Minutes June 2025

The June 2025 NCC meeting chaired by Jeremy Adderley @ Newbattle Community Learning Centre.  The meeting captured community concerns and on-going issues, other issues discussed was the police report, litter-picking and maintenance issues, Springfield development, Crawlees, Pool Site, local issues and correspondence.

1. Welcome and introductions – 
   1. Apologies: Linda Anderson, Mary Blair

1. Previous minutes –May 2025 minutes : accepted after minor amendments proposed by JR- seconded by LL
2. Matters arising
   
   1. JA action to get two new locks for noticeboard.
   2. NCC members voted to remove Catherine Johnstone & Robert Joyce Community Councillors who have missed more than 3 consecutive meetings. Proposer: JA Seconder: JR
   3.  Midlothian Council announcement Newtongrange Primary School a total of £35,334,15 will be spent extending the playground with cutting into the Early Years area and creating a fence/gate. The intention is to make a real improvement with addition new play equipment that will be available to the public outwith school hours. In addition Clr B offered to pay for paint for school railings via environmental funds. With regards to play equipment only Bonnyrigg has the only operational flying fox. Clr Scott suggested that it could be replaced if any budget remains. Action to ask Councillors for latest information @ August meeting
   4. New meeting start time of 6:45pm from August 2025 meeting onwards agreed.
   5. JR & JM have both had a meeting regarding Newbattle Community Learning Centre access procedures.
   6. Action for Clr. Scott to source Welcome Signs for Newtongrange when money/funds are available.
   7. SM checked point regarding SH mentioning Miller homes in previous correspondence it was meant to be Barratt-Redwood
   8. Action for JA to get in touch with Connor Wright regarding Christmas lights issue on Main Street. 
   9. Action for JA to get in touch with Judy Thomson to see whether a space such as Easthouses Primary School or Newbattle Community Centre could be made available for a couple of representatives to access MTRaP or MFCC together.
3. Police report – Circulated to members by email. Chris Howarth – Police Scotland discussed that getting replacement windows fixed in a Crawlees Cottage property, involved getting a tradesman all the way from Sauchie, West Lothian with two policeman required to be in attendance until the glazing work was done. Other incidents involved arson attack in Newton Cottage and wall damage in Welfare Park and intimidating, coersive behaviour by an adult with relation to minors drinking alcohol in the park.
4. Parking on 7th/8th Street
   
   1. Clr S mentioned that Gillian Bathgate will review th edouble yellow lines mentioned. JM mentioned issue with lines on Park Road. Concern that with  6th Street restricted access (in place by start of the school term) that car drop will move to 8th-10th Street instead. It was suggested that wardens and police visit such areas too.
   2. BW mentioned that Crawlees Road at the Bryan’s (past bus stop at prefab hose/bridge) the pavement/road surface has broken up and is hazardous and difficult to access. There is also overgrown grass/hedge at the bottom of ‘The Path’ which is providing visibility issues for drivers. Action for Clr B to pursue.   
5. Garden competition winners event – Saturday 5th of July 12:30pm a promotional poster has been circulated. There were 23 entries and entrants gardens were spread all over Newtongrange.
6. Committees –  SM to recirculate Committee groups. August meeting we will look to discuss priorities, roles and responsibilities for progressing the Committees. Consider the document that relates to the Local Place Plan. The key is that higher the number the more positive the local community are about an issue.
7. Newtongrange War Memorial name omissions – Action for Clr B to contact Alan Turpie regarding this matter.

   Jones https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2228640/barrie-jones/

    

   Noble https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2812706/g-d-noble/

   SM is happy to write a letter on NCC’s behalf to the Lord Provost regarding the matter. We will liaise with the Deputy Provost Clr. B in the first instance. 
8. Tennis update – Clr B confirmed that Midlothian Council are still to announce tennis plans for the three courts recently refurbished. There has been a £1 million pound investment in tennis with relation to Scottish schools and one reason why we need to get the school kids using the courts. 
9. Reports
   
   1. COUNCILLOR REPORT – Douglas Bowen –

      Clr. B had meetings of  The Dean Tavern Trust and Newbyres Trust as Council representative and of the Midlothian and Dalkeith Twinning Associations. He mentioned that he has attedned 3 Dean Tavern Trust meetings and they are “incredibly well run”.

      Clr B attended both the Newtongrange and Gorebridge Gala celebrations.

      On behalf of constituents Clr B is dealing with various problems such as neighbour issues, high trees, parking and drainage issues.

