Central Scotland Police and the local authorities in Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire have been working behind the scenes to ensure the safety of the public and the smooth passage of the Olympic Torch during this two-day event.

The 70-day Olympic Torch Relay will start at Land’s End in Cornwall on Saturday May 19. On leaving Land’s End the Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK giving thousands of communities and individuals the opportunity to participate as the Olympic Flame comes to a place near them.

The Olympic flame will travel through Crianlarich and Tyndrum on Saturday June 9 and then on Wednesday June 13 it will travel through Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Falkirk.

Residents and visitors to the area will have a chance to see the torch as it passes along the route and further details of the route can be obtained from http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/route/

Given the nature of the event and planning arrangements surrounding the Olympic Torch and the accompanying convoy, there is likely to be significant traffic disruption during its time in the area.

Details of road closures and best vantage points will be issued nearer the time.

However we advise you to start making plans of how this may affect your day including any travel or business functions.

Further information will be released nearer the time.

Issued by
Jackie Stewart
Force Media Officer
Tel 01786 456370
www.centralscotland.police.uk

• Blue-green algae exist in fresh waters in Great Britain and throughout the world; they are noticed when their concentrations increase to form “blooms” and when they form scums – looking like blue-green paint – or when they collect on the shore line.
• Some blue-green algae may produce toxins which can cause health problems such as skin rashes, eye irritations, vomiting and diarrhoea, fever and pains in muscles and joints. Toxic algae have also caused deaths of livestock and dogs.
• The behaviour and build up of algae is unpredictable and can change relatively quickly – appearing one day and being dispersed by the wind within hours. It can also rapidly re-accumulate.

Some collection days are also changing.

All those affected have received a leaflet and should follow the new calendar.

Please also be aware that your black box collection day may have changed, again we ask that you refer to the back of your recycling collection calendar for your collection day.

If you have any queries please contact our Contact Centre for further information.

Many of the schools switched off their lights for an hour during class time as well as holding a variety of activities in the run up to Earth Hour including:
• a bake sale to raise funds for World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
• the official Earth Hour 2012 video being shown in classes
• non uniform days where pupils wear bright clothing to school to make their own natural light

Brenda Roddy, Sustainable Development Officer said: “It’s great to see so many schools getting involved and supporting Earth Hour. Everyone can make a difference in saving our planet and children have a key role to play as they are the future generation.”

Earth Hour is a simple idea that has grown into a world phenomenon. It began in Sidney Australia in 2007 and it’s now a yearly event that has expanded across the globe.

The idea behind Earth Hour, which took place on 31 March at 8.30 pm, is that everyone switches off their lights at the same time for one hour, saving energy, while raising awareness of climate change.

• Do not fill a container more than the capacity printed on the label.
• Do not store petrol inside a domestic premises.
• Store petrol in a place that is not part of or attached to a building used as a dwelling.
• Petrol must be stored in approved plastic or metal containers of the sort that can typically be purchased from filling stations.
• You can store up to 30 litres of petrol in two appropriate 10-litre metal containers and two appropriate 5-litre plastic containers.

ACO Ramsay added: "It is of critical importance that should there be a fire in a property in which petrol is stored, our firefighters are informed of this at the earliest opportunity. Petrol and Diesel are potentially dangerous substances and we would recommend that the public keep any storage of these substances to a minimum".

After an earlier inspection in 2008, the Scottish Housing Regulator returned in 2011 to find some significant improvements since their last visit, saying:“Falkirk Council has improved its self awareness and made good progress since our last inspection in 2008. Its progress has been verified by tenants groups and other partners we spoke to. It is clear that the Council has introduced a number of new initiatives and important changes to its processes which have resulted in improved outcomes for its tenants and service users. This has included the introduction of a new housing allocation policy reflecting the statutory reasonable preference categories and a choice based letting process for applicants. Although there have been improvements to its Homeless services, progress has been less comprehensive.”

LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in each Nation and Region of the UK to devise the route and is taking the Olympic Flame to within ten miles of over 95% of the population.

Schools across the UK can now access free learning resources linked to the Olympic Torch Relay through Get Set (london2012.com/getset), the official London 2012 education programme. The activities are designed to help schools and colleges make the most of the Relay by lining the route, and cheering on their local Torchbearers.

All Falkirk schools have signed up for this now.

Resources include ideas for making Flame hats and shakers to welcome the Flame, an assembly presentation to get the school behind a Torchbearer and a film showing one Get Set network school's preparations for the Relay.

• Easter egg hunts in the woods behind Forth Valley Royal Hospital;  
• a junior ranger boot camp where youngsters can learn how to follow an animal trail and build a fire;
• Heritage walks along the River Avon between Avonbridge and Linlithgow;
• A regular Wednesday wander with the ranger service through different beauty spots;
• Or go searching for creatures under rocks and stones or even in local rivers.

The diary is available across a number of local Council offices and facilities as well as local community venues as well as via the Falkirk Council website here.

Outdoor Access Ranger Fiona Wishart said: ‘Last year’s events proved really popular with everyone who attended and we have extended a number of events to accommodate the growth in interest.

‘It can be a great way of spending a few hours and many people return in their own time when they discover the attractiveness of the area that were nor previously aware of.

‘The vast majority of the events are free however, pre-booking is essential as we’d hate anyone to turn up and be disappointed.

The guide will give specific telephone numbers to reserve a place however for general enquiries about the diary you can contact the outdoor access team on 01324 504950.

The refuse collection service is operating as normal on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Recycling Centres

• Kinneil Kerse
  (open hours 08.00-19.45 hrs.)

• Roughmute
  (open hours 08.00-19.45 hrs.)

Special Uplifts

The contact centre is closed Good Friday and Easter Monday however special uplifts of bulky items can still be requested via our special uplift request page.

Falkirk Council scooped the top award in the Chartered Institute of Housing/Scottish Government ‘Building Successful Communities – the Excellence in Regeneration Award announced today at the CIH conference in Glasgow.

The regeneration project to transform the Dawson area got underway ten years ago. New housing for social rent and sale has had a dramatic effect on the physical look of the community – the last two housing developments are now complete and represent the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle of bricks and mortar regeneration work.

Stuart Ritchie, Director of Corporate and Neighbourhood Services said: “We’re delighted to be recognised at a national level for our work in the Dawson area.

“Our comprehensive programme of regeneration aimed to keep the best traditions of the community and its environment together while at the same time increasing opportunities for residents.

“Throughout the process, housing has been a key element of the physical transformation with the demolition of hard to let properties to make way for new, affordable housing. The remaining housing stock has also seen a substantial programme of investment in the last few years.”

Regeneration work undertaken over the last ten years includes:
• The demolition of 15 blocks of poor quality flats and other buildings to make way of more suitable and a more attractive mix of housing
• New private housing developments together with areas of affordable and low cost housing
• Blocks of low-demand flats converted to other uses – NHS Dental Hospital, Family Support Centre and an Internet Café
• A new Community Campus created in the heart of the community with a childcare centre and fitness facility
• The Dawson Regeneration Group made up of community representatives who have been involved in every element of the regeneration work
• HEROS (Housing Regeneration Outcome Squads), an employment and training programme designed to encourage local people to improve their local environment. Sixteen of the HEROS have now been taken on as apprentices by Falkirk Council.

The Dawson Regeneration project received a Local Government Chronicle commendation in 2007 for its regeneration work. Since that date Falkirk Council’s first phase of New Build projects have come to fruition to complete the original regeneration programme.