Feedback
Below is some of the feedback recieved so far
I would ask the Council to physically examine these on foot. There are two T junctions and an additional road width problem.
1. From Kippen Road to Menzies Avenue needs a roundabout. If it was necessary for the Garden Centre on the A81 in Killearn to build a roundabout, with the amount of traffic flow of the existing Fintry Hills estate plus the 40 new houses would justify this.
2. The junction of Menzies Avenue and Menzies Terrace. Here access from the Terrace into the Avenue is unsighted until you are in the middle of the road. With construction traffic and addition residential traffic (as houses go up) this will be a potential accident black spot, even the removal of an offending hedge will not entirely correct this. This junction needs to be reconstructed to allow 180 degree view in both directions when leaving the Terrace. I invite doubters to physically drive it.
3. The Crescent, whilst adequate for its existing traffic load, is substantially narrower than either of the roads it joins. Large delivery vehicles regularly have to mount the pavement to enable adequate clearance for other traffic. Refuse vehicles manage because they only stop temporarily. In order to keep this road workable -
a. There should be no right into the Crescent from the Avenue.
b. Site vehicles, specifically construction vehicles should not use this route.
To assist safety the Avenue, Terrace and Crescent should be 20 mph zones.
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As catering for the needs of a national growing population of elderly is going to become increasingly important, I like the idea of small houses suitable for older / retired folk wanting to downsize from their family homes, but not wanting to leave Fintry. I can identify with that myself, and imagine there might be a wider need for this also. This might then release some of the family sized houses for new families to move into, or young families to progress to.
Sadly there is also a need for housing families who separate, so small houses or flats might be suitable for them too.
If land is used that has existing mature trees, or significant wild flowers, I would be keen to see any development plan include these within the housing layout design. Apart from the conservation issues (particularly of oak trees) a sterile and treeless housing estate does not have the character of a rural village. Planting ornamental alien trees as part of a 'landscaping' effort after building the housing development does not achieve the same result.
As fitting renewable energy / green heat pumps etc can be very expensive to fit retrospectively, it would make sense for any new housing to have these installed, as much as possible, at the building stage.
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Local Development Plan—housing types
I would like to be able to “downsize” within Fintry and I suspect there may be others in the village to whom such an opportunity might appeal.
I’d be looking for imaginative design, highest current standards of insulation and energy efficiency, low maintenance i.e. small or even no [private] garden.
Generous internal space, probably 3 bedroom, but minimum of 2 and with integral garage
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I personally do not feel that there is much need for more housing in Fintry. My own observation is that there are several small homes for sale at the moment and they have not sold so that indicates desirability and need.
There is not the infrastructure for more homes.
As far as affordable housing goes, I am not sure either. Does this means subsidised council housing of some sort? If so than the current rent for those is low and unless the tenants are able to work in Fintry they would need to be able to afford to run at least one car also. This is because there is no useful transport out of the village at times that people would need to get to work. The DRT is already booked for school runs so could not even be of limited use either. This makes affordable housing less attractive or viable in Fintry at present.
I see a need for smaller homes for purchase by older house owners so that they may continue to live in Fintry and free up larger homes for families. It is families that will keep the village active, vital and sustainable. Or even a small cluster of sheltered housing for sale or rent for the same purpose.
The lack of any normal living facilities in Fintry (shop, doctor, transport, post office, bank etc etc etc) means that it could remain a village where all working age people exodus the village daily and commute by car to other towns for their work. It is like this now and without regular, reliable public transport it will remain so. Fintry is not a sustainable village because of this, there is probably now a car for each working age resident.
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I am responding to your recent request for feedback from residents regarding their needs for housing in Fintry.
In short I do not believe there is a substantial requirement for additional housing in the village. There seems to be a regular supply of housing available to buy in a range of house sizes, often the houses may remain on the market for some time before selling. Housing for rent is similarly regularly available.
I have long felt that the village does need some form of sheltered housing or similar for older residents who may wish to downsize or who would welcome the additional security afforded by a managed development, which would allow them to remain in their community. This facility would of course have an added benefit in freeing up larger family sized properties sooner than might otherwise be the case.
Any future development of housing in the village needs also to address the infrastructure needs of an increased population namely public transport and village shop. This should be something that the Community Council should be working hard to impress upon Stirling Council as part of any planning permission that it may give to a future housing developer .
Fintry continues to have a longstanding requirement for affordable rented housing.