      Following on from last month’s meeting he raised the various issue as follows;

      1. Christmas lights on house in Main Street – not the responsibility of the Council.
      2. Extent of Double yellow lines at corners of Park Road and Seventh and Eighth Streets being reconsidered.
      3. Speed of Traffic on Newbattle Road entering the village to be monitored and a VAS (Vehicle Activated Sign) may be installed.
      4. Number of Penalty Charge Notices for Newtongrange supplied (confidential) but showing 35 issued in last 3 months with an even spread throughout the village.
      5. Investigating adding 2 names to the War Memorial.
      6. Clr B mentioned that in a couple of meeting there was recognition that a new traffic survey was urgently needed. RM mentioned that there had been 1,300 motors in a day. The safe guarded routes and proper road plans need to be incorporated. Incidentally, SH and Stan Gowrie had a meeting with Barratt-Redwood representatives who also acknowledged how busy it is. SG mentioned that the dangerous grass & banking was to be rectified. Clr S will take an action as the road signs are still obscured and bent round. 
      
      Clr. Ellen Scott – 

      Newtongrange Library

      I have met with Officers to ask that all the maintenance in the library and the outside is completed as soon as possible.  I am very unhappy about the lack of maintenance of both Newtongrange in libraries and will continue to pursue this as a priority.

      Education Placement Appeals

      During June, there are Education Placement Appeals to be heard.   These can be very emotive for parents/carers, but panel members try to ensure a friendly and open environment to put people at ease.

      Education Exclusion Appeal

      I took part in an Education Exclusion Appeal.  Exclusions are not taken lightly and parents/carers have the opportunity to appeal any decision taken by the school if they feel it is warranted.

       

      MLDP2

      Approximately 3,000 houses planned to be built. Which includes a huge new development in Mayfield.

      Meeting with Council Leader

      At the request of GCC, a suggested meeting date is Wednesday 25^th June at 11.00 am at Midlothian House.

      Gala days

      I was very happy to be invited to attend Newtongrange Gala Day and although the weather was not kind, it was a happy day.  The crowning took place in the Masonic Hall which was wise given the circumstances.

      School visits: Clr. S has arranged a school visit for Newtongrange library for Monday.

      Meeting with Mr Kevin Anderson and Mr Peter Arnsdorf

      Mr Anderson and Mr Arnsdorf have asked that a list of complaints/issues be compiled which would give them time to investigate any matters before the requested meeting with GCC.

      Gorebridge High School proposal

      A paper is being presented to Council on the 24^th June 2025 outlining potential sites.  This is a private paper at the moment because of the commercially sensitive nature of identifying sites the Council may be interested in. NCC asked about how catchment are would affect Newtongrange residents. Historically 1/2 of Newtongrange Secondary School pupils went to Greenhall. Clr Scott was not in a position to say.

      Zebra Crossing at Gore Glen PrimarySchool

      Clr S understands that this should be installed in the near future. William Hunter expressed concern about the amount of green-belt areas eg. Hardengreen Tesco area green belt area being lost. in the area being lost. Clr. Scott stated the need to build in brown belt sites. Concern raised about a potential bottle neck with the designated location directly opposite the Sun Inn, Dalhousie Road for a crossing on the A7. One action from a programmed works that relate to this approved document 

   2. MTRaP – Action looking for representative to attend online meeting 
   3. MFCC – Action looking for representative to attend online meeting
   4. Treasurer – Now £1,330.13 in the bank.  The Treasurer requests that if you have an expense claim please request it asap eg the cost of engraving the gardening trophies. JA provided the final grant report to Midlothian Council with key figures that the latest newsletter was read by approx. 3,450 people. 
   5. Planning – Concern about Line Dyke which is beginning to buckle due partly to the recent floods, lack of crop rotation and top soil movement by builders has further added to its deterioration. Agenda next meeting
10. Correspondence – Inconsiderate parking due to limited parking space by the junction of Galadale with cars parked to close to the junction, disability parking spaces and yellow lines are all creating restrictive viewing and creates a blind bend for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike. The area is already blighted with cars travelling up the very narrow Newbattle Road. Concerns over the yellow lines on 7th Street, making it difficult to turn in and out of street was also mentioned. Another issue appears to be the disparity with regards to parking fines for cars parked up on the pavements. Traffic wardens appear to be targeting Gowkshill Crescent but missing many other areas. Why not a bigger range of streets.  Concern raised that such a road needs to have access for emergency vehicles to move freely. 
11. AOB: Conservation Update: JM expressed concern about the Line Dyke wall. 
12. Next Meeting – Tuesday 26th August 2025 6.45-8.45pm @ Newbattle Community Centre – IT Suit