Category: News

Stirling train station undergoes £5 million makeover

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By Achilleas Salaveris

 

Stirling train station and the area around is in the process of a £5 million makeover.

The project, which began on 18th July, is set to be completed in Spring 2023, The aim of the project is to provide safe areas for pedestrians and cyclists, which will deliver “greener” and more sustainable transportation options in Stirling.

Funding for the project was provided by the Scottish government and Network Rail Scotland, with the project itself being delivered by Sustrans Scotland in collaboration with Stirling Council.

Michael Melton Grant, Manager of Sustrans Scotland, hopes that “this will create a more people focused entrance to Stirling station.”

The areas of the train station receiving a ‘makeover’ include:

  • Refurbishment of the station entrance canopy.
  • Creating a pedestrianised plaza around the station.
  • Improved customer waiting facilities on platforms 2 and 3 and new public toilets.
  • The creation of a Cyclepoint with 150 additional cycle parking spaces and a small maintenance area. This will also enhance the e-bike offering on the station forecourt, which is already very popular.
  • Pedestrianisation of the current station forecourt, replacing the roundabout on Goosecroft Road with a T-junction and a new car park entrance created from Burghmuir Road.
  • Existing bridge top deck waterproofing works in advance of the forecourt works.
  • Taxis being relocated out with the station area to the city centre, also managed by Stirling Council.

These improvements will make the station safer due to the reduction of traffic, which includes a reduction of taxis waiting in front of the station. Taxi drivers have been left frustrated by this, as the renovations and subsequent permanent change has been damaging to business thus far.

One taxi driver says, “It has affected us really really bad; we would normally sit at the train station picking up hires now people are walking, I have less hires and I don’t think I’ll get any more”

Others have also complained that the lack of a taxi rank at the improved station will affect business further.

Image Credit: Achilleas Salaveris

Alongside the reduction of traffic, new bike routes will provide better travelling connections between the city centre and the University of Stirling campus.

Some employees working on the train station are awaiting this project with excitement, saying “it will worth it when it is done”.

However, some are not so keen on the proposed changes; “The Stirling Council changed the road system a few years ago, they made it one way, and the people were getting stuck in the Thistle centre, and they cannot park, so I personally think it is not going to work”.

According to the works manager the biggest concern of the whole project was the condition of the bridge deck. It had been noticed that the deck was suffering from corrosion in the concrete, due to weather and age. Luckily, it was found that the condition of the deck was solid, which made re-construction and repair to the bridge easier.

Of the project, Jenny Gilruth MSP, Minister for Transport, said “We welcome the start of this latest phase in the Stirling Station redevelopment, marking further Scottish Government investment in Scotland’s Railways.

“This is a great example of how we are working closely with our industry and local partners to significantly enhance passenger facilities at this station, as well as improve the active travel links between the station and the Stirling community.

Image Credit: Achilleas Salaveris

‘Our aim is to encourage more people from the Stirling area to want to travel by train while also choosing more sustainable ways to get to and from the station whether that is by bus, walking, wheeling or cycling.

“We also want to drive local economic benefits by encouraging more people to visit Stirling by rail to explore the city and the surrounding areas.

“This is all part of our vision for rail services going forward; services which are attractive, efficient, passenger focussed and provide best value for money.”

Luxury Care Home to be constructed in Stirling

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By Achilleas Salaveris

 

In February 2021 UNUM Partnership submitted plans on behalf of Northcare, proposing the construction of a luxury care home southwest of Orchard House Health Centre on Union Street.

Original plans were for a four-storey housing complex that was accompanied by a masterplan proposal idea which was denied. The masterplan proposed the construction of a Student Residential Scheme which would be mixed with the care home.

This masterplan was proposed with the greater interest of Stirling in mind, as the aims were outlined in the planning application as follows; “The proposed development will transform an under-utilised island site into a key gateway location and in doing so fulfil an important aspiration for the city of Stirling as expressed in development plan policies and supplementary guidance”. The accommodation would have been the home of 305 students and the care home would have the capacity of 71-beds.

The reasons for refusal were mainly due to student housing, lack of parking and overall scale of the project. A decision was therefore made, to submit a new application for the construction of a care home alone.

Image Credit: Achilleas Salaveris

The home, which is projected to open in Spring 2023, will be a three and a half level building complete with accommodation and car parking.

Work is well underway, as the old small park has been transformed into an active construction site.

We asked residents of Stirling about what they think of this new addition to the town and their response was positive. One resident mentioned, “We have an aging population, so I think they we need a care home. The hospitals are crowded by old people and so a care home is good to have”.

When asked about the home, Stirling Council responded, “The care home building proposed is located in a similar position within the site as the previous approved building and is of similar scale. It is predominately three and a half storeys in height, dropping to three storeys adjacent to the existing health centre building”.

Image Credit: Achilleas Salaveris

“It will be separated from the street by a garden strip which will include some trees and shrubs. As for its architecture it will have the same tenement blocks on Union Street and will be a similar height with pitched roof pattern. The proposals for the roof were altered to introduce a traditional pitched roof and so did the size of the building, reducing from four floors to three and a half.

“The development provides some landscaping, with provision for sitting out areas or outdoor social space, however, such garden space as there is on the site will suffer from the adjacent traffic.”

Ultimately, the proposed development will transform an under-utilised island to a great place for Stirling’s elderly to live comfortably and in peace.

