PARTNERSHIP working will need to be developed to manage a Wee County beauty spot after cuts to the Ranger Service.

Next Thursday's Place Committee at Clackmannanshire Council will hear an updated management plan for Gartmorn Dam Country Park.

The updated proposal will "retain the essence" of previous ones, "but is far more realistic to deliver" according to documents submitted for the meeting.

As reported earlier this year ahead of the budget being set, fears were raised over a £20,000 cut to the Ranger Service to ensure "only statutory duties are met for land reform, biodiversity and climate change".

Concerns were voiced by a former employee that reducing staffing levels to two part-time workers sharing a full-time role will mean local rangers are forced behind the desk as outdoor work requires more than one person at a time due to health and safety.

Papers submitted for the meeting said: "Country parks, by definition, are normally supported by a Ranger Service to promote visitor enjoyment and understanding of their natural qualities.

"In recognition of the current level of resources the service will increasingly need to work with partners and to seek out funding opportunities to enable successful delivery of the plan."

The document highlighted how professionals will need to rely on the goodwill of locals, adding: "Existing resources will be utilised at this stage along with collaborative working with community and volunteer groups."

The plans cover the 2019-2023 period and were developed with stakeholders Scottish Water, from which the council leases the dam, and Scottish National Heritage.

Over the past nearly two decades there have been a number of changes at the dam, the new proposals seeking to reflect on these.

For instance, there has been an increase in dog walkers, including commercial, which resulted in increased disturbance of nesting birds.

The visitor centre is also now a café, there are no public toilets and the dam is no longer a fishery.