage to artwork Galen Milne and Stephen Beattie suggested a mural at the railway bridge or on the road towards Doune Rodger Lyall liked the idea of something musical such as a pipe march or strathspey in his honour Others voiced support for a sign at the entrance to Dunblane paying tribute to the home of Andy and Jamie Murray “They brought fame to Dunblane shortly after a time when it was known for the school tragedy only so a sign would cement the town being known for positive reasons instead,” said John Paterson who also suggested a street name honouring the Scot Local woman Tricia McHugh Service thought the sign should read: “Welcome to Dunblane Andy Murray hopes to see Dunblane ‘legacy’ sports centre get approval ‘Dunblane is the home of tennis thanks to Andy Murray’: Locals pay tribute as ‘last ever tournament’ journey ends Don’t you feel bad for the forgotten Murray brother Despite claiming to be the older sibling of both Andy and Jamie the so-called “other Murray brother” seemed to appear from nowhere in 2019 not blessed with the same tennis abilities as the rest of his family uncoordinated Duncan was pushed into the background during childhood he has appeared on TV and performed live stage shows with Judy Murray Is Duncan Murray really the black sheep of Dunblane’s favourite sporting family, or just the fictional alter ego of a very funny Scottish comedian called Chris Forbes The Courier has given Andy and Jamie Murray their fair share of coverage – so isn’t it about time we got around to speaking to Duncan Andy and Jamie – I don’t know why people keep talking to them because it’s the same thing: it’s tennis and the batting of the balls “I think people have finally realised I’ve probably got a lot more to say and are finding out just how much I’ve contributed to the whole dynasty I’m not surprised now that people have realised – yep they play tennis and that’s all right but there’s maybe more to the family.” I know Mum doesn’t like it when I call her that because she’s busy and has things to do “But I make sure I hoover and sometimes make things – waffles – and just try to keep her happy whenever she returns home.” I would love to see her even more than I do “She has more of a kind of once-a-month or bimonthly situation going “But I think things are going strong We have great fun together doing live shows and I know she enjoys them immensely.” I’m looking at trying to secure some funding for Duncan’s Dome “People could do what they liked there They wouldn’t even have to play tennis “Andy and Jamie could have their pictures up But I think Duncan’s Dome has got a nice ring to it “We’d do a lot of LARPing there I think that’s a good way to go.” and I’m slightly disappointed that the people of my hometown have turned against me “That’s how it feels to be left off because I’ve really been involved behind the scenes “Maybe if I’m not on the main sign Maybe a smaller sign at the bottom saying: ‘And Duncan’ “And it could become as synonymous as P for parking I think that would be a nice touch.” “They’ll hear some stories from Mum She likes to tell stories about tennis and her dancey-dancey stuff on the telly I’ll get a chance to really connect with people “I haven’t really told my mum what I’m planning to do but I think she likes to give me free rein to come up with my own ideas and share my own style of Christmas joy “And I think she’s going to enjoy it.” “‘Andy’s hotel’ is a loose term I will remind them that I am part of the family “I just don’t think the shed is suitable enough for me But that’s where Mum’s told them to put me.” “Not even so much jealous of the success Mum and I had on stage together but the quality time we got to spend together “She would sometimes watch his games but she was up in the stands and there was no real connection And he wants some of that magic dust.” When people hear ‘the other Murray brother’ [Editor’s note: Two days after this interview, it was announced Jamie Murray will receive an honourary degree from the University of Stirling “Well, I’m really looking forward to this year because, with Andy having retired now I think there’s more chance of us all spending quality time together my mum wouldn’t even let them enjoy Christmas Day She’d have them out practising because she always said Santa hates a sloppy backhand maybe Jamie will chill out a little bit and we’ll all just sit around and eat some food together.” For more Stirling news and features visit our page or join us on Facebook The A9 was closed southbound near Dunblane after a vehicle fire Emergency services were called to the fire close to Keir Roundabout at around 6.10pm on Thursday The road fully reopened at 8.30pm The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the fire was extinguished shortly after arrival A spokesperson said: “I can confirm we are in attendance on the A9 southbound near Keir Roundabout “We have one appliance there from Bridge of Allan and were called at 6.10pm “There were no casualties reported.” A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The A9 southbound near to the Keir roundabout is currently closed following a vehicle fire which happened around 6.10pm on Thursday “Emergency services are in attendance and motorists are advised to avoid the area.”