Balfron Community Council

BALFRON COMMUNITY COUNCIL NEWS 

Look back over 2020

Our annual newsletter, looking back over the year, is now available. Due to covid restrictions, we are sharing electronically only this year.

Strathendrick Care Home

At an online meeting on 8th December, it was formally announced, for the first time in an open forum, that Strathendrick Care Home will close in the near future.   This is due to the fact that the facilities and services offered there are not appropriate for the Model of Care now deemed necessary for those who require the full range of Health and Social Care services available during periods of respite;  indeed, it was stated that the Home was never intended to be a respite centre.

To enable the Health and Social Care Partnership to plan the next steps in developing the appropriate model of care, a consultation process is underway, and a request to be included in the consultation can be accessed via this online survey.

Balfron Bank of Scotland Closure

We continue with our campaign to get the Bank of Scotland to reconsider their latest decision to close the Balfron branch in March 2021. We feel that the alternatives being offered are totally inadequate to the needs, not just of Balfron, but of all the communities of West Stirlingshire.

On 11th December, we had virtual meeting with representatives of the Bank of Scotland. Joining BCC Chair, Colin Cameron, were Alyn Smith MP; Bruce Crawford MSP; Cllr. Graham Lambie; and Crawford Bell, Community Development Manager for Stirling Council. To no-one’s surprise there will be no change to the published closure of the branch on 23 March 2021. What we did achieve was to get the Bank to think again about the nature of their continuing presence in the community – potentially something a bit more substantial than the occasional visit from a mobile branch. In particular we asked them to consider different ways of using the bank building itself, perhaps in partnership with others. It’s a big presence at the heart of the village and needs to be cherished. A big thank you to all of you who signed the petitions and kept the pressure up, and let’s hope we can get something positive out of it. I hope we might have more news in the new year.

Please continue to share our online petition as widely as possible – we have had over 1,300 signatures on our petitions to date and our elected Councillors, MPs and MSPs are all actively supporting our campaign. And please add your comments and concerns to our Facebook page.

Japanese knotweed invasion

Over the autumn period Loch Lomond Fisheries Trust have been treating Japanese knotweed in the Endrick valley and found large sections above and below Fintry which although now treated has allowed this plant to spread downstream to a number of locations.  

The Trust is keen to identify and treat any plants before the winter die off period.  This year Japanese knotweed is still alive and healthy, even at this late stage of the season, so any treatment we undertake should be effective. So if you spot any sign of this weed, please contact @LochLomondFisheriesTrust on Facebook, or let the Community Council know by emailing us at hello@balfroncc.org.uk

Balfron Active Places – Construction Phase One Complete

The improvement works to The Clachan and Printers Row have now been completed, and planning is underway with Stirling Council to plant the flower beds in Spring.

The works reflect the outcomes that were highlighted by the community during the consultations, such as:

• Improve the public realm and create space that provides enjoyment, comfort and protection.
• Provide positive road safety impact. Improve pedestrian and cyclist circulation.
• Improve accessibility for those with impaired mobility.

We are looking forward to working with Stirling Council on the next stages, covering Buchanan Street North and South, with the aim to secure funding during 2021.

Full details of the latest plans can be found at www.stirling.gov.uk/balfronactiveplaces.

Balfron Community Council Meetings

All Balfron Community Council meetings will be held remotely by video conference for the foreseeable future due to the Coronavirus. We will continue to keep you informed via this website, our Facebook page and via the Balfron Community Resilience page. We will also share information on our 2 noticeboards in the village. If you have an issue you want raised at our online meeting, you can contact us via the Facebook page or by emailing us at hello@balfroncc.org.uk

COVID-19 – Support and Information

If you or a member of your household are showing symptoms of COVID-19, arranging for a test to be carried out is straightforward. Find out more on the NHS Inform page.

If you are self isolating or need support if you have to self-isolate any time in the future, there is a group of Balfron volunteers who are happy to help with errands such as shopping, dog walking, urgent supplies and posting mail (for free). Please call Michelle Conway on 07540 667260 if you need assistance or if you want to join the local volunteer group.

You can also contact Stirling Council if you are vulnerable, know of somebody who is vulnerable, self-isolating and has no immediate support available on 01786 404040 or email communitysupport@stirling.gov.uk.

Keep up to date with the latest local information about the Coronavirus on the Balfron Community Resilience Facebook page. Balfron has its own resilience plan, and the volunteers behind the plan are now working closely with Stirling Council to ensure our village needs are understood, and what we as a community can do to support Stirling Council to ensure the most vulnerable are looked after.