We ran the cafe at the end of half-term and thoroughly enjoyed everyone’s company; our thanks to all the bakers, helpers and Playgroup for their support.
We’ll be running on 29 November but won’t open on 27 December – who needs more calories that day, anyway?
We’re spreading our wings a little bit in the winter months. On Saturday 6 December we’ll be helping support Thornhill Development Trust at Light Up Thornhill, which promises to be as much fun as ever.
To brighten the winter, we’re also doing something new – A quiz night onSaturday 17 January 2026 from 7.00pm in the Community Hall, £5 entry to cover costs. Quizmaster, George of local fame, will try to keep us all in order. We won’t offer catering but are just facilitating these social events. Bring your own drinks and snacks and come and show off your team’s knowledge! If everyone loves* this, CG plans to go ahead and run two more quizzes, on 14 February (*did you see what we did there?) and 14 March.
Our normal pattern of opening will continue, (last Saturday of the month), from Saturday 31 January, 10.30 – 12.30.
As a reminder, the cafe’s main aim is to promote community cohesion and provide a fun, inclusive cafe environment for the benefit of the people of Thornhill and surrounds. Cafe payment is by donation (or none) and once we’ve covered costs, any additional money will go into improving the cafe or go towards Thornhill projects; the cafe will liaise with TDT to ensure any spending is in line with village aspirations.
Your TDT trustees have been busy … and there’s not much chance of winter hibernation either!
So here are a couple of dates for your diary and things you can be involved in:
Light Up Thornhill
Save the date – Saturday 6th December
We may kid ourselves that this pre-Christmas celebration is for children. Maybe! But it’s also a heartwarming midwinter gathering for everyone of all ages. So come along and get involved if you can.
Advent windows, fancy dress, parades, music … what happens on the night (and in the run up) depends on collective enthusiasm and we would love to tap into yours! LUT needs your ideas and help with planning, marshalling, lights, decorating, set-up and take-down. If you can help a little or a lot, join us to plan it all out in the Community Hall at 9.30am on Friday 31st October.
Thornhill Energy Solutions
Save the date – Monday 1st December, 7pm, Community Hall.
How can we make our homes more affordable, healthy and sustainable? Compared with living in town, we use (on average) more fuel and electricity to live in a place like Thornhill. This costs us more and produces more CO2. Why? More car use, weather, traditional houses with less insulation … the list goes on.
Average household heating costs are especially high in a rural area like ours. We don’t have mains gas (which is still by far the cheapest way to heat a home), so we spend more on electricity, oil, wood or coal.
We have received a £3,000 grant from Forth Environment Link’s Climate Action Hub (thank you FEL!) and have employed Power Circle to consider what innovative heating technologies and solutions could fit best with our range of household needs and types. We have specifically asked them to look at some new emerging solutions coming on to the market in the next few years. Advice is available from Home Energy Scotland on existing solutions. https://www.homeenergyscotland.org/
Power Circle (check them out) is a not-for-profit energy innovation company based in Bridge of Allan with considerable expertise and experience.
What next? Find out more at a public meeting in the Community Hall on Monday 1st December at 7pm. Power Circle MD Jon Cape and Community Renewables Manager Alistair Roberts will be on hand to describe what’s happening, how you can be involved and answer your questions. Please pass the word.
Jon and Alistair will ask households to complete an online survey about their house and heating needs. Please take part – more survey completions will make their conclusions more valid and useful. The survey results will be anonymised in the report and won’t commit you to anything. This is for everyone, tenants, homeowners, all different house types and income ranges. So, as well as completing it yourself, please encourage your neighbours – especially those who may benefit from assistance to keep a warm home and anyone who may need your help to do the survey.
As well as reporting on solutions for our different house-types, the process should get Thornhill on the radar of companies and public bodies wishing to invest in a rural community that is ready for low-cost, low carbon heating solutions. It would be good to get Thornhill at the front of that queue!
An appeal for TDT Trustees
We are lucky to have a wide-ranging skill-set amongst TDT trustees, but we can only do so much. There are currently seven trustees and we can have up to 11. More is merrier! It’s helpful to have energetic representation from all sides of the community. Right now, we are missing local business and farming (or aspiring young farmer) perspectives. If you or someone you know would be interested in shaping what TDT does for the community, please get in touch with me.
McLaren Communities Futures consists of the 10 community organisations covering the McLaren High School catchment area. It came together, in December 2024, with the hope of accessing sizeable National Lottery Fund grants. The project is now seeking your feedback on key priorities areas.
The consultation survey was to have closed by now, but some communities needed a little more time. Therefore, the deadline has been extended until midnight on 19th October. If you have not participated, please have a look at this short video and use the link to send in your thoughts.
Apologies: Gabriele Ingle (GI), Campbell Millar (CM), Al Rawlinson (AR), Moira Russell (MR),
2. Approval of minutes of meeting on the 3rd June 2025
Minutes approved.
Approved by VB
Seconded by RC
3. Matters Arising
Police Scotland
HM reported that no response has been received to date for the Freedom of Information request submitted to Police Scotland.
Community Hall Car Park Extension
Stirling Council has refused the request to extend the community hall car park for school drop-off purposes. In addition, new no waiting restrictions have now come into effect around the school during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times, aimed at improving safety and traffic flow in the area.