Stirling set to become world’s first fully augmented reality city

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By Nikita Vance

 

The “cutting-edge” software developed by BT and Seymour Powell, with the involvement of Stirling Council aims to completely transform the tourism industry in Stirling, by allowing visitors a unique view of the city through their phone screen. The £200,000 project was funded by Stirling Council via funding from the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme.

Through the free Stirling XP app (which is available to download here), tourists can use the AR technology simply by opening the app and holding up their phones as they make their way around the city centre. The AR technology detects key points within the city and, utilising sound; video; and other mediums, brings the rich history and heritage of Stirling to life.

Seymore Powell’s Head of Immersive Experiences, Chris Doughty, expressed his pride in the app saying, “Using Google’s new Geospatial platform, we were able to design a truly immersive experience that brings the city to life by revealing an exciting digital layer, gamifying local history, and providing tourists with local challenges that encourage them to go out and explore the city.

“We are delighted to have been able to deliver a project which firmly positions Stirling as a world-class digital destination and paves the way for continued, industry-leading, development.”

The app also features a rewards system, in which you win prizes for your ‘collection’ through playing and winning interactive games which include the “Stirling Wolf” and the “Chained Unicorn”. You are also able to unlock new areas and landmarks on the 3D map by visiting and interacting with them. Abbey Craig and Stirling Bridge are amongst those available to unlock, as well as Old Town Jail; The Tolbooth; and the Highland Hotel.

Of this exciting new venture for Stirling, Councillor Chris Kane, the leader of Stirling Council, said: “Offering this complete AR environment across Stirling is an exciting world first and will revolutionise the visitor experience in our amazing city.

“Stirling’s historic city centre and world-class attractions will be overlaid with interactive information, graphics, 3D models and much more, creating a fully immersive and dynamic experience that no other city currently offers.

Image via Stirling Council

“Stirling is already a must-visit destination, and this pioneering product will raise the city’s profile and attract more people to come here, boosting the wider tourism economy.

“The new free app will also open up a plethora of fantastic opportunities for local businesses and will make Stirling a more inclusive and accessible place that’s setting the world standard for next generation tourism.”

There’s no doubt that this incredible venture will do wonders for tourism in Stirling, as it gives the city an ‘edge’ over other heavy tourist areas such as Glasgow or Edinburgh. It is simply a matter of time before other cities follow suit and jump on the AR bandwagon.

Of this potential tourism boost, VisitScotland Regional Director Neil Christison said, “AR enables people from anywhere in the world to experience Stirling from the palm of their hands and learn more about this historic and vibrant city in an interactive way.

“It is also great to have a new platform that local businesses can take advantage of and a tool that visitors can use to plan their trips to Scotland.

“We know that tourism is a force for good with an impact that spreads far beyond the industry itself – it benefits our economy, our community and our wellbeing.”

Scottish Icon Robbie Coltrane Dies Aged 72

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By Nikita Vance

 

Coltrane passed in Forth Valley Royal Hospital on 14 October following lengthy battle with a debilitating illness. Coltrane was wheelchair bound since 2019 due to severe osteoarthritis, which left him with “no cartilage” in one of his knees, and was said to have been in pain “24 hours a day” in the period leading up to his death. The cause of his death is currently unknown.

He was previously forced to cancel his appearance at July’s Comic Con this year due to ill health, presumably caused by this ongoing condition.

His passing was confirmed by his agent Belinda Write who spoke of him fondly, “For me personally I shall remember him as an abidingly loyal client. As well as being a wonderful actor, he was forensically intelligent, brilliantly witty and after 40 years of being proud to be called his agent, I shall miss him.

Image via Wikipedia

“He is survived by his sister Annie Rae, his children Spencer and Alice and their mother Rhona Gemmell. They would like to thank the medical staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital in Larbert for their care and diplomacy.

“Please respect Robbie’s family’s privacy at this distressing time.”

Coltrane, real name Anthony Robert McMillan, was best known for his roles as Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter series and as Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky in the James Bond films GoldenEye and The World Is Not Enough. He had numerous successes across his almost 39-year career, most notably he was made an OBE in the 2006 New Year Honours list for his services to drama and was subsequently awarded the Bafta Scotland Award in 2011 for outstanding contribution to film.

Tributes have been pouring in for the beloved star. His Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe gave a statement to The New York Post saying, “Robbie was one of the funniest people I’ve met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on the set. I’ve especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on Prisoner of Azkaban, when we were all hiding from the torrential rain for hours in Hagrid’s hut, and he was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up. I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he’s passed. He was an incredible actor and a lovely man.”

Image via The Sun

Fellow co-star Emma Watson also paid tribute to via Instagram Story which she wrote, “Robbie was like the most fun uncle I’ve ever had, but most of all, he was deeply caring and compassionate towards me as a child and an adult. His talent was so immense that it made sense he played a giant—he could fill ANY space with his brilliance. Robbie, if I ever get to be so kind as you were to me on a film set I promise I’ll do it in your name and memory. Know how much I adore and admire you. I’ll really miss your sweetness, your nicknames, your warmth, your laughs, and your hugs. You made us a family. Know you were that to us.”

Hollywood and Scotland have been joined together, as both were shaken by this unexpected loss. The actor touched the lives of so many throughout his career, with fans citing Coltrane as their “childhood hero”. Without a doubt, he will be sorely missed and never forgotten.

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