Welcome to the BLV

Founded in 1987, the Ben Ledi View is a free community newspaper produced and distributed by volunteers for the benefit and enjoyment of residents of and visitors to Callander in Perthshire, Scotland, UK. It is named after Ben Ledi, the 867m hill that towers over the town.

Ten editions, each consisting of approximately 48pp, are published per year - one per month, excluding August and January. Print and running costs are funded by advertising, public donations, and subscriptions from readers resident without Callander. Current distribution of the main edition is 2,050. A copy is hand-delivered to every home and business in the town. Large-print and audio versions are also produced and distributed to visually-impaired residents.

The paper is published by the Ben Ledi View Community Newspaper, a non-profit voluntary association formed to promote community spirit and provide a free means of communication for local people and community organisations. The Ben Ledi View Community Newspaper is registered as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), registration number SC043744.

The BLV has three time been named Community Newspaper of the Year (2008, 2010 and 2011) by the Stirling Community Newspaper Forum, and several of our contributors have won awards in an individual capacity for their work for the paper.

To download our Media Pack for 2013 - which includes publication dates, editorial and advertising copy deadlines, ad sizes, rates and artwork specifications - please click here.

For advertisers who use Word to prepare their ad artwork we have prepared a new document that includes guidance and BLV ad-size templates. Click here to download it.

Ben Ledi View

Vacancies for Volunteers

We will soon have the following vacancies and would like new members to join the team now to allow time to hand over:

• Editor
• Treasurer
• Secretary
• Layout/production operative
• Deputy Advertising Co-ordinator
• Webmaster

Do any of the following apply to you?

• The year is still new and you'd like something different to do?
• Mum or Dad looking after little children at home and you want an additional interest?
• In year 5 or 6 at McLaren High School?
• Newly retired and want to take more part in the community?
• Interested in IT skills and helping to lay out the paper?
• Enjoy being out and about and meeting new people?
• Would like to join an organisation but don't want any new interest to take up too much of your time?

Well, why not contact us at the Ben Ledi View? We'd love to talk to you and we're looking for more people to join our team.

There are loads of other things to do and skills required so there must be something that will be of interest to YOU!

Call Anne D. on

or .

Local Development Plan

Loch Lomond and The Trossachs has begun a public consultation on the Local Development Plan that will replace the current Local Plan 2010-2015 (see below). For more information please see the National Park's website

To contribute to the discussion, see Your Park Your Plan. Forms are also available from LLTNP's Forward Planning Team. Email: ldp@lochlomond-trossachs.org, call 01389 722600, or drop into the National Park Office in the Main Street.

The Local Plan 2010-2015

Following locals' criticism of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park's Draft Local Plan for 2010-2015, Scottish Government's Reporters were brought in to adjudicate. They recommended that the National Park's proposals for housing development in the village be scaled down considerably; the Park accepted their recommendations; and the National Park Authority Board has formally adopted the amended Plan.

The final version of the Local Plan can now be downloaded from the National Park's website here. A hard copy may be viewed in Callander Community Library.

For more information about active planning applications please refer to the National Park's online Planning information system here.

 

Flood information

A fast flowing burn.

Until proper flood prevention measures are in place, the onus is on us as citizens to protect our families and property against injury and damage in the event of flooding.

In every edition of the BLV we print local contact numbers for the Callander Community Council Emergency Team. These people help with warnings of imminent flooding, moving of sandbags for those who cannot manage it themselves, rescue co-ordination, and other relevant services. Please cut out the list of numbers and keep it safe in case you should ever need it.

On this website we have compiled a list of links to online resources relating to flood preparedness, weather forecasts, flood warnings, etc.: www.benlediview.co.uk/floodlink.html. Please bookmark the link as part of your household flood preparation plan so that you can easily access information from reliable sites.

Photo: R Zywucki.