Diageo's announcement yesterday follows a major review looking at how the premium drinks company can best ensure the long-term sustainability of its operations in Scotland in the current economic conditions. Up to 900 jobs will be cut over the next two years while 400 new jobs will be created through the expansion of a packaging plant in Fife.

A new £9 million cooperage is to be built at the existing site at Cambus by summer 2011. Carsebridge Cooperage will close and the 40 workers will transfer to the new site at Cambus. A total of about 70 employees will be based at Cambus, including some relocated workers from the Dundashill Cooperage in Glasgow.

Councillor Carrick added: "Clackmannanshire has an excellent long-standing relationship with Diageo and I believe the quality of the local workforce is a major factor in our ability to attract this investment - my congratulations go to them. Their hard work has been rewarded."

Diageo is one of Clackmannanshire's major employers with a cooperage at Carsebridge, Abercrombie coppersmith workshop in Alloa, and a European Technical Centre and Archive at Menstrie. The bond at Blackgrange is the largest warehouse complex in Europe, holding approximately three million casks. And the Cambus complex is a major spirit handling centre, taking spirit from distilleries across Scotland and blending the matured whisky before its despatch to packaging plants.

The Council had coordinated ongoing meetings with VisitScotland and Sterling Mills Outlet Shopping Village, in an effort to keep a staffed facility in the county during the summer season. Negotiations had centred on the contributions each partner could offer to maintain a staffed information centre.

However, on 17 June VisitScotland contacted the Council to say that they believed there was no case for a staffed VIC in Clackmannanshire. This news came as a shock to Council officers who had put considerable time and effort into the negotiations in good faith. VisitScotland has now suggested an unstaffed Visitor Information Point with the cost of provision being picked up by the Council.

Councillor Kenny Earle, spokesperson for tourism, said "We believe there is a strong case to have a staffed Visitor Information Centre in Clackmannanshire through the summer. Both the Council and Sterling Mills Outlet Shopping Village were willing to provide a great deal of support for such a centre. This late change in VisitScotland's stance is, therefore, very disappointing Nevertheless, we will continue to work with VisitScotland in an effort to provide information facilities for visitors to Clackmannanshire

Paul Sutton, Retail Operations Director for Sterling Mills Outlet Shopping Village, added, "Ever since VisitScotland took the decision to close the Visitor Information Centre, Sterling Mills has taken an active lead in trying to find a way to re-introduce the facility. With the Council's active support acting as co-ordinator between the three parties I felt confident that a solution could be reached. Indeed, I believed that the contributions offered by the Council together with our support for the project would see us achieve our goal of bringing back a staffed Visitor Centre. I am therefore extremely disappointed that VisitScotland has withdrawn from these discussions."

A total of 15 youngsters from Clackmannanshire will leave Scotland on 2nd July to stay with host families abroad enjoying the local hospitality and culture.

Clackmannanshire signed the formal agreement with our twin towns on St Andrews Day 2006.

Of the group, six will be travelling to Vendargues in France, which is 7km from Montpellier. During the week they will enjoy trips to the Tarn Gorges, the deepest gorges in Europe, and Sainte Enimie, which has been described as the 'the most beautiful village in France', and the biggest wolf park in the world at Gevaudan.

A group of nine youngsters will go to Espartinas in Spain, which is 15km from Seville. They will enjoys trips to the Isla Magica Theme Park, visit Los Pueblos Blancos and Zahara de la Sierra, the classic white villages of Andalucia and enjoy activities including go-karting and swimming.

The two groups will return to Scotland, with the French and Spanish counterparts, on Friday 10th July to spend time with families here.

Another fun-filled timetable has been arranged with a welcome ceilidh, Alva Games, and a range of sporting activities at Dounans in the heart of the Trossachs National Park.

Each group will be accompanied by two adults.

Councillor Eddie Carrick said: "I'm sure this year's youth exchanges will build on the previous years' success and I look forward to welcoming our French and Spanish visitors to Clackmannanshire."

During the gruelling trip, in all weathers, the group had to be completely self sufficient, carrying all of their equipment and relying on each other for support.

The expedition took place from 14th - 17th June and began in UIlapool. The group of three boys and one girl had previously cycled from Skye to Kinlochewe in a training expedition.

The pupils - Louise MacLeod, Jack Fowler, Iain McCall and David Hodgkinson - are in 5th year at Lornshill. On the first day they cycled from Ullapool to Stoer and then from Stoer to Tarbert on day two. They enjoyed warm, sunny weather on the first two days of the expedition. On day three it was overcast but dry as they cycled from Tarbert to Tongue. However on the final day as they cycled over 30 miles from Tongue to Thurso it poured with rain the whole day.

