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New 10 year plan to help shape future of Stirlingshire village
New 10 year plan to help shape future of Stirlingshire village

Daily Record

time11-07-2025

  • Business
  • Daily Record

New 10 year plan to help shape future of Stirlingshire village

Balfron Local Place Plan has just been submitted to Stirling Council to be 'validated'. The plan to guide what Balfron will be like for the next 10 years will soon become a reality. Balfron Local Place Plan has just been submitted to Stirling Council to be 'validated'. ‌ All being well, it will then be an important consideration in the new Local Development Plan and in developments that affect the village. ‌ The Local Plan is a look to the future of Balfron with the community contributing their ideas and aspirations for what the village will be like in the years to come. A spokesperson for the village steering group which coordinated the plan said: 'This will be a great step forward for Balfron, and for other communities that have gone through the LPP process. 'It is the first time that Balfron has produced a plan that has such potential influence, and it will give the community more of a voice in helping guide future development in the Balfron area. 'Furthermore, there is an opportunity to implement the proposals set out in the document. 'For example, if we want a community hub we will need to devote community effort to make this come into being. 'This document can be used to support funding applications and give us confidence as a community moving forward. ‌ 'Community engagement was a key part of building the plan and the Steering Group lead by Balfron Community Council would like to thank all who contributed, including those who volunteered their time, effort and experience to bring the plan into being. 'Thanks also goes to the consultants, for their expert guidance. 'An important part of the journey to producing the final plan was seeking feedback on the draft plan. ‌ 'Most of this was positive, although where issues were raised the Steering Group amended the document accordingly. 'Two proposals were dropped during this process.' ‌ Once Stirling Council has validated the plan, it will be registered publicly as a material consideration for future planning decisions. The spokesperson added: 'This means that the it will have to be given due consideration in relation to the emerging Stirling Local Development Plan (LDP) which will be published in 2027. ‌ 'It will also influence other strategic plans and site-specific planning applications in the Balfron area. 'If you have taken part in discussions and meetings for the plan or would like to get involved Balfron Community Council we really want to hear from you. 'The plan spans 10 years and within that period many positive changes can happen with the involvement of the community.' A downloadable version of the plan is on Balfron Community Council at BalfronLPP@ where you can also get involved or share any comments or thoughts. In addition to this downloadable version, a printed copy of the plan will be available in Balfron Library and one will be held by Balfron Community Council.

Bizarre giant pear proposal for Aussie town
Bizarre giant pear proposal for Aussie town

Yahoo

time03-07-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Bizarre giant pear proposal for Aussie town

Amid the success of Australia's 'big things', such as the Big Banana and the Big Pineapple, a Victorian town is now advocating to build the biggest pear on Earth. The city of Shepparton has a proposal for a three-storey pear in the heart of the Goulburn Valley, led by The Steering Group. Rocky Varapodio, a spokesman for the group, said these sorts of attractions can 'really highlight' regional towns. 'We've been doing a lot of work on this and the background of it is that the fruit industry has really over the years talked about having a structure in the region that really symbolises and recognises fruit growing in the area,' he told Triple M. Mr Varapodio said the giant pear was about 'telling a story' about the region. 'We think the time is probably right now to recognise this industry that's given so much to this region,' he said. The Goulburn Valley is well known for its pears, with 90% of the fruit sold across the country coming from the region. Mr Varapodio explained that potentially $2 million could be generated back into the economy, from the giant pear. However, early estimates have suggested the project could cost $1.3 million, with the steering group seeking government, council and stakeholder support to fund the idea. 'The next phase is to get a structural design done because we want it to be done properly and tastefully, we want it to be a whole interactive experience when you walk into it with some really good technology such as touch screens and displays that really tell a story about this industry that's been so solid for this region,' Mr Varapodio said. 'It's hard to put a time frame on it but we would really like this to happen over the next few years.'