4. Reports – External
a. Police Scotland
HM updated the meeting on the Police Scotland Report.
Antisocial Behaviour
On 19/07/25 Police had cause to stop a vehicle in the Blair Drummond area. Officers detected a smell of cannabis from the vehicle and following a search recovered a personal amount of cannabis. The driver was tested with no trace of cannabis in his system. He was issued a recorded police warning.
Road Safety
On 04/06/25 a two vehicle, non-injury RTC occurred at the junction with the A84 and the B8075, Kirk Lane. Police attended and enquiry was carried out with one driver being the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal for Careless Driving.
On 29/07/25 a two vehicle RTC occurred on the A84 at Blair Drummond. Police attended and after enquiry no offences were detected.
On 30/07/25 whilst on proactive mobile patrol on the A84 near Blair Drummond, officers had cause to stop a motorcycle in relation to the manner of driving. The rider was issued with a conditional offer of fixed penalty for careless driving.
On 31/07/25 officers attended a car off the road, non-injury RTC in the Blair Drummond area. After investigation the driver was issued with a conditional offer of fixed penalty for careless driving.
On 02/08/25 a serious RTC occurred on the A84 at Blair Drummond with persons injured. Police attended and after enquiry one driver was arrested and charged for causing serious injury through careless or inconsiderate driving. He is the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal.
On 06/08/25 a two vehicle non injury RTC occurred on the A84 at its junction with the A873. Police attended and after enquiry the driver of one of the vehicles was charged and will be the subject of a report to the procurator fiscal for Dangerous Driving.
b. Stirling County Councillor
GM advised that Stirling Councillors are now returning to office following the summer recess. Additionally, the Chief Executive of Stirling Council has resigned from her post. The Executive Director will assume the role on an interim basis until a permanent appointment is made.
GM advised that the transformation of Stirling’s former Ministry of Defence site is progressing well. The site is being redeveloped into a major film studio campus as part of a multi-million-pound deal. The project, known as Stirling Studios, forms a key part of the wider Forthside redevelopment initiative.
5. Reports – Internal
a. Chair
HM advised that he is continuing to campaign for improved road safety on the A84, particularly in light of the recent spate of crashes. The preferred outcome of the campaign is a reduction in the speed limit along this section of the road to help prevent further incidents and improve safety for all road users.
b. Secretary
EB advised that a request has been submitted to Stirling Council regarding reinstating the white line road marking just outside the village on the Aberfoyle side.
c. Treasurer
GT advised that the current account balance stands at approximately £200. A 2024/25 income and expenditure report has been circulated to members. GT also outlined the forecasted costs for the 2025/26 financial year.
d. Planning
Planning Report circulated prior to meeting and advised of the updates and changes received for planning in the area.
EB advised that Stirling Council are working on the new Stirling Local Development Plan, which is expected to be adopted in 2028. To inform the preparation of the proposed Local Development Plan, a ‘Call for Sites and Ideas’ consultation has now opened for a period of 12 weeks. The closing date for this consultation is aligned with the deadline for communities to submit Local Place Plans – 31 October 2025.
d. Offering VB and CM full membership from their co-opted status
Co-opted members Veronica Bachelor and Campbell Millar are now eligible for full membership of the Community Council. Both have accepted full membership.
e. DRT/Public Transport
GM has advised that Stirling Council is currently pausing taxi licences in the city centre due to an overload of taxis operating in the area. The review is intended to manage congestion and ensure an appropriate balance of licensed vehicles within the city centre.
The DRT is not currently running due lack of drivers willing to take on the contract.
7. Residents Forum
Nothing to report.
8. AOB
Royal Mail Deliveries
VB has reported ongoing issues with Royal Mail letter deliveries in the Thornhill area, resulting in noticeable delays. Additionally, the local Post Office mobile unit is facing significant mechanical problems, causing inconsistent service availability.
GM advised he will raise an issue regarding rural post deliveries.
8. Date, time, and venue of next meeting
7th October 2025 at 7:30pm Thornhill Community Hall.
Please find below information on an open meeting titled ‘The National Park: A Refuge for Nature?’ It will be hosted by Paperboats, a collective of writers focussed on nature and the environment.
Callander Youth Project on October 9th, from 7.30pm. Admission is free and there is no need to book.
The meeting will explore how the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park can “play its part in restoring Scotland’s natural balance and its beauty”. It will be held at
Stirling Council is inviting proposals and ideas to help shape the content of Stirling’s next Local Development Plan. Whether it’s promoting new development opportunities, identifying sites for protection, or making suggestions on planning policy and guidance, this consultation offers an early opportunity to support the plan-making process and help shape the future of local places.
Blair Drummond and Thornhill Community Council Meeting Minutes for 2025 can be accessed at the links below. Please note there were no meetings in February or July.
McLaren Communities Futures consists of the 10 community organisations covering the McLaren High School catchment area. It came together, in December 2024, with the hope of accessing sizable National Lottery Fund grants to help communities respond to climate change now and in the future.
You can find out more information at Thornhill Community Cafe in the Community Hall on 30th August.
Here is a link to a survey about McLaren Communities Futures regional initiative to help communities respond to climate change. The survey closes on 30th September.