Bike trailers had been bought for the expedition by the Clackmannanshire Award Advisory Committee and the young people used the trailers to carry their tents, trangias traditional camping stoves, sleeping bags, food and clothes for the venture.

The group worked well as a team and Iain became the group motivator, looking after everyone and staying with whoever was struggling up the hills. There were lots of hills along the costal road some of which the minibus struggled to get up never mind the kids on their bikes.

The pupils were accompanied by Lornshill teachers Emma Dawson and Jay Burgess over the four days.

Emma said: "The four of them have done a great job, and now they have to write a substantial report on the wildlife around the North West coast of Scotland. The youngsters would like to thank everyone who helped them with fundraising, especially the teachers at Lornshill Academy for buying their cakes."

Headteacher Danny Murphy added: "We are all very proud of what these young people and their teachers have achieved as our first group heading for Gold. They took on a huge challenge and have come through with flying colours."

Councillor George Matchett, Portfolio Holder for Inclusion, added: "The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an excellent scheme and one of the many opportunities which the Council provides for young people. My congratulates go to the young people involved and to the leaders - without whom these activities would not be possible."

Exercises to help balance and leg strength were held outside in glorious sunshine. Community physiotherapists serviced people's walking sticks, zimmers and other walking aids. Our community physiotherapists also plan to do training sessions with the bus drivers of local companies to raise their awareness of how to help older people access public transport. There was also an information stand.

The exercises followed a falls prevention programme called the Otago Exercise Programme (OEP). The OEP was designed by the Falls Prevention Research Group at the University of Otago Medical School. It consists of a series of leg-strengthening and balance-retraining exercises that get progressively more difficult as you get stronger. It also involves a walking plan.

Councillor Sam Ovens, portfolio holder for Rengeneration, said "The staff at Ludgate House have done a fantastic job in raising awareness of falls and helping service users to stay safe. I'm particularly impressed that they've gone out of their way to work in partnership with local bus companies, who must be congratulated for their openness to participating."

Ludgate House provides respite and day care for older people.

The competition was part of a range of publicity events organised by the Food Safety Team. This year's campaign targeted the over 60s and highlighted the dangers of Listeria and the need for correct storage and handling of food in the home.

Members of the Food Safety Team visited several clubs and housing associations in the area during Food Safety Week and handed out copies of the word search.

Councillor Eddie Carrick, Portfolio Holder for Sustainability, will present the winners with their prizes at 3pm on Friday 26th June at the residents lounge at Bedford Court sheltered housing complex, Alloa. You are invited to send a photographer.

The top prize of a luxury food hamper goes to C. Badenoch of Coalsnaughton. Runner-up prizes of hand towels and soap will also be presented to D. Sharp, Alloa, J. Mackie, Alloa, and V. Brown. Menstrie.

Councillor Carrick said: "Although the illness caused by Listeria isn't common, it can be life-threatening in people with reduced immunity such as the elderly, so I'm pleased our Food Safety Team took the opportunity to raise awareness of this important issue during National Food Safety Week."

The Council's Countryside Rangers Service has organised activities for children aged between 8 - 12 years in the woods around Gartmorn Dam. The adventure takes place from Tuesday 11th - Friday 14th August, 11am to 3pm daily.

The John Muir Award is an environmental award scheme focused on wild places. It encourages awareness and responsibility for the natural environment, in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration. The Award is open to all, and is the educational initiative of the John Muir Trust. Four Challenges are at the heart of each John Muir Award: discover, explore, conserve and share.

On the final day of the four-day adventure, parents will be invited to join the group at base camp and see the work that has been done.

For an information sheet contact the Ranger Service on 01259 450000.

Booking is essential and bookings can only be made for the full four days - call 01259 450000.

Guided tours of all of Clackmannanshire's older kirkyards will take place from July until September as part of Meet Your Ancestors in Clackmannanshire, the county's Homecoming Scotland celebrations.

The weekly bus tours will be led by local experts who will highlight the fascinating buildings and intriguing gravestones which can be found in the county's kirkyards. The tours will also give people lots of other interesting facts about the county's rich heritage.

Full and half day tours are available, starting on Wednesday 1st July, and there are two tours to choose from.

The west tour takes in Alloa Old Kirkyard and Greenside Cemetery, Tullibody Heritage Centre and Tullibody Old Kirkyard, the old graveyard at Logie and Alva Old Kirkyard.

The full-day tour starts at 10.30am at Alloa Railway Station and ends at 4.20 pm at Alloa Railway Station. The half-day tour starts at 1pm at Tullibody Heritage Centre and ends at 4.35pm at the same point.

