Alexandra Baff

Wee County Warriors, a Clackmannanshire netball club, will hold a family fun day at Ludgate Church in Alloa on August 15 to raise money for new kit and entry fees for two teams joining the Central Netball Association social league. The event will include games, face painting, raffles and treats, and follows the club’s growth from one league team to two while continuing to offer weekly recreational sessions for adults of all abilities.

Jenny Anderson of Menstrie celebrated her 100th birthday with an afternoon tea attended by representatives of Clackmannanshire Council and the Clackmannanshire Lieutenancy. Anderson, who has lived in Menstrie for most of her married life, worked at the National Coal Board and later became known for her expertise in floral art, including initiating Menstrie Parish Church’s flower festival.

A planning application has been submitted by Tesco PLC representative Joesef Duxberry to install a 562.38kWp solar photovoltaic array on the roof of Tesco’s store on Auld Brig Road in Alloa. The equipment would be placed on the roof to minimise its visual and amenity impact, and the proposal is currently in the consultation phase.

A planning application has been submitted for work on three trees at a property on Cochrane Crescent in Alva. The proposal seeks removal of a sycamore, crown reduction of a birch and targeted pruning of a mature ash, citing the trees’ health and safety as the reason. The application is currently in consultation.

Clackmannanshire Council has refused George Grieve’s proposal to convert vacant scrub woodland near Devonbank Cottage in Fishcross into a site for one house. The council said the development did not meet national or local planning criteria for rural homes or residential development in the countryside. It also concluded that the house would harm the natural environment and landscape, erode the countryside character, and permanently fragment woodland and agricultural land. The proposal was not justified by an essential need for a rural worker to live on or near the site.

Police Scotland is investigating two linked incidents at golf shops in the Forth Valley: an attempted break-in on Borrowdale Road in Stirling and a break-in at Shawpark Golf Course in Sauchie. Several golf clubs were stolen from the Sauchie premises. Two males wearing dark clothing, face coverings, hoods and gloves were reportedly seen near both locations, and police are appealing for information.

Police Scotland Forth Valley has urged people walking in the hills around Stirling to wear suitable footwear and socks. It warned that Crocs, flip-flops, road-running shoes and fashion trainers can provide insufficient grip on wet grass, mud and rocky paths, while hiking boots offer better traction and ankle support. Slips and trips are identified as the leading cause of mountain-rescue callouts in Scotland.

A second disco for adults with disabilities was held at Sauchie Public Hall, organised by Gillian Dowell and Sandra Fisher of Key Housing. Around 80 people attended the event, which aimed to foster friendship and belonging through music and dancing. Organisers thanked local supporters, including Smugglers Bar and Restaurant, Heaven n Hells Party Nights, the venue and volunteers, and announced plans for a Halloween disco in October.

Mums The Word FV CIC, a community hub in Sauchie, is offering 25 free haircuts to nursery-aged children through primary seven before the new school term. Founder Charlene Taylor said the initiative aims to help families facing financial pressure, with funding partly provided by Koala Competitions. Booked appointments are already full, but additional walk-in spaces will be available on August 6 from 9:30 a.m.; families may leave a donation if they wish.

Forefront Stage School has submitted plans to convert the vacant premises at 42 High Street in Alloa from a shop into a dance studio. The proposal includes alterations and the reinstatement of existing windows, and is now in the planning consultation phase.

Angela Constance visited Kincardine Health Centre to hear staff concerns about the long‑delayed replacement of the condemned Kilbagie Street facility. She highlighted the Scottish Government’s investment plans, including primary care projects valued at over £500 million and confirmed Kincardine is included in the first tranche. NHS Fife previously secured approval for a new surgery and wellbeing centre, but the project remains stalled. Similar delays persist in Lochgelly, where significant funding is also required.

