Falkirk Council - Press Releases

Pupils Are Real Angels For Strathcarron Hospice

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Third year art and design pupils from Graeme High school are Strathcarron Hospice’s new ‘Guardian Angels’ as their entrepreneurial efforts are helping rash funds for their care services.

Unique and elegant, the hand-crafted glazed clay angels are being created in the school by the class and sold locally under the supervision of art teacher, Audrey Duguid.

The angels come in a range of sizes – from a few inches up to much larger figures that can be used as a garden feature and are priced between £5 and £30.

The angels are being created as part of the pupils’ enterprise studies (part of the wider Scottish Government Curriculum for Excellence) where they take the product idea, design, manufacture and marketing and combine them to make a business.

Audrey explained: “The pupils have been leading on the whole of the project and coming up with some great ideas and designs.

“My mum died of cancer and I know that Strathcarron offers a great deal of support to those affected.

“We’re hoping to take the class out to Strathcarron and show them their angels in place in the garden as well as get a better idea of what a remarkable place this is.”

Some of the larger angels will be placed in the grounds of Strathcarron to draw attention to the project which has already raised £200. It is hoped that all future S3 classes will work on the same project.

House builders Cala Homes has also agreed to place the angels at their Larbert sales site as well as investing in the project.

You can order online from the beginning of June via the school’s website www.graemehigh.com or follow them on twitter @Guardia71001586

Falkirk Shortlisted for Prestigious Green Planning Award

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

An innovative and visionary 20 year project which has made a vital contribution to the quality of life and economic development in Falkirk has been shortlisted for a prestigious national rural planning award.

The Falkirk Greenspace Initiative (FGI) is one of the three projects shortlisted in the Exemplary Rural Planning category of the Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) Awards for Planning Excellence.

The flagship partnership project - between Falkirk Council and environmental charity Central Scotland Forest Trust (CSFT) - was created in 1993 to transform the environment, improve the local quality of life and attract inward investment.

Through the initiative, a mosaic of community woodlands and other habitats connected by local access networks have provided a major recreational resource for local people and visitors, as well as an attractive framework for new developments of all kinds. The project has also significantly enhanced the natural and cultural heritage value of the area, now and for the future.

Councillor Adrian Mahoney, Falkirk Council’s spokesman for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “It’s great that our Greenspace project has been shortlisted for a UK award.

“It’s a terrific endorsement of the work led by our planning and environment manager, Alan Rodger, and his fantastic team.

“The Royal Town Planning Institute’s awards will be announced in July and I hope we’re successful. However, the real winners have been the people of Falkirk district who have seen terrific environmental improvements right across the district over the past 20 years.”

Simon Rennie, Chief Executive of Central Scotland Forest Trust, said: “The Falkirk Greenspace Initiative is a fantastic project which has transformed the local environment and dramatically improved perceptions of the area.

“We are very proud that the initiative has been shortlisted for this award and this recognition follows success at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning in 2012, where FGI was awarded a ‘gold’ in the Development on the Ground category and also received the highest accolade of the overall winner for outstanding achievement.”

Dr Peter Geraghty, President of the RTPI, said: “The entries this year demonstrate the very diverse nature of planning projects in the countryside that are positively contributing to the rural economy as well as valuing the intrinsic nature of the environment. This will be a hotly contested category.”

The winner will be announced on the 10 July at the RTPI Planning Awards for Excellence ceremony in London.

For more information about the shortlisted projects visit: the RTPI website

Keep Dam and Carron-On

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Local wildlife has a cast iron future thanks to the creation of the Falkirk Council areas third Local Nature Reserve (LNR).

Transformed from a site for industrial waste to a thriving greenspace Carron Dams has officially received designated Local Nature Reserve status. And its official opening is on Friday (17 May).

The site - which borders Larbert High School - is owned by Falkirk Council and leased and actively managed by the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT).

Work has taken place over the last two years to help turn the former holding dam that supplied water to Carron Iron Works into a local beauty spot.

Council Leader Craig Martin said: “Carron Dams is already a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its important wetland, fen and marsh habitats.