The west tour can be booked on Wednesdays 1st and 22nd July, 5th and 19th August, 9th September and on Sundays 19th July, 2nd and 16th August, 6th and 13th September.

The east tour takes in Tillicoultry Old Kirkyards, Dollar Kirkyard and Dollar Museum, Muckhart Cemetery, Clackmannan Old Kirkyard and Clackmannan Tower.

The full-day tour starts at 10.30am at Alloa Railway Station and ends at 4.20 pm at Alloa Railway Station. The half-day tour starts at noon in Bridge Street, Dollar and ends at 4.45pm at the same point (opposite the Castle Campbell Hotel).

The east tour can be booked on Wednesdays 15th and 29th July, 12th and 26th August, 16th September and on Sundays 12th and 26th July, 9th and 16th August, 6th and 20th September.

Councillor Kenny Earle, spokesman for tourism, said: "Ancestral tourism is a major part of Homecoming Scotland and with the current upsurge in interest in researching family roots, I'm sure visitors and local people will take the chance to go on these tours. For many people, going on this sort of tour can be an emotional journey and for some overseas visitors it will be a once in a lifetime experience. I'm sure Clackmannanshire will give them a warm welcome."

For more information please see ClacksWeb or pick up a Meet Your Ancestors leaflet in any Council building. To book tickets call 01259 213131.

Notes to Editor

1. Homecoming Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative managed by EventScotland, the National Events Agency, in partnership with VisitScotland,
the National Tourism Agency.
2. Homecoming Scotland 2009 aims to motivate people of Scottish descent, as well as those who simply love Scotland, to come home in 2009 and take part in an inspirational celebration of our culture, heritage and the many great contributions Scotland has given to the world.
3. 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, with the programme's design guided by Scotland's unique position as the home of Burns himself, Golf, Whisky, great minds and innovations, rich culture and heritage and as the ancestral home of millions of people of Scots descent worldwide.
4. For more information on Homecoming Scotland please visit homecomingscotland2009.com or contact Gayle Wilson PR Manager on 0131 472 2067.

The Alloa school has become the first in Clackmannanshire and the third school in Scotland to attain a Marjorie Boxall Quality Mark Award. The award is for the school's nurture group which supports pupils to help them improve their skills so that they can get the best possible start to their learning.

The school will hold a garden party on Wednesday 24th June to celebrate the achievement. Council Chief Executive Angela Leitch will present the award to headteacher Adrienne Aitken who will be joined by past and present staff and pupils. Pupils will release balloons in the school colours and a special cake will be cut. You are invited to send a reporter/photographer at 2pm.

Park Primary School's nurture group, which is called the Sunshine Class, was established in 2000. This was in response to the overall success of the implementation of the Council's early intervention programme. Whilst almost all pupils had benefited from the programme, a few were identified as in need of further support to help them make the most of their learning experiences.

Two members of staff were chosen to set up and develop the nurture group and in the summer of 2000, they attended the University of Cambridge to gain qualifications to ensure that the group was run following the principles of the Nurture Group Network.

A nurture group is a small supportive class of up to 12 children usually in a mainstream primary school. It provides a secure, predictable environment where the different developmental needs of each pupil are catered for. The focus is on academic progress through intensive social and emotional development and pupils remain on their mainstream class roll with an expectation that they will return to their class in two to four terms.

The award is named after educational psychologist Marjorie Boxall who worked in inner London schools in the 1970s and founded the principals of nurture groups in response to the difficulties presented by the children she worked with.

For over 30 years nurture groups have been demonstrating that with the right help children who present emotional and behavioural difficulties can be successfully included in mainstream school. Nurture groups provide a safe and nurturing learning environment where each child is valued, understood and has their emotional needs met appropriately. They offer an experience of adults through which trust and confidence are built and learning begins to take place.

Councillor George Matchett, Portfolio Holder for Inclusion, said: "This is a great achievement for Park Primary School and my congratulations go to everyone involved. The Sunshine Class has been proven to help children in a variety of ways and I hope they continue to flourish."

The assessor's report stated Christine Stewart, the Sunshine Class teacher and Helena Stone the support assistant, "acted as very positive role models for both the children and their parents, creating a lovely, calm, warm ethos." Work with parents, which is also supported by care worker Kirsty McNulty was described as, "absolutely excellent."

Acting headteacher Adrienne Aitken added: "I am delighted that the school's work with the Sunshine Class has been recognised for its excellent practice. The staff who work in this area deserve congratulations and recognition for their commitment to the parents, pupils and the community which Park Primary School serves."