A demolished property site in Kincardine that had become a hotspot for illegal dumping has been enclosed by a newly erected fence after concerns were raised by local councillor Sam Steele and the Kincardine Community Council. The land, damaged by a fire last year and subsequently targeted for fly‑tipping, lies on private property, preventing Fife Council from clearing the waste. SEPA has been investigating, and the landowner responded to renewed contact by putting up a fence to hide the rubbish, with plans for the community council to organise painting it.

A Menstrie resident reported enduring weeks of repeated alarm activations at the closed Menstrie House Care Home, prompting numerous calls to Clackmannanshire Council with little progress. After contacting MSP Keith Brown, the alarms stopped. The council stated that faulty cabling had caused the activations and that remedial work appears to have resolved the issue, with no alarms recorded since July 10.

A burst water main near Dollar Lodge and Holiday Home Park caused water supply disruptions for around 1,300 homes in Dollar and Coalsnaughton. Scottish Water repaired the 12‑inch main on Saturday evening, used tankers to maintain supply, and provided bottled water to customers on the priority services register. All supplies were restored, and the utility issued an apology to affected residents.

The Japanese Garden at Cowden will host its first wedding fayre on August 29, offering visitors an opportunity to view the gardens as a potential evening wedding venue. Several local wedding-related businesses will participate, and the garden, originally created in the early 20th century by adventurer Ella Christie, currently has wedding availability for 2027.

Golden Tree Estates was named Best Estate Agent for Clackmannanshire 2026 and expressed gratitude on Facebook, highlighting its values of business performance, innovation, client service, and community focus. The company credited clients and local supporters for the recognition and reiterated its commitment to investing in and supporting the Stirling and Clackmannanshire communities.

A volunteer appeal seeks drivers in Clackmannanshire to transport older residents to monthly Re-engage tea parties in Stirling. The charity emphasises its need for support due to growing attendance, noting guests in Dollar and Tullibody awaiting drivers. Volunteers would help with transport, refreshments and social activities for a three‑to‑four‑hour monthly commitment, aimed at reducing loneliness among older people.

A Coalsnaughton resident urged Clackmannanshire Council to extend recent playground renovations to include sports facilities, highlighting the community’s need for support amid ongoing ground‑movement issues that displaced many households. Suggestions included reinstating a football pitch, adding a tennis court, outdoor gym equipment, and other amenities to help restore community spirit and maintain local property values. The council acknowledged the positive impact of the upgrades but said it cannot commit to further investment now, though it is open to meeting residents to explore funding options for community‑led improvements.

Clackmannanshire Council issued dangerous building notices to several properties in Coalsnaughton after structural engineers identified risks linked to ongoing ground movement. Nearly 100 homes have been evacuated since May, with some residents in Langour previously choosing to remain despite evacuation orders. Investigations by the Mining Remediation Authority continue, while the Scottish Government has allocated £1 million in emergency funding to support the response.

Brian Leishman raised concerns in Parliament about pressure on Scotland’s fuel distribution industry, arguing that transporting fuel from Stanlow Refinery to Scottish airports harms the environment, strains infrastructure and threatens jobs. Minister Katie White rejected the concerns but affirmed commitment to emissions reduction and support for Grangemouth. Leishman later reiterated tanker drivers’ worries and pledged to follow up with the minister to ensure Scottish supply chains are protected.

Clackmannanshire Council has approved a proposal from Bramley Eccles to convert a former home on Upper Mill Street in Tillicoultry into a short‑term let, such as an Airbnb, with no conditions attached.

The Wee Bookshop in Dollar announced a series of upcoming autumn and winter literary events, including appearances by authors Victoria Bennett, Mark Bridgeman and Coinneach MacLeod. Scheduled activities feature a book celebration, an interactive murder‑trial presentation and a festive book launch with signed copies included.

A planning application from John Vaughan-Davies on behalf of Dollar Academy proposes installing an electric vehicle charger on the rear wall of Heyworth House, a girls’ boarding facility in Dollar. The supporting statement says the charger’s scale and neutral finish would preserve the character of the listed building. The proposal is now in its consultation phase with Clackmannanshire Council.