“Now with Local Nature Reserve status we can ensure these 18 hectares of land are protected for future generations of residents and visitors to enjoy. We also hope to attract new funding to further improve the site as an area for community enjoyment with good educational potential and biodiversity value.

“There is still plenty of work to be done though and we want to encourage any organisations or members of the local community who would like to be involved in the management of Carron Dams to join the Local Management Group.”

Further steps to improve the dams have already been identified and include:

Designing features to celebrate the site’s industrial past.
Providing information panels and viewpoints.
Promoting use of the site by local people.
Habitat enhancement such as pond clearance or hedge planting.
Improving access to the site for pupils from Larbert High and from Stenhouse Road.

Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserves Manager for East Central Scotland, Rory Sandison said: “Carron Dams helped power the birth of Scotland’s industrial revolution – now it is a wildlife haven and a place for the local community to enjoy. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is committed to increasing the provision of greenspaces across Scotland.

Working closely with Falkirk Council, the LNR Management Group, Larbert High School and the local community we are keen to develop exciting plans to further realise the site’s educational and recreational potential while continuing to protect the sites rich history and wildlife”

The Carron Dams Local Management Group is a partnership between Falkirk Council, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Larbert High School pupils and staff, Communities Along the Carron, Central Scotland Forest Trust and Larbert and Stenhousemuir Environmental Response (LASER).

Carron Dams is the third LNR in the Falkirk Council area alongside Bonnyfield Nature Park in Bonnybridge and Kinneil Foreshore in Bo’ness.

Litter Picks are Tonnes of Fun!

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Over 2,000 tonnes or rubbish has been collected in the first four months of the Clean Up Falkirk 2013 campaign.

That’s over 830 bags of litter cleared from roadsides, beauty spots, parks, schools and other areas throughout the Falkirk Council area.

Forty one litter picks have taken place already with a further 24 to take place during May and June.

And Tesco will support ten primary schools during a week long clean up starting Monday 20th May. Tesco staff from each of their Falkirk stores will take part in a morning and afternoon litter pick with each school and provide refreshments.

Environment Spokesperson Councillor Doctor Craig Martin said: “We’ve been completely bowled over by the number of litter picks which have already taken place as part of the Clean up Falkirk campaign.

“Schools, community groups and businesses have all taken part delivering cleaner communities for all who live, work and visit the area.

“While they are doing fantastic work removing the tonnes of litter which blights our many communities I would urge everyone to dispose of their litter properly in the first place. We spend millions of pounds unnecessarily each year cleaning up after irresponsible people whether its litter, flytipping or dog fouling. Dispose of litter properly by using one of the many bins provided throughout the area or take it home for recycling!”

This year organisers are well on their way to breaking last year’s record of nearly 5849 adults, young people and children taking part in 100 organised clean ups of local communities that saw all sizes and manner of illegally dumped rubbish collected.

Sixty five litter picks will have taken place by the end of June involving 682 adults and 2,167 young people – and there’s six months more!

Falkirk Council’s Litter Strategy Team promotes litter picks all year round. For more information about how to organise your own clean up visit the clean ups page http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/litterzone

Three is the Magic Number for Larbert High

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The finalists for the education equivalent of the Oscars have just been announced.

And Larbert High School (LHS) has been short listed in not one, not two but three different categories!

The school has made it to the final three in the Active Nation, Literacy and Sustainable Schools categories of the Scottish Education Awards.

Councillor Alan Nimmo, Education Spokesperson said: “To be short listed in one category at these prestigious Awards is fantastic but to be in the running for three separate Awards is truly incredible.

“Hundreds of deserving nominations are submitted from all over the country so for Larbert High to be recognised like this really highlights the commitment and dedication of their teaching staff and the excellent continued contributions made by their pupils.

“The fact that the three categories are so diverse shows that the school is fully committed to continually improving all aspects of the learning experience for pupils while making learning as engaging and enjoyable as possible.”