Shepperton could build a giant pear in new tourism bid
Shepperton could build a giant pear in new tourism bid

News.com.au

time03-07-2025

  • Business
  • News.com.au

Shepperton could build a giant pear in new tourism bid

Amid the success of Australia's 'big things', such as the Big Banana and the Big Pineapple, a Victorian town is now advocating to build the biggest pear on Earth. The city of Shepparton has a proposal for a three-storey pear in the heart of the Goulburn Valley, led by The Steering Group. Rocky Varapodio, a spokesman for the group, said these sorts of attractions can 'really highlight' regional towns. 'We've been doing a lot of work on this and the background of it is that the fruit industry has really over the years talked about having a structure in the region that really symbolises and recognises fruit growing in the area,' he told Triple M. Mr Varapodio said the giant pear was about 'telling a story' about the region. 'We think the time is probably right now to recognise this industry that's given so much to this region,' he said. The Goulburn Valley is well known for its pears, with 90% of the fruit sold across the country coming from the region. Mr Varapodio explained that potentially $2 million could be generated back into the economy, from the giant pear. However, early estimates have suggested the project could cost $1.3 million, with the steering group seeking government, council and stakeholder support to fund the idea. 'The next phase is to get a structural design done because we want it to be done properly and tastefully, we want it to be a whole interactive experience when you walk into it with some really good technology such as touch screens and displays that really tell a story about this industry that's been so solid for this region,' Mr Varapodio said. 'It's hard to put a time frame on it but we would really like this to happen over the next few years.'

GPA criticise lack of progress in process of integration between men and women's games
GPA criticise lack of progress in process of integration between men and women's games

Irish Times

time12-05-2025

  • Politics
  • Irish Times

GPA criticise lack of progress in process of integration between men and women's games

The GPA has spoken out on what it sees as lack of progress and transparency in the process of integration between the men's and women's games. Joint chairs of the national executive, Tyrone footballer Niall Morgan and Dublin camogie captain Aisling Maher, in an address to be delivered to Monday night's GPA agm, are to protest that they 'mostly in the dark' on progress and caution that the players body 'will not allow this opportunity to be wasted'. 'Tom will take you through the operational highlights for 2024, but we would like to give our thoughts on the integration process,' according to a supplied script of Maher's and Morgan's joint address, which points out that their association piloted through the motion on integration at the GAA's 2021 annual congress in Mayo. 'The GPA kick-started the integration process and have at all times stood ready to support the NGBs on their journey. However, like many within the Gaelic family, we are mostly in the dark as to how the process is progressing.' READ MORE The Steering Group on Integration acknowledged in a progress report last February the need for communication and engagement. 'A key imperative for the Steering Group on Integration throughout 2025 will also be increased engagement at all levels across the Associations, in addition to continued engagement with Government on integration progress and next steps. 'The SGI understands through all the work undertaken in 2023 and 2024, an understandable interest and need for further engagement has been fed back consistently.' Yet, Maher and Morgan say that the GPA were turned down when they sought a meeting with the SGI. 'Updates are irregular and lack any real detail. Following the latest update pre-GAA Congress, we sought a meeting with the Integration Committee who had said one of their focuses would be consultation. Our request was turned down as we were told it would be 'inappropriate' to meet at this time. It is unfortunate and puzzling that an issue that will impact all within the Gaelic family is being kept concealed to such a degree. 'It has led to lots of speculation, much of it negative, about whether integration is achievable. Let us be clear, the GPA will not stand for a position where integration is not delivered. It is non-negotiable. It is what the Gaelic family wants. 'If there are obstacles, we should all be made aware of them because we would all like to help overcome them. We all have an opportunity to make a fundamental change that will have a transformational impact on Gaelic games for generations to come. We will not allow that opportunity to be wasted.' They also reference the findings of the Indecon report on 'The Economic and Social Impacts of GPA Players,' published earlier this year and call for increased lobbying in relation to tax credits. 'This sets out in plain terms the massive economic contribution made by players to the Exchequer, while also addressing the personal cost to those same players. 'If we are to safeguard the amateur status of our games into the future, we need to ensure players are properly compensated and do not bear a financial burden for playing our games. 'There is a role for the NGBs (National Governing Bodies) and the Government here, and we would like to commend Tom Parsons (GPA chief executive) and GPA Head of Player Relations Gemma Begley in particular for their ongoing political lobbying and the GPA's negotiating team who have put so much already into hammering out a new protocol deal with the GAA.'

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