Riverside Community Council Public Meeting Minutes
Riverside Primary School
Date: 26th March 2025
Members Present In Attendance Apologies
Joan Murphy Di Alderdice Creagh Warren
Fiona Dyet Andrew Fraser
Jude Treliving Cllr Nunn
Parvin Morrissey Gillian Armstrong
Fiona Berrow Chara Parraco
Ashleigh Philips Katy Allen
Nitish Ramparsad 13 residents
Bob Dale
Carol Roberston
Minutes Actions
- Welcome
Joan Murphy welcomed everyone to Riverside Primary School (RPS) and elected and
associate members were introduced.
The monthly positive fact comes courtesy of Andrew Fraser: he UK’s greenhouse gas
emissions fell by 3.6% in 2024 as coal use dropped to the lowest level since 1666, the year
of the Great Fire of London, according to new Carbon Brief analysis. Major contributions
came from the closure of the UK’s last coal-fired power station in Nottinghamshire and one
of its last blast furnaces at the Port Talbot steelworks in Wales. Other factors include a
nearly 40% rise in the number of electric vehicles (EVs) on the road, above-average
temperatures and the UK’s electricity being the “cleanest ever” in 2024. More information
can be found here.
- Declarations of Interest
No Declaration of Interest was recorded.
- Approval of Previous Minutes
Minutes for February adopted. Fiona Dyet proposed; Ashleigh Philips seconded.
- Matters Arising from previous minutes not to be addressed within the meeting
None.
- Reports
- Chair
Stirling Studios: Joan Murphy has been in contact with Sharon Marklow at Stirling
Council, who reports that the work at the Stirling Studios site is progressing well. Works
for the refurbishment of the big building, Building 135 will commence at the start of April.
The programme of works for Building 136 are on track and on budget. A contractor has
been appointed for Building 105. Joan Murphy noted that there had been misgivings raised
to her regarding the project and its likelihood of success, but she remains optimistic at the
progress.
Green Space/Shore Road Park: Since the last RCC meeting, a sub-group has been formed
regarding the Green Space. Various RCC members and Riverside residents met with
Michaela Jackson and other representatives of Stirling Council on 12th March. More
information about the Green Space and the key points from the meeting can be found in the
minutes here. Nitish Ramparsad will take over as head of this sub-group.
Question from resident: Concern regarding the contraflow for cyclists on Forth Crescent
and whether speeding cyclists would make the path dangerous for pedestrians or wheelchair
users.
A: This is unlikely to be an issue due to the speed of cyclists on this path, as has been
proven by the use of this road as a contraflow already.
Q: Is there to be consideration for wheelie bins on the lowered-path section for bikes
outside the shops on Abbey Road?
A: It is likely this has been considered, yes, but JM will confirm with MJ.
- Treasurer
Income:
There was no income this month.
Expenditure:
We bought a speaker and microphone (£25.99) for use at community council meetings.
Bank of Scotland have now started charging us a monthly fee for the bank account (£4.25
each month).
Balance:
We have a total of £466.35 in the bank account. This consists of £166.36 of unrestricted
funds, £169.34 of administration grant, £80.00 of minutes grant, £24.65 of Old Harbour
Woods funding and £26.00 of seed grant funding.
- Secretary
Police Report: There is no police report. Cllr Nunn suggested that there will no longer be
reports for each Community Council every month as it has proved to be very resource
intensive. In its place there will be a ward-level update less frequently.
Pop-Up Polis: It had been agreed at a previous RCC meeting to go ahead with the Pop-up
Police officer if it wasn’t too expensive. Fiona Dyet can source a high-quality one for £75
which can be moved around Riverside by willing volunteers. There was concern that
reducing speeding in this way is hard to measure.
Edward Road: Residents have expressed concern over oil leakage on Edward Road, near
where the garage operates. There are concerns that the garage has been careless about the
oil leaking and Environmental Health could serve a warning if it was deemed to be
deliberate. There was concern raised for the amount of work done by a private business on
a public highway. Residents with concerns were encouraged to report the issue, with
photographs and date taken if possible.
- Subgroups
- Accessibility: Gillian Armstrong has been pleased by the effectiveness of using
fixmystreet and plans to report more pot poles in Riverside. GA said she carries
dog poo bags with her when out and about to pick up stray and abandoned dog poo,
which can hinder mobility for residents. 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.
- Active Travel and Sustainable Transport:
Waverley Park: Ashleigh Philips was pleased to report that there will be new
equipment being installed within the next two weeks. Upon inspection by Stirling
Council, one of the items was not as broken as previously thought, so only one item
is being removed, but three are being added (a see-saw, child-friendly monkey cars
and a trail obstacle course). James Aikman from Stirling Council is working to get
the play castle replaced this year. There is some maintenance needed for existing
benches and other tatty-but-viable equipment, which AP will organise.
- Environment:
OHW Volunteer Action Day: Saturday, April 29th, 1030-1330. Meet at the pillars
beside Riverside Quay. More information on the RCC website.
Litter Pick: Organised by McDonalds, a litter pick from McDonalds at
Springkerse to Riverside. Meet at McDonalds at 10am on Monday 31st March.
Equipment is available to borrow from Di Alderdice. There was a discussion
regarding how to thank David on Abbey Road for his litter picking every morning
in Riverside.
- Planters: There is still some seed grant from last year to be spent. Most of the
planters are ready to bloom, with some having had minor attacks from either
rabbits or squirrels.
- Roads: There is still an issue with a tripping hazard on Goosecroft Road which
Andrew Fraser has been raising with Stirling Council.
- Lovers Walk: Carol Robertson has been in contact with Environment Health
regarding the pigeon poo under the railway bridge on Lovers Walk. Environmental
Health has said that it is not a statutory nuisance as the issue is not attached to
someone’s house. CR believes their response has been inadequate and CR and AF
will continue to seek a response to the dismissal of the health concerns previously
raised. Alison Swanson has been in contact with Network Rail, who said the poo
will be cleaned up within the next three to six months.
- Local Groups:
Stirling900: Evie Waddell, Neil Sutcliffe and various other Riverside residents will
be involved in the events this weekend to celebrate Stirling 900. There will also be
a parade from the Castle to the rugby club on Saturday 29th April. More information
can be found here.
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.
Art Fundraising: There will be chances in May to paint with Fiona MacKenzie
from Blaeberry River Art. Sessions cost £30, and £10 of each attendee’s ticket will
go towards maintaining the defibrillators. More information about the activity on
offer can be found here with more details to follow on the Riverside noticeboards.
- A.O.B.
Cllr Nunn shared some other items:
- the Old Harbour Woods is now on the Riverside Local Place Plan. There is currently no
Local Place Plan for Riverside.
- there will be a change to the booking system with Stirling Council for halls and spaces. It
is assumed all on-going bookings will continue as currently agreed, with future bookings
being done online.
- there has seemed to be insufficient interest in a Car Club at the moment in Riverside. Cllr
Nunn would be interested if there was any discussion in the future of canvassing opinions.
- Stirling Council is planning to trial a new type of charger for electric vehicles in
Riverside.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, 30th April 2025. Venue: RPS.