New youth club on way

Children in Dunblane can look forward to a new club in 2019.

Dunblane Centre and Dunblane Youthie have announced the Primary 1 to Primary 4 youth club, which starts January 14 and will run from 6pm to 7.15pm.

Children will be free to move between activities which will change weekly and include arts, freeplay, sports and games.

It is aimed to lay on activities that are fun, educational and stimulating. There will also be a designated break time and the evening will end with some calming activities.

For further information email: youthworker@ dunblanecentre.co.uk or call 01786 824224.

The centre is also starting a new term time Soft Archery session in the new year run by Scottish Archery certified leaders.

Call the centre on 01786 824224 to book - £40 for the block or £5 per drop-in.

There have been fresh calls for an overhaul of Crianlarich’s faulty telephone exchange.

Villagers say that they were cut off at least 20 times in 2017, with no access to any telephone communications for at least an hour at a time, including access to the emergency 999 and 111 systems.

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Dean Lockhart and Trossachs and Teith councillor Jeremy McDonald are calling on BT to take immediate action to upgrade the system.

The site of the exchange also suffers from overheating and has recently been fitted with powerful fans which omit a loud humming sound when activated.

BT engineers have been visiting the exchange on a regular basis in an attempt to improve reliability.

Councillor McDonald and Mr Lockhart are now urging BT to invest in Crianlarich’s infrastructure for the safety and convenience of the community.

Councillor McDonald said: “In 2018 this is not only unacceptable but cutting off 999 calls is extremely dangerous and I urge BT to upgrade the exchange urgently. This would also bring a welcome improvement in broadband