Larbert High School is a finalist in the following three categories:

The Active Nation Award – LHS offers sporting activity to pupils from 7am-7pm Monday to Friday as well as 63 different clubs on offer to all young people. It is also one of only 17 Schools of Rugby in Scotland as well as being a School of Football.
Literacy Award – LHS has links with local author Alan Bissett to raise standards of creative writing and is the first school in Scotland with their own Patron of Reading.
Sustainable Schools Award - LHS has made good use of the nearby Carron Dams Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) across a variety of subjects including Humanities, English, Science and Technologies.

The Scottish Education Awards aim to celebrate the success and recognise the achievements taking place within Scottish education.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony in Glasgow on 10 June where each winning school will receive a trophy, a certificate and a cheque for £500.

Food Hygiene Information Scheme Launches

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

A food information scheme designed to inform and protect consumers about food hygiene standards in the Falkirk Council area is launched on Thursday 23 May.

The Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) will apply to every establishment that sells food to the public, including supermarkets, bars, corner shops and schools and is based on rigorous inspections, which will award a either a ‘pass’ rating or ‘improvement required’.

More than two thirds of the area’s 1200 premises have already been assessed in the run up to the launch and certificates are already being sent out for display.

While it is not mandatory to display the certificate, it is hoped that public desire to see them displayed will drive business owners to put their certificate on show and if improvements are required, carry these out immediately.

The scheme is run in partnership with the Food Standards Agency and is being rolled out across all Scottish local authorities.

Consumers can easily check online for their favourite takeaway or restaurant by visiting the Food Standards Agency website and do an easy search by area or name.

Dr Craig Martin, Falkirk Council’s Environment spokesperson said: “The vast majority of local food businesses are concerned with high standards of food hygiene and the public can be re-assured that our regular inspections will highlight any shortcomings and action will be taken where necessary.

“We would encourage every business to display their certificates prominently so the public can see at a glance that they are buying food from an establishment that complies with the law.

“Any establishment that receives an ‘improvement required’ certificate will have to meet the standards required within a given timescale. Where there is any actual danger to public health, Environmental Health Food Safety Officers will not hesitate to act with enforcement action.”

Learning At Any Age - Adult Learning Week 18 May - 26 May

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

A week long opportunity to see how you can take part in adult learning across the Falkirk Council area begins on Saturday 18 May.

A series of events have been planned as part of Adult Learners’ Week and is designed to celebrate lifelong learning across a wide range of subject areas and themes.

Drop in sessions have been organised across a number of locations where you can find out more on what is availably locally that can help you with learning.

Events are planned for:

Monday 20th May 12.30-2.30 p.m. Westfield Community Centre (phone 01324 508520)

Wednesday 22nd May 10.00-1.00p.m. Westquarter Community Project (01324 503987)

Wednesday 22nd May 1-3p.m. Ettrick Dochart Centre, Hallglen (01324 639197)

You can find out about how to use the massive database of full and part time jobs via the Universal Jobmatch system https://www.gov.uk/jobsearch or if you have difficulty with reading, writing or using numbers, staff will be on hand to help you with The Big Plus campaign http://www.thebigplus.com

Learners themselves have designed their own learning fun afternoon for fellow adult learners taking place on Saturday 18 May between 1pm and 4pm at 43 High Street, Falkirk (next to Holland and Barrett).

There is also a series of health related learning events in the Bainsford/Langlees areas. Running until Saturday 26 May, there are fun information sessions both during the day and in the evenings. Please phone 01324 501470 for more information on all the activities and events during this time.

If you require information on other adult learning opportunities in the Falkirk area please phone 01324 503670 or visit www.falkirk.gov.uk/adultlearning

Run a Local Business? Our Business Exhibition Will Offer Lots of Opportunities

Fri, 3 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Falkirk Business Exhibition 21 June 2013 10:00 – 15:30

Falkirk Town Hall, West Bridge Street, Falkirk FK1 5RS

As the Forth Valley area's largest business event, the Falkirk Business Exhibition offers an opportunity to showcase local businesses, find new customers and sell products and services.

