Riverside Community Council Public Meeting Minutes
Riverside Primary School
Date: 26th February 2025
Members Present In Attendance Apologies
Joan Murphy Di Alderdice Bob Dale
Fiona Dyet Andrew Fraser Carol Robertson
Jude Treliving Cllr Gibson
Parvin Morrissey Gillian Armstrong
Fiona Berrow Chara Parraco
Ashleigh Philips Creagh Warren
Nitish Ramparsad 15 residents
Minutes Actions
1. Welcome
Joan Murphy welcomed everyone to Riverside Primary School (RPS). The monthly
positive fact: the Flow Country in Caithness and Sutherland, the largest and most pristine
blanket bog in the world, has been given UNESCO World Heritage status. With an area of
460,000 acres, it stores 400million tons of carbon - more than all the UK’s forests and
woodland combined.
2. Declarations of Interest
No Declaration of Interest was recorded.
3. Approval of Previous Minutes
Minutes for January adopted. Fiona Dyet proposed; Joan Murphy seconded.
4. Matters Arising from previous minutes not to be addressed within the meeting
Lovers Walk: members have been in contact with Stirling Council but there is currently no
further update. There was a discussion about the bird droppings from the rail bridge onto
the path.
5. Reports
a. Chair
Forthside Master Plan: Joan Murphy, with several RCC members and Riverside residents,
met Sharon Marklow (Planning and Buildings Standard Manager, Stirling Council) for a
visit of the Forthside Site on 19th of February. The site was bigger than expected and in
good condition. Almost all the buildings are being retained and multiple companies can use
the space at the same time.
Stirling Council bought the site from the MoD for £5million from the City Deal and will
continue to own the site while employing an independent operator in summer 2025 to
manage the Film Studios. The Studios are expected to be finished by March 2026.
More information regarding the site can be found here, with the full report, including
photos, on the RCC website here.
RCC Policies: Creagh Warren and Joan Murphy have updated the RCC policies which
have been approved by Stephen Bly. They can be found here.
Green Space: RCC has previously indicated that it would like to develop the green area at
the entrance into Riverside, near the Student Flats, and has previously got architectural
drawings done. Stirling Council Land Services have indicated that there isn’t currently
money to maintain any work done there but is willing to consider a long-term lease of the
ground to RCC. The current suggestion from Stirling Council is that SC would provide the
footpaths, benches and cover insurance, with RCC providing informal play material, plants
and also covering maintenance. JM suggested forming a sub-group.
Bike Lanes: Following the public consultation in the Riverbank Centre, the plans have
been adjusted. The changes include: making Forth Crescent two way for bikes; not getting
rid of parking at the ‘hammerhead’ where Forth Crescent meets Forth Street, but creating a
raised path over the hammerhead area to create a continuous, active-travel-friendly line to
the new zebra crossing over Forth Street; the parking at the shops outside Riverside News
will be kept, with a dedicated loading bay and time-limited parking. Full plans can be found
here.
b. Treasurer
Income:
There was no income this month.
Expenditure:
We bought teaspoons (£3.50) for hot drinks at community council meetings.
Balance:
We have a total of £542.24 in the bank account. This consists of £168.93 of unrestricted
funds, £203.83 of administration grant, £80.00 of minutes grant, £38.83 of notice boards
funding, £24.65 of Old Harbour Woods funding and £26.00 of seed grant funding.
c. Secretary
Police Report: 6 crime reports, with 3 incidents. 21 calls were logged, mainly covering
noise complaints, road traffic disorder, vehicles speeding and fraud.
6. Subgroups
a. Planning: In November, planning permission was granted for the vacant lot where
Abbey Road Market previously stood. It includes 9 industrial units, car parking,
bike storage and bins. There will be a new gate installed at the existing entrance.
b. Accessibility: Residents were encouraged to, when putting out their bins for uplift
or when encountering bins in the middle of the street, move their bins to the side of
the pavement to improve access for those with mobility issues. Cllr Gibson to
follow up on the 25 old bins on Forth Street and Edward Avenue.
c. Active Travel and Sustainable Transport: A
Car Club: Ashleigh Philips has been in contact with Enterprise Car Club. To get a
car placed in Riverside, it would likely need to be placed relatively close to town
and would need to start off with a petrol car before the potential of transitioning to
an electric vehicle. Any resident or business interested in a car club can contact
Ashleigh directly or through the RCC email:
riversidecommunitycouncil@gmail.com.
E-Bikes: Forth Environment Link and Recyke-a-Bike have multiple e-bikes to hire
for up to a month, entirely free of charge.
d. Communications: The contract for the current website-provider runs out in the
summer. Creagh Warren will organise a new web host for less money and with
more functionality.
Noticeboard: Instead of installing a new RCC noticeboard at Cooperage Quay,
CW proposed installing one beside the bus shelter near the Cambuskenneth Bridge.
CW also inquiring into moving the Abbey Road noticeboard to the opposite side of
the shop, to increase visibility.
e. Social: There had been discussion regarding helping residents with hedges or
lawns. Although this is possible to do, Nitish Ramparsad reported back that RCC
wouldn’t be allowed to use power tools.
f. DeFibs: Batteries were checked and seemed in good condition. The funds are
available for when they need to be replaced.
g. Environment: Trees in OHW have been felled and left in place to create habitat
piles. Any branches will be chipped and used in the Riverside Orchard. Two
masters students are doing a grant application for surveys of the woods as a
precursor to a full development management plan for the next few years.
OHW Volunteer Action Day: Saturday, March 8th, 1030-1330. Meet at the pillars
beside Riverside Quay. More information on the RCC website.
h. Local Groups:
Riverside Naturally: Blossom Afternoon Tea, Saturday 3rd May, 1400-1600. Meet
at the Orchard.
Craft Afternoon: 13th April at the Riverside Bowling Club. 1400-1630. Free
community arts and crafts.
7. A.O.B.
Riverbank Centre: The Riverbank Centre is open for lunch again. Weekdays, 1130-1300.
Water Levels: In November, a resident highlighted that the public information regarding
water levels was unavailable. The Stirling River Level data is now fixed and available here.
Cllr Gibson highlighted several issues that had been recently addressed: graffiti on Lovers
Walk; sodium lights on Dean Crescent being changed to LED; cleaning done on the Spikey
Bridge; inquiries into double yellow lines up Shore Road.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, 26th March 2025. Venue: RPS.