Liz Gunn Blairdrummond Safari Park
Routes across Stirling were in chaos as Storm Ali battered the area.
The powerful winds that accompanied the storm saw trees blown over and uprooted, many blocking key roads.
Stirling Council’s land services team received over 60 calls regarding fallen trees on Wednesday.
A large tree fell on to part of the the roof of the Co-op store in Cambusbarron and also flattened a car in the car parking area. Luckily nobody was injured.
Several villages across Stirling area also reported power outages, including in: Drymen, Croftamie, Deanston, Brig o’Turk, Balfron, Cambusbarron and Torbrex. Plean was also affected.
In Stirling, parts of trees fell in King’s Park, Raploch and in Port Street where a large branch fell, almost striking cars sitting at traffic lights.
At Bannockburn Heritage Centre a large tree was uprooted.
In Killearn a tree blocked Graham Road.
A fallen also came close to striking Dunblane War Memorial.
Stirling Council deployed workers to try and clear roadways as quickly as possible. A spokesperson said: “Wednesday painted a clear picture of what can happen when the area is struck by a storm while trees are in full leaf and there has been heavy rain.
“The council always makes every effort to update the public prior to the arrival of such hazardous weather conditions and the major incidents which can subsequently follow in the wake of such events.
“We encourage residents to always heed the advice provided and we appreciate all those who contacted us to report matters of concern. This is vital in alerting the council services to issues in the area and helps us to resolve them more efficiently.
“Stirling Council would also like to thank its staff for their professionalism and dedication in difficult conditions to keep the roads clear and ensure the safety of residents.”
The council is also asking for anyone with further information to contact its contact centre on 01786 404040.
Volunteers from Balfron–based Trossachs Search and Rescue (Trossachs SAR) team were deployed after a large tree fell on the cars in Blanefield.
Multiple vehicles were destroyed when the tree came down, near chalets at Cuilt Brae. The tree fell just inches from the chalet.
The team worked around–the– clock during the forecasted bad weather. Trossachs SAR chairman, Stuart Ballantyne said: “We had two nightshift personnel on duty overnight into Wednesday.
They do duty as First Responders for the Scottish Ambulance Service and were available to respond to medical emergencies in support of the service. That crew were based at Killearn and they had no calls overnight.
“The dayshift crew were due to start at 11am. However, we were unable to meet up owing to fallen trees.
“I had been in Stirling for a meeting with Stirling Council in a team 4x4 and could not get my way to Aberfoyle.
“Having discovered there were trees down blocking almost every road in the area, plus knowing the power was off in Killearn and Balfron Station, it was decided to activate more team members to be available in their own communities.”
Blair Drummond Safari Park was forced to close after the high winds brought down trees and branches there.
Liz Gunn, from the safari park, said: “We closed the park to visitors on Wednesday because of the weather warning.
“The winds picked up late morning and we lost a few large trees and some branches. There were no injuries and staff remained on site to make sure that all the animals were kept safe. Most animals chose the shelter of their indoor enclosures.”
The park remained closed yesterday as staff cleared the debris. It re-opened today, ahead of the World Rhino Day event this weekend.
The weather is expected to remain breezy for the rest of the week.
Stirling Weather – an amateur weather station based at King’s Park – recorded the highest wind speed at 49.5mph, but the speed is understood to have been much more across the Stirling area. The station also recorded an inch of rainfall.
Scott McLean, who runs Stirling Weather, said: “The low pressure which affected our area deepened and intensified over the Atlantic to form Storm Ali, mostly helped by the strong jet stream high up in the atmosphere blowing towards the UK.
“It will remain breezy for the rest of the week and also over the weekend with a heavy spell of rain currently forecast for Sunday.
“We are currently forecasted for a drier and more settle period of weather next week.”
Staff remained on site to make sure the animals were safe