March 2026 Minutes

The March 2026 NCC meeting was chaired by Jeremy Adderley’ @ Newbattle Community Learning Centre.  The meeting captured community concerns and on-going issues, other issues discussed was the park centenary, police report, fence painting and maintenance issues, Springfield development, Crawlees, Pool Site, local issues and correspondence.

1. Welcome and introductions – 
   1. Apologies: John Muir, Bill Hunter, Marion Brown , Shauni Emmanuel, Linda Anderson, Betty Wilson
   2. Chair welcomed Kevin Divin/Fiona Clandillon from Midlothain Council to discuss New council homes in old poll site and church hall sites

1. Previous minutes –February 2026 minutes : accepted – proposed by LL – seconded by IH
2. Matters arising
   
   1. Action for Clr Scott regarding pavement to ensure cleaning should be on a scheduled rotation rather than complaint-driven exercise, especially since street sweepers are too wide to access areas around bus stops and handrails. 
      
      
      • Ellen confirmed the immediate cleaning is resolved but noted it will require ongoing attention as rain causes regrowth. The council responds quickly to reports but a permanent scheduled maintenance solution is being requested.
   2. JM pointed out that the overgrown shrubbery near the old Legion building now extends approximately two feet from the wall, forcing traffic to swerve on a blind bend. This issue was first raised in previous meetings
   3. Water accumulation on Gowkshill Hill was reported, originating from the depot and requiring a trench to prevent runoff onto the road
   4. Invite for Holly Gillfether for future meeting.
   5. Chair to submit all members’ paperwork to Paul to ensure everyone is legitimately on the community council.
3. Police report –   Chair sent to Members & Councillors 
4. New council homes plan for the old Newtongrange pool and Church Hall sites. (Kevin Divin/Fiona Clandillon)                                                                                                                        Disccussion points– Ogilvie appointed as main contractor with 56/3 architects for the Newtongrange development, using a modular subcontractor underneath them.
   • The planning application has been submitted to the council but not yet registered; plans will be available online once registered.
   • The construction program is set at approximately 12 months for both sites, with the park area serving as compound for the duration.
   • Coloured panels removed from design based on public consultation feedback; planning application drawings show more muted tones with different texture panels instead.
   • All 23 properties across both sites (pool site and church hall site) will be council social housing, not private development.
   Topics
   • The former pool site will feature six bungalows plus a row of ground-floor one-bedroom properties with two-bedroom colony flats above, creating a mixed development.
   • The church hall site will feature five three-bedroom properties with a new access road off Sixth Street and parking along the development.
   • The development will provide 23 properties total: 18 units on the pool site (six one-bedroom, twelve two-bedroom) and five three-bedroom family homes on the church site, all designated as council social housing.
   • The 12-month timeline is relatively short for this number of properties because most construction happens off-site in a factory, with components simply delivered and assembled.
   • The front space reinstatement could be funded as a community benefit or included in the contract price. The timeline for finalising these details will be determined after the planning process, with construction targeting an August start date and 12-month program duration.
   • Modular construction means components arrive on lorries, are lifted by crane, and quickly installed—minimising long-term lorry presence on main streets with just-in-time deliveries.
   • A traffic management plan will ensure deliveries avoid peak hours (school times and commuting hours), targeting mid-morning or post-rush hour periods.
   • A project manager contact (likely David) will be provided for residents to report issues like improper van parking or other construction-related concerns.
   • Construction hours: 8am to 7pm Monday-Friday with occasional Saturday morning work until 1pm, controlled by environmental health legislation—no weekend work otherwise.
   • The compound will be fenced off for safety with secure access, housing site offices, meeting spaces, and worker facilities for the 12-month program covering both sites.
   Site Layout and Facilities
   • The public park area (marked in green) will be temporarily used as a compound for construction then reinstated through public consultation to upgrade and potentially redesign the space.
   • The miners wheel monument will be retained, and the team will assess which established trees along the boundary can be preserved during construction.
   • The existing railings will mostly remain intact, with only the access point being widened to accommodate the development entrance, subject to planning approval.
   • Bin storage areas (shown in orange on plans) are provided both internally within properties and in designated external locations, with sufficient space confirmed with council waste services to accommodate all required bins for each unit.
   • All properties have segregated private gardens: ground floor flats have direct back door access to rear gardens (designed for residents with mobility issues), while upper floor units have separate garden spaces. Front gardens are also provided for some units.
   Design and Materials
   • Materials include red brick, slate roofs, and solar panels with a modern interpretation of surrounding architectural styles using different textured panels rather than bright colours.
   • Dormers are boxed-out modern designs with double-pane window patterns that pick up elements from existing main street houses, though some feedback suggested closer alignment.
