Strathfillan & Killin Youth Zine

STRATHFILLAN & KILLIN
YOUTH ZINE
YOUNG PEOPLE’S STATEMENT FOR THE
STRATHFILLAN & KILLIN
COMMUNITY ACTION PLAN
CREATED BY:
PUPILS OF MCLAREN HIGH SCHOOL,
CALLANDER / LOCH LOMOND & THE
TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARK / PAS
WWW.PAS.ORG.UK
JANUARY 2020

Introduction
Young people will live the longest with the decisions that we make today.
For this reason, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and PAS
sought to include the youngest voices when creating the Community
Action Plan (CAP) for Strathfillan and Killin. Community Action Plans (CAP)
are documents which identify the goals and aspirations of a community
and outline how they are going to achieve them. These documents are
unique in that they are created by communities for communities. They
provide a snapshot of the views, issues and aspirations of a community
at a fixed point in time. A CAP will help a community come together to
make positive changes to all aspects of community life. It provides focus
and direction and helps support grant funding applications.
A creative statement – in this instance, a ‘zine’ – is an engaging and
interesting way for the participants to shape their comments and ideas
and is a great way of presenting young people’s ideas and planning and
place-making suggestions for the communities that form Loch Lomond
& The Trossachs National Park.
What is a ‘zine’? The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as a small magazine
that is produced cheaply by one person or a small group of people, and
is about a subject they are interested in. This self-published work of
original or appropriated texts and images can be a product of either a
single person or of a very small group and are popularly photocopied
into physical prints for circulation. In this instance, the “Young People
Statement” zine is reproduced in the CAP document, both in print and in
a digital form.
A group of pupils from McLaren High School in Callander, many of whom
are from the communities which are part of Strathfillan and Killin area
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within the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, gathered
in January 2020 to help prepare this “ Young People’s Statement”.
Over the next few pages you will find out about the things they
like and dislike about the area and what they believe the planning
authorities should prioritise to ensure this part of the National Park
remains an attractive place to be and live in for both young people
and other age groups.
This zine will be used to inform the Community Action Plan that
is being developed by Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National
Park for Strathfillan and Killin. It is vitally important that when
developing a community action plan the priorities and aspirations
of all ages of the community are captured. The zine will be used to
reflect the views of the young people that attended the workshop
and reflects their priorities and issues they want to see addressed
in their community.
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SECTION 1
Maps of Likes, Dislikes, Opportunities
We like: Go Ape; Camping spot in Crianlarich forest.
We dislike: Bad WiFi; Lack of public transport – only Oban, Callander, Glasgow, Stirling.
Opportunity: Climbing frame; [better] play areas; fiber optic [broadband].
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We like: Inchmahome Priory – interesting
history; The views from Ben
Ledi and trips there and the campsite
under it.
We dislike: Callander: not enough
to do for teens; [poor] transport;
A lot of small cycling routes and
footpaths are being flattened and
widened out unnecessarily, meaning
they are not as suitable for
cycling or walking.
Opportunity: Get more things for
teens, eg. activities, youth hangouts;
Improvements to campsites.
5

We dislike: [The core path in Tyndrum – marked purple on the map] is steep and dangerous –
needs improvement; Improve housing; Fix the roundabout [in the playground].
Opportunity: Extend Gruffalo Trail and hold activities there; This could be new hall – replace
[name of business]; New meeting place for clubs; Fewer restaurants; Extend the path to Crianlarich.
6

We like: [Lochgoilhead] – good for camping; Callander has lots of stuff; Killin is cool.
We dislike: We need more free WiFi; Lots of litter.
Opportunity: Killin – more mountain bike paths.
7

Feedback: Loch Lomond – very pretty, great for swimming; Loch Venachar – very pretty, great for
swimming; Bracklin Falls – nice views, good walks and views; Killin – small, good town; [x] restaurant
in Callander – tastes bad!
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We like: Killin – nice walks and views; Bracklin Falls – nice walks; Ben Ledi – hillwalking, nice
views.
We dislike: The [x] restaurant in Callander – terrible food.
Opportunity: Skate park in Callander.
9

Feedback: Don’t build houses on bogs; More houses in Tyndrum, not Crianlarich; More things to
do – youth clubs, climbing wall.
10

We like: Ben More – local view; Crianlarich – friends and family; Loch Lomond – swimming; Monachyle
– has good food; River Cononish – local swimming area.
We dislike: Tyndrum – boring, and nothing for kids; Falls of Falloch – dangerous; Callander –
we’re sick of it; Aberfoyle – nothing to do; Strathyre – ditto.
Opportunity: Add more child- and teen-friendly activities in Tyndrum. Regular safety checks in
places like Cononish and Falls of Falloch to prevent injuries and accidents.
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SECTION 2
What are the main things we would
like to see prioritised?
Climate action, walking & cycling
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Activities for young people; campsites
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SUMMARY
We enjoy the existing opportunities to enjoy
nature and spend time actively that are present
throughout the park. We think our communities
and the surrounding natural areas are unique
and important assets that we take pride in.
However, we think that more things and
activities for young people, especially teenagers
should be offered across the area.
We would like connectivity – both in terms of
transport, as well as the internet speeds and
access – to be significantly improved. The
planners of the National Park should continue
to manage the pressures created by tourism,
especially in relation to campsites and the
variety of facilities available to the residents
and visitors.
Support for active travel (walking and cycling)
and public transport initiatives that will connect
our communities better and consideration of
the threats and challenges posed by the climate
change must continue and increase. Sites for
new housing should be selected carefully and
with consideration for the exisiting communities
and the environment.
We hope that our comments and suggestions
help the decision-makers in serving our
communities in the area of Strathfillan and
Killin and making them better for young people
and other generations.
CREATED BY:
PUPILS OF MCLAREN HIGH
SCHOOL, CALLANDER / LOCH
LOMOND & THE TROSSACHS
NATIONAL PARK / PAS
WWW.PAS.ORG.UK