Shelters to be erected

Forty-two above-ground air raid shelters, to accommodate 10 per cent of the Stirling population, were to be erected in town, the Observer of October 1939 reported.

The shelters were to be 40ft long by five feet wide and had capacity to accommodate a total of 1600 people.

They were to be erected at the following locations - Goosecroft car park at bottom of the Craigs; near the Black Boy Fountain; Waverley Crescent plaground; Harbour, Shore Road; Lower Bridge Street; Spittalmyre playground, Bruce Street; Williamfield Cricket Ground,

Torbrex; Gordon Crescent playground; Hawthorn Crescent playground; Woodside Road/haig Avenue; Queen Street/upper Bridge Street; Station Road; Thistle Street; Mercat Cross, Broad Street; Victoria Road and Victoria Square; Allan Park; Southfield Crescent gardens; Burghmuir; Maitland Crescent playground; Mayfield Street; Mcgregor Road, St Ninians; entrance to Clifford Park; south end of Melville Terrace; Darnley Street playground; James Street; Corn Exchange Road; Church Wynd, and Glencoe Road.

Some councillors questioned the spread and location of the shelters but Bailie Millar said the shelters were required for densely populated parts of the town. Torbrex did not fall into that category and neither did Cambuskenneth, Causewayhead and St Ninians.

Shelters were intended for areas where it was not possible for people to create one in their homes or gardens.

It was stated a shelter to accommodate 16 people would cost £67 (£4300 in today’s money) and £47 (about £3000 today) for one that held 12.