This is the opportunity to make new business contacts, expand networks, find out the latest industry developments and products, share ideas and develop sales leads.

There will be a diverse range of exhibitors from large multi-nationals to small businesses, new start-ups to long established companies.

This year there will be over 50 business exhibitors, a 4Networking business breakfast, an increased and extended seminar programme, as well as returning favourites such as free business advice and speed networking.

Networking areas have been improved and expanded so there will be perfect areas for you to take a break from the buzz of the exhibition or to hold an important business meeting.

You can find out more by visiting the Business Exhibition website

It’s free to attend (if you register beforehand) or £10 entrance fee on the day.

Spitfire Memorial Set For Grangemouth

Thu, 2 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The Grangemouth Spitfire Memorial Trust will unveil a full size replica of a of a Supermarine Spitfire Mark 1 aircraft to commemorate the trainee Spitfire pilots from all over the world who learned to fly the machine at the beginning of the WWII on Thursday 9 May at 11am.

Men from Poland, the then Czechoslovakia, Holland, Belgium, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and India were amongst those who trained at the Grangemouth Aerodrome. Unfortunately a total of 71 trainee Spitfire pilots lost their lives while practicing daring manoeuvres in the aircrafts in Grangemouth during WWII.

The day is set to be one to remember with a variety of activities taking place. Cadets from the 1333 Grangemouth Squadron ATC will treat onlookers to a special dance performance, and there will be an RAF brass quintet performing throughout the day. There will also be a flypast courtesy of Tayside Aviation.

There will also be a full RAF church service which members of the public will be able to attend.

Entry to the unveiling of the Grangemouth Spitfire Memorial Trust is free of charge. For more details visit www.gsmt.org.uk or call 07836 722566

Follow The Grangemouth Spitfire Memorial Trust on Facebook: GSM Trust and Twitter: @GSMTrust for all the latest news.

Proposed Local Development Plan Published

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The Proposed Local Development Plan for Falkirk Council will be published on Friday (26 April).

It sets out a twenty year vision for the Falkirk Council area allowing the public to see where future housing, industry, roads, green spaces and other land uses could be allocated.

Councillor Dennis Goldie Convener of Economic Strategy and Development: “Even though the economic downturn continues to affect construction activity and future investment plans we are committed to continually improving the Falkirk Council Area so it remains a great place to live, work and visit.

“The Local Development Plan aims to stimulate growth by making additional housing allocations in most communities throughout the area, maintaining activity in our town centres and identifying how and where future economic investment can be encouraged.”

The Proposed Plan follows earlier consultation on the Main Issue Report (MIR) which looked at different options in guiding future development.

A range of comments were received from organisations, businesses and individuals on the MIR and these have all been considered in the Proposed Plan.

The Proposed Plan and supporting documents are available online at www.falkirk.gov.uk/ldp or in local libraries, One Stop Shops and the Council’s offices at Abbotsford House on David’s Loan.

New Path in Bo'ness Receives �100k Cash Boost

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Work will soon begin to upgrade the Bo'ness to Blackness section of the John Muir Trail thanks to a £100,000 cash boost from the Scottish Government’s Legacy 2014 Active Places Fund.

The long distance route for walkers, named after the 19th century naturalist, will run 100 miles from Dunbar to Helensburgh, boosting tourism and helping Scots get close to nature.

Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport Shona Robison today announced the first 24 projects to benefit from the £10 million Active Places Fund and urged more Borders sport and physical activity projects to apply for a share of the pot.

With projects across Scotland securing funding to build play parks, upgrade walking trails and refurbish football pitches, grants of between £10,000 and £100,000 are still available. The closing date for the next round of applications will be on 1 July.

Ms Robison said: “Communities across Scotland will directly benefit from the Games with the award of this funding to upgrade facilities across the country.

“This fund allows individuals, young and old, increased access to sport and physical activity, whilst also developing the skills and experience of users, coaches and volunteers.

“The fund is open for further applications and I’d encourage local communities to apply now for their share of the £10 million pot.”

