Neil Benny: Last News

Delays in developing Forthside amid contamination concerns and rising costs risk devaluing around £24 million of investment on the site it has been claimed.

Talks are to take place in a bid to scrub the controversial Viewforth Link Road from Stirling’s transport strategy.

The first salvoes have been fired as the battle for Stirling Council gets underway.

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Stirling Council has voted to approve almost £4 million of additional borrowing and dip into £2 million in its reserves to fund capital projects.At last week’s budget meeting, a total of 89 capital projects were outlined across the forthcoming financial year including new priorities such as building on IT and digital investments and urgent improvements to the railway underpass at Stirling’s Burghmuir Road.As revealed in the Observer last month, the controversial Viewforth Link Road was left out of the 2021/22 capital budget.On the wider capital programme, however, Conservative group leader Neil Benny expressed his displeasure at “saddling future

Get the stories that matter to you sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter.Stirling Council is establishing a cross-party group to look at how the region recovers from the pandemic.Councillors approved the move when they met to set the 2021/22 Stirling Council budget.A working group made up of senior council officers and elected members will now be established.

READ MORE: Councillors approve plans to move to monthly bin collectionsOpposition councillors say there has been “unprecedented” outcry over the changes - approved at the June 30 council meeting - and those voicing their frustration at the absence of any prior consultation should be heard.Tory group leader Councillor Neil Benny said: “As more people are finding out about these unwanted cuts and new charges the opposition to them continues to grow. We want the council to open their petitions process urgently and allow the residents of Stirling to force the issue back onto the agenda and demand changes.“Councillors should not hide behind petty rules and procedures to avoid the public on this issue.