Balfron and Dunblane pupils become Dementia Friends
Works are underway in the village to provide a traffic island in Station Road, with the aim of easing pedestrian access.
Annika Tulloch, owner of the Town and Country Designs coffee shop, said the project had “limited access to some of the last remaining shops and businesses at the busiest, and most important, trading time of the year.”
Ms Tulloch says that she was not consulted by the community council about whether her business would be affected, and that drawings of the works map showed “a very different picture than reality”.
Stirling Council roads and maintenance department advised Ms Tulloch, via maildrop,of the start of the work just one day before it was due to begin.
“Given that Killearn in recent months has seen the loss of the butcher’s shop, the Spar, the Bank of Scotland and the Black Bull Hotel, how socially insensitive, inconsiderate and uncaring can this community council show itself to be,” Ms Tulloch added.
“It’s frustrating. When everyone is trying their hardest to make their businesses work along comes another banana skin to slip on. This didn’t have to happen.”
As part of the works, parking restrictions have also been placed along Balfron Road.
Ms Tulloch and Maggie Jackson of Jackson Vets also plan a petition over restrictions which are new double yellow Students from Balfron and Dunblane have been engaging with those living with dementia in their community.
Dementia Friends is an Alzheimer Scotland initiative which seeks to increase awareness of the illness and tackle the stigma associated with those living with lines outside their premises.
“We’ve lost between 12 and 20 parking spaces in the village,” added Ms Tulloch. “Where do you go? We’re becoming a double yellow line village.
“There hasn’t been enough discussion; we’ve effectively been railroaded by the community council. It was their suggestion to add the double yellow lines. We’re totally up against it.”
Jim Ptolomey, chair of Killearn Community Council, said: “The issue of safety at the junction of Station Road and Balfron Road Killearn has it. S5 pupils from Dunblane and Balfron High have been involved with Active Stirling through their Health and Wellbeing leadership scheme.
As part of the scheme, pupils from Dunblane visited Randolph Care Home in Dublane and Forthbank Care Home in Raploch to deliver physical activity sessions to residents, including been reported and discussed at meetings of the community council for some time. It is from comment at meetings that double yellow lines were promoted to further augment safety, and it is significant that no comment to restrict yellow lines was made. The vast dance routines, chair-based exercises and games which the students came up with.
Balfron students worked with Blanefield House care home and Strathendrick care home to provide exercise classes and a session with Balfron lunch club.
Beforehand, the youngsters took part in classroom discussions on myths and stereotypes surrounding how different generational groups see each other.
They also completed Dementia Friend sessions, to give a better understanding of how dementia affects people’s daily lives.
More than 96 students also joined in an open session which took place at Dunblane High School.
As part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, Dunblane pupils regularly attend the Braeport Memory Cafe and interact with people living with mild to moderate dementia.
Breda Seaman of Dementia Friendly Dunblane said: “We are working with schools in the city to promote an intergenerational dementia friendly community. A third of young people know someone with dementia. With an increase in the number of people developing dementia in the next decade, it is likely that the majority of young people will know someone affected by dementia in their lifetime.”
“Young people will gain confidence and understanding when communicating with people with dementia, helping to reduce social isolation and stigma.
“Increasing young peoples’ understanding of dementia will have long term benefits as they mature and become the doctors, nurses, carers, social workers and researchers of tomorrow.”
A spokesperson for Dementia Friendly Scotland added: “We would like to say thank you to all the students who have become Dementia Friends. #wearyourbadgewithpride and thank you for your contributions to those living with dementia in your communities.”
Becoming a Dementia Friend is open to anybody, and is about increasing understanding off the illness and how people can do small things to help those living with the condition.
To get involved or simply find out more, contact Breda Seaman at seamanbreda@gmail.com.