A total of £1,228,727 has been awarded to projects in 15 local authorities with more to be announced in the near future. With additional funding from partners, communities are seeing more than £3.3million invested in facilities across Scotland.

The upgrade of the coastal path will open up more green spaces for locals as well as attracting more visitors to the area on the tourist and walking trail.

Cllr Adrian Mahoney, Falkirk Council's leisure, tourism and community convener, said: “I welcome this new funding from the Active Places Fund. It will help improve and repair the coastal path between Bo'ness and Blackness - which will form a key part of the extended John Muir Trail, due to open in 2014.

“We've built up an enviable track record in creating new paths and cycleways over the years and I'm sure this improved link - along the banks of the Forth - will be very popular with walkers and cyclists.

He added: “We're hopeful of gaining further monies for the project in the next few months. All going well, improvement works will start later this year. The revamped route will be a real asset to locals and visitors alike.”

The fund is administered by sportscotland.

Louise Martin, Chair of sportscotland, said: “We are capitalising on the excitement and fervour surrounding Glasgow 2014 by accelerating our plans to implement a world-class sporting system at every level.

“We now have many excellent top-end facilities in Scotland, which are being used by high performance athletes as well as grassroots and club participants, and we are continuously improving community sport facilities.

“The Active Places Fund is an important component of delivering a lasting sporting legacy from hosting the Games and will have a very positive impact on communities right across Scotland.”

Falkirk Council and Scottish Natural Heritage will also help fund the project.

To find out more and apply for the Legacy 2014 Active Places Fund, visit the sportscotland website

Find out how you can be part of the Games legacy at www.legacy2014.co.uk

New Rail Bridge To Be Installed at Hope Street, Falkirk

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

As part of its Edinburgh to Glasgow rail line improvement works, Network Rail is carrying out bridge replacement work at Hope Street in Falkirk from Monday 22 April for approximately six months.

A diversion for vehicles will be in place to allow access to Morrisons supermarket via Meeks Road along with some associated local road closures.

Pedestrians/cyclists will still be able to access Morrisons and Meeks Road from Hope Street via a temporary footbridge over the railway that will be installed for the duration of the work.

Traffic disruption is expected locally especially at peak times.

Network Rail has produced this leaflet - Temporary Road Closure, Hope Street Falkirk (PDF, 944KB), explaining the temporary arrangements.

For more information on the Network Rail project contact their helpline on 0845 711 4141 or email EGIPScotland@networkrail.co.uk.

New �1m Bridge For Helix Project in Grangemouth

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

A new £1m bridge in Grangemouth will help boost canal traffic heading towards The Helix project.

The 50 tonne Kerse Lift Bridge is being installed on Glensburgh Road with construction work starting this week (18 April) and expected to last until October 2013.

Traffic disruption is expected during this period with single lane restrictions and diversions put in place for cyclists and pedestrians.

The new bridge is a hydraulically operated single-leaf structural steel deck that will carry vehicle traffic over the 6m span of the new canal and will be installed on concrete piled foundations.

Robert McMaster, Head of Roads and Design at Falkirk Council said: The ongoing work at the Helix will inevitably mean some localised disruption and we apologise for this in advance.

“The bridge is a vital part of the Helix’s infrastructure and this work needs to be carried out.

During full operation, the bridge will open under the control of Scottish Canals up to three times a day during off peak hours. The full cycle of the bridge from opening to closing will last up to five minutes.

The construction of the lift bridge will also see the inclusion of a controlled crossing which will allow an improved connection to the path network between Falkirk and Grangemouth and onto the National Cycle Network.

Preliminary off-road work on the project started in August 2012 with works being carried out by Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering.

More information on The Helix project can be found here

See if Social Media Could Help Your Business with Free Courses

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Falkirk Council has launched a series of Social Media Courses designed to help companies in Falkirk boost their opportunities to win new business.

The free introductory, intermediate and advanced courses will take place through Falkirk Council’s Business Gateway service at Falkirk Stadium, aiming to equip companies with the skills to take advantage of social media as an effective marketing tool. The courses will cover the use of social media giants, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook and advise companies how to use these social media platforms to best effect.

