Street aims to be a work of art for town
Community ideas combine to transform road
Stirling Council’s environment chief Danny Gibson this week praised work aimed at transforming the look of a key route through Dunblane.
Over the past 12 months, Stirling Council and Sustrans Scotland have been working with the Dunblane community on improvements to Stirling Road, between the High Street and the railway station.
The work and disruption it has created has come under fire from some traders in recent weeks, who claimed the lengthy spell of work was restricting parking and costing them business.
But this week Councillor Gibson said with the project nearing completion, it was becoming clear “what a big difference the works have made”.
Schools, businesses, and other town organisations have been involved in the planning of the work since its start.
Its aim was to improve access to individual businesses in Stirling Road while creating a high quality streetscape.
Following the upgrade of the bridge at Dunblane Station by Network Rail, regional transport partnership Tactran provided £15,000 and Sustrans Scotland a further £750,000 to help improve access around the station area.
Stirling Council brought forward planned strengthening works to the Allan Water Bridge, increasing the project cost by a further £500,000.
A steering group was formed and community consultation followed, which showed interest in the extension of the project to include the whole of Beech Road as well as Stirling Road with emphasis on the railway station at the bottom of the High Street.
Artists Elspeth Bennie and Jane Marriot worked with children from Dunblane Primary School, Newton PS, St Mary’s Episcopal PS, Dunblane High and Queen Victoria School to create artwork for the new streetscape.
They designed two signposts - one at the High Street and one at the station - and 12 mosaic panels which can be found on the new Allan Water Bridge.
In the Observer last month, taxi driver Andrew Walker hit out at the erosion of parking provision in the town.
Six parking spaces have been lost and some spaces on the dual carriageway had become pay and display.
Mr Walker said: “Dunblane town centre could very easily end up as a town with pretty streetscapes but no-one using them.”
However, Councillor Gibson, the council’s environment convenor, was full of praise for the work.
“Allan Water Bridge now incorporates mosaics while the station entrance has been opened up to provide seating, allowing people to sit, take in their surroundings and admire the new signpost designed by the children and Elspeth Bennie,” he added.
“By making the area more accessible it is hoped the new layout will encourage both residents and visitors to spend time in the town centre.”
Anna Ronayne, of Sustrans Scotland, said: “Once completed, this project will see the entire street transformed into a vibrant series of spaces for people to linger in, enjoy and travel through on foot or by bike, and will improve access to local businesses.”
The works are on schedule to be completed by the end of the year. Those involved have thanked residents, businesses, Dunblane Community Council and Discover Dunblane for their “patience and understanding” over the past year.
More information on the improvements will be at Dunblane’s Christmas Extravaganza tomorrow (Thursday) from 5-9pm.
To comment on this story: email john. rowbotham@trinitymirror.com, or write to the Observer at 34 Upper Craigs, Stirling, FK82DW.
.. a vibrant series of spaces for people