   • The development features metal-clad dormers as a modern interpretation of Newtongrange’s traditional architecture, though community members expressed concern they don’t match the existing village character.
   • Materials selection (brick and slate) will aim to match surrounding properties as closely as possible, with sample materials to be reviewed during the planning process. The planning officer will have final approval authority on materials.
   • The CGI renderings show more accurate colours with slightly different coloured bricks and brick patterns used to break up facade lengths. The development uses dormers to echo existing village homes, though styled for a modern development rather than replicating 150-year-old structures exactly.
   • Community members expressed strong concerns about the colony-style outside stairs, citing safety issues in winter (treacherous conditions), inconvenience for families with buggies, and that external stairs are not characteristic of Newtongrange housing stock.
   • The modular design necessitates external stairs to preserve internal living space and meet Housing for Variable Needs standards, which require specific activity spaces around fixtures (e.g., drawers, toilets, basins) that would be compromised by internal staircases.
   • Developers emphasised that tenants have choice in accepting these properties and noted storage will be available under/near stairs for items like prams, though community members remained unconvinced about the design suitability.
   • One community member argued the two-story design with external access makes it difficult for parents to supervise children playing in gardens, though developers noted this is common to most two-story properties.
   Housing Standards and Accessibility
   • Of the 18 units at the pool site, 12 are ground-floor fully accessible (six bungalows plus six ground-floor flats), with remaining colony flats having external stairs for family orientation.
   • The housing and letting team will ensure appropriate matching of properties to residents’ needs, particularly regarding accessibility requirements for ground-floor units.
   • All properties have level access without steps at entrances, meeting modern accessibility standards for ground-floor entry.
   • All properties must meet Housing for Variable Needs standards, which are higher than private housing requirements: bedrooms must accommodate wardrobes, double beds, and bedside cabinets; kitchens must have space for dining tables seating all residents; and specific activity zones are required around all fixtures.
   • The development includes 12 fully accessible ground floor homes with wet floor showers, designed for older residents or those with mobility issues. The council’s allocation policy prioritizes existing tenants, allowing downsizing from unsuitable homes.
   • The mix includes one-bedroom properties (typically for older residents), two-bedroom units, and three-bedroom family homes, with some featuring dedicated office spaces.
   • One-bedroom flats are designed as ‘two-person’ units to provide flexibility if tenants meet partners or their circumstances change, ensuring the space isn’t just a studio flat but a proper one-bedroom home.
   • EV charging points are required for all properties per building standards and planning regulations, with users paying for their own electricity consumption through app-based systems.
   • Properties will be situated at a significant distance from existing homes to avoid overlooking or overshadowing issues, despite being two-and-a-half stories in some areas.
   • The ridge height of new buildings is slightly lower than existing properties and lower than the original church hall, addressing neighbor concerns about height and views.
   • The front area remains open-plan to accommodate additional church parking plans, while rear gardens have 1.8-meter (6-foot) fencing for privacy.
   • Two types of contributions will be required: Section 75 agreements (offsetting development impact on schools, potentially other services) and community benefit clauses (focused on employment, apprenticeships, and local organisation projects).
   • The council uses the city region community benefits website portal where local organisations (community councils, development trusts) can submit bids for resources. Past funding has included sports equipment, school site visits during construction, and similar community-focused initiatives.
   • An education contribution will likely be required for the high school (Newbattle Community Campus perhaps?), though there’s currently no policy requiring GP contributions despite community concerns about healthcare capacity with increased population.
   • Window-to-window distances exceed the 22-meter minimum planning requirement between the new development and existing Dean Park properties, addressing privacy concerns.
   • The pathway between new housing and St. David’s is a private road owned by individual property owners (each owning a portion), not maintained by the council, which caused confusion among residents who thought it was council responsibility.
   • Roads are categorised as either ‘adopted’ (council-maintained, built to adoptable standards) or ‘private’ (owner-maintained). The backs of miners’ rows are private roads attached to individual housing deeds, with responsibility split between homeowners and social housing providers like Places for People.
   • Residents expressed frustration that many neighbours, particularly those in social housing, are unaware of their road maintenance responsibilities, believing the council is responsible when it’s actually the landlord or property owners’ duty.
   • The planning application has been submitted and completed registration. Neighbour notifications will be sent to all properties within 20 meters of the site, and community councils will receive consultation invitations for comments.
   • Concern was raised about street naming for the new development, with participants emphasising the importance of choosing appropriate place names given recent poor choices in other developments. Although additional numbering of existing streets is the expected plan regarding these developments.
   