The course will take place on the following dates:

18/4/13 - Make the most of Business to Consumer Social Marketing (Intermediate/Advanced)

22/5/13 - Increase your order book - Facebook (Introduction Level)

25/7/13 - Twitter Strategy for Business (Intermediate/Advanced)

Business Gateway is delivered as part of Falkirk’s Growth and Investment Unit. Manager of the Unit, Peter Reid, commented: “We are running these free courses to help businesses in Falkirk get the most out of these free marketing platforms, such as LinkedIn and Twitter. We now live in a social media world and businesses who are not embracing this technology are in danger of being left behind. We would welcome anyone interested in increasing their online presence to attend one or all of our free workshops.”

To register please contact Ruby at Business Gateway on 01324 590960 or email business@falkrik.gov.uk

For more information on the range of courses on offer at Business Gateway at Falkirk Council, please visit the My Future's In Falkirk website or the Business Gateway website

Historic Kinneil House Open This Weekend

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

He’s the man who would be King . . . or at the very least a stand-in.

James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault and 2nd Earl of Arran (1516-1575) had a claim to the Scots throne ... and served as Regent of Scotland (or acting King) for a young monarch: Mary, Queen of Scots.

He built his very own "palace" - now part of Kinneil House in Bo'ness - and decorated his quarters with fine Renaissance wall paintings.

This month, Arran comes "back" to Kinneil, in the shape of a costumed interpreter, playing the 16th century noble. It's part of a series of free open days organised by Historic Scotland and the charity The Friends of Kinneil to bring the historic house to life.

The performer will take part in two, afternoon events - on Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21. The House will be open from noon until 4 p.m. both days (last admission 3.30 p.m.)

Kinneil Museum, next to the mansion, will also be open.

Maria Ford, the chair of The Friends of Kinneil, said: "James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran, is a complex and interesting character - and we're sure visitors will love to hear his story.

"Through his paternal grandmother, he was the great grandson of James II of Scotland and had a claim to the Kingdom of Scotland, after the immediate Royal family.

"By 1542, he was next in line to the throne after Mary, Queen of Scots - and was appointed Regent (effectively a stand-in) for the young monarch. Had she died as a child, Arran could have become the King of Scots.

"He built the Palace section at Kinneil, the decoration of which helped inspire some of the recent re-creation work at the Palace at Stirling Castle.

"During the open weekend, we'll take visitors on a tour of his apartments - and tell them more Kinneil's amazingly rich history."

She added: "We're delighted that Historic Scotland has organised a costumed interpreter for our April events and we hope people will enjoy these open days. They're free of charge, so please come along on April 20 and 21."

Kinneil House, which dominates a large parkland – Kinneil Estate – dates back to the 15th century and was once a popular home for the Dukes of Hamilton. The building was re-modelled in the 1540s and transformed into a stately home in the 1660s.

In the early part of the 20th century, the house and estate were sold to Bo’ness Town Council. In 1936, the local authority stated demolition work, but halted the process when rare renaissance wall paintings were discovered by a worker.

The buildings were put into the care of the Ministry of Works, now Historic Scotland.

For the past two decades, access to the house has been limited. However, Historic Scotland has been working with The Friends of Kinneil group to improve public access to the building.

Alison Stalker, Assistant Events Manager at Historic Scotland said: "These open days make for a great family day out and give people the opportunity to see history brought to life.

“We would also urge people to come to Stirling Castle to see the magnificent restoration work at the Palace at Stirling Castle which was in part inspired by Arran’s very own palace which he built at Kinneil House.”

The open weekend is part of a series of free open days in 2013.

Visitors will be able to access further tours on:

Sunday, June 22, 2013;

Sunday, August 25, 2013; and

Sunday, October 27, 2013 (3pm close).

Neighbouring Kinneil Museum – which provides information on the history of the House and Estate – is also open throughout the year, normally from 12.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Saturdays (as well as on any Sunday Kinneil House openings.)

For more information please visit Friends of Kinneil website or Falkirk Community Trust website