   
5. Newtongrange centenary – To be prioritised and discussed April meeting 2026
6. Basket swing & flying fox immediate re-inststatement or replacement (RA) RA has emailed Ellen Scott and will email Tam Finlay for latest and report back April meeting.
7. Traffic Issues and Local Infrastructure
   • With relation to the Lingerwood development concerns were raised about the new traffic light junction design, by Gowkshill Road with predictions of 250 meters of queued cars on each road approaching the lights, similar to existing problems at nearby junctions.
   • The junction design lacks a dedicated right-turn lane, meaning one vehicle turning right will block all traffic behind it until cross-traffic clears and lights change, potentially doubling queue lengths.
   • Current traffic at the junction reaches 1,400 vehicles per hour during three busy periods (school buses at 3:30pm, evening rush from 4:30-6:30pm, and morning rush), raising concerns about the junction’s capacity.
   • Mayfield and Easthouses Community Council is contesting the current route choice and wants the safeguarded route used instead, arguing for separation of industrial/HGV traffic from residential traffic and avoiding entry through the industrial estate. 
   • The safeguarded route was originally considered in 1955 with proper infrastructure to reach the A7, but concerns were dismissed in 2023 when first raised, and now traffic modeling for this route has not been completed.
   • The community council is considering whether to support Mayfield and EasthHouses’ position, with concerns about both the intersection placement and the potential delay to Crawley Road development that contesting might cause. (Action for Chair to Write to Robert (Mayfield and East Houses Community Council) to learn more about the reasoning behind contesting the safeguarded route decision)
   Street Lighting Issues
   • Street lighting in Dean Park has been out for weeks, affecting the area from the railway bridge to the Dean Tavern, leaving residents in darkness.
   • Responsibility for street light repairs depends on the issue: the council handles light replacement, but Scottish Power is responsible for power supply problems affecting entire sections.

        Significant standing water issue at White Gates on Newbattle Road, with approximately 9-10 meters in length of water pooling across the road.
   • A collapsed pavement and drain were reported at the corner where residents turn left into the green area, requiring attention from the council. Action Clr B to investigate the water issues at Gate House on Newbattle Road (approximately 9-10 meters of standing water)
   • 

8. New bin collections – Bin Collection Access Issues
   • The village has approximately 100 residents without internet access who cannot access bin collection schedules via QR codes or online platforms.
   • Many residents with mobility problems cannot travel to the library to access information, creating an equity issue for those who pay the same council tax but lack equal access to services.
   • The council sent glossy informational leaflets but did not include a timetable for collection days, despite having funding to do so. Previous bin rollouts (blue and green bins) included printed timetables.
   • The new bin collection system has caused widespread confusion, with neighbors unsure of collection days and the formula dates unclear even for those with internet access.
   • The council needs to provide hard copy information not just for bins but for all services including questionnaires and applications, with priority housing in the village suggested as a starting point. 

   Action Clr. B to raise the issue of hard copy information access for residents without internet to the council executive, emphasising need for printed schedules and forms

    

9. Meeting with Robin Patel, Development Mining Museum – Action for RA to explore dates in February with the  purpose of the meeting with Robin & Engagement Committee representatives to explore better integration between the mining museum and the village, including potential connections to events like the park centenary and improving overall community links.
10. Welfare Park Fence Painting Project
    • John and Ian have worked virtually every day, putting in 2.5-3 hours each morning, and completed approximately 22 lengths of fence by week’s end with about 14 volunteers total.
    • By week’s end, the section from the Galadale entrance gate to the tennis court will be painted inside and outside, plus three-quarters of the way to the Pétanque club.
    • The project has raised £1,353 in donations and received 15 litres of donated paint from Ian. About £55 has been spent on wire brushes and paint brushes.
    • The project requires public liability insurance (which the community council has) and a risk assessment for volunteer participation from partner organisations.
    • Many funding sources require charity status, which the community council lacks. John is exploring community development contracts where contractors must help local organisations, meeting Thursday to discuss accessing more funding.
    Other Community Issues (Action for Chair to complete the risk assessment documentation for the fence painting project volunteers
    
    
    
    6. Councillor Reports Clr Bowens’s report sent to members prior to meeting and read by: Clr B.
       

        

       1. Lingerwood Development and Crawlees Road. Clr. B to hear back from Planning regarding traffic survey queries.
       2. Newtongrange former Pool Site. see 6 for event details
       3. Derelict Building at Station in Newtongrange. No movement with regards to the derelict building. Chair passed on details regarding correspondence at previous meeting
       5. Clr B pursuing addition of names to War Memorial in Welfare Park, Newtongrange. Still no confirmation of course of action to be taken. Will be decided by general purposes committee.
       7. Dean entrance work will commence soon.

       Clr Scott Report: read out by Clr S:

       Gorebridge Library relocating to the Leisure Centre as part of a £9.083 million over five years library and leisure centre hub.

       Football facilities

                     Clr S has been contacted about the lack of football facilities for young people in Newtongrange.  This is a problem in Midlothian because of the population growth and there is no easy solutions to it, but having appropriate dialogue with some Clubs may be a way forward.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

        High School issues 1,309 students at Newbattle High School 

       Treasurer –  balance £1,831.24 in the bank, with £640 ring-fenced for painting, leaving £1,191.24. Defibrillator batteries and pads will require replacement in October at an estimated cost of £400, necessitating careful budget management or potential council funding to cover the expense.

11. Planning –  N/A. 
12. Next Meeting – Tuesday 31st March 2026 6.45-8.45pm @ Newbattle Community Centre – IT Suit