April 2026 Minutes

The March 2026 NCC meeting was chaired by Jeremy Adderley’ @ Newbattle Community Learning Centre. The Newtongrange Community Council meeting covered a range of local issues, with primary focus on centenary event planning for Newtongrange Welfare Park. Substantial discussion centered on the safeguarded route and Crawlees Road traffic concerns. It also captured community concerns and on-going issues, other issues discussed was the police report, fence painting and maintenance issues Pool Site, local issues and correspondence.

1. Welcome and introductions – 
   1. Apologies: June Robertson, Bill Hunter,  Betty Wilson
   2. Chair welcomed C J Bryce who wanted to let NCC members know of the sculpture unveiling event on Saturday 16th of May @ Newtongrange COOP.

1. Previous minutes –March 2026 minutes : accepted IH- proposed by  – seconded by JM
2. Matters arising
   
   1. PC McKenzie to investigate the second dog incident reported in the park and report back via email on whether it is related to the March incident.
   2. PC Livingstone reminded meeting that officers need intelligence of where off-road/ebikes are coming from/going to.
   3. Chair sent letter of support for Newtongrange Pétanque club pre-application for additional pistes in park.
   4. Chair to communicate with Robert Hogg, Mayfield Community Council about tonight’s discussions on the safeguarded route (including RMs points) and explore options for a face-to-face meeting. JM interested in attending session.
   5. RM to find out from the council why the roundabout at the safeguarding group location is considered unfeasible, including the specific reasoning behind the decision.
   6.  Clr. B to speak to the Alan Turpie Midlothian Council’s Legal and Governance Manager/Monitoring Officer manager to get an update on the war memorial names project.
   7. SG to chase up the email sent to the British Legion contact regarding assistance with the war memorial names.
   8. JM to get records with dates showing that all participants have reviewed the risk assessment for the fence activity in the park.
   9. RM to follow up with Tam to clarify that the flying fox structure is steel (not wooden) and get a response on installation feasibility.
   10. Clr. S to chase up with operations to ensure the water issue at Gate House has been resolved.
   11. Clr B to ask the next Dean Tavern Trust meeting about the outcome of the disabled access compliance check and their plans for addressing the double door entry issue.
   12. RA to send official email to Lorraine O’Connor (Business Manager at the High school) requesting 100 chairs for the centenary event, including details on why chairs are needed and when they are needed.
   13. RA, JM, and LA to create a map of the park showing proposed placements for the stage, market stalls, running track, and other elements for the centenary event, and share with the council.
   14. Clr. S to check environmental fund requirements regarding payment procedures and whether expenses must be capital costs.
   15. RM to contact Flora to confirm she will judge the gardening competition again this year.
   16. RM to create poster for the gardening competition to display at the library and distribute around the village.
   17. Chair: Review the housing development plans and provide feedback/comments by Friday regarding external stairs, dormer windows, and other design elements.
   18. Chair: Consult with Andrew (former community council member and architect) about the feasibility of alternatives to the external stairs on the housing development.
   19. Chair: Coordinate with JM on toilet access schedule for park groups and arrange to get the access code from the Development Trust.
   20. Chair: to countersign a cheque to reimburse JM for supplies purchased (wire brushes, eye goggles, face masks, approximately £100).
   21. RA to add Chair to the centenary planning WhatsApp group
   22. RA to ask Paul Johnson about Main St, Phonebox removal.
   23. Midlothian council will not issue printed timetables for bins; residents must download them online or request copies from the library.
3. Police report –   Chair sent to Members & Councillors : The March police report showed 95 calls with zero house break-ins, though off-road bikes remain a significant enforcement challenge requiring better intelligence from residents. There has also been a marked decline in shop-lifting incidents. Chair interested about what  trends to look out for such as anti-social behavior on buses.Policing adjusts seasonally for summer with increased attention to drinking in parks, off-road bikes, and youth behavior. Officers recognise recurring seasonal patterns from years of covering their areas.    
4. Newtongrange Welfare Park Centenary –  Action to get layout map completed for next meeting. Tree planting, NC1 to provide 100 mementoes, Gorebridge Community Choir to be invited. Reach out to ATS, Gymnastic club, Be Happy Performing Arts, Costings needed before we get banner. Action for Clr S ti check how to access & spend £5.000.  RM to ask Flora about suggestion for having a garden fruit/veg competition incorporated for centenary event. Clr Scott has kindly agreed to be the third judge for the competition. The centenary main event will run from 2pm to 5pm (3 hours total) to keep it manageable and prevent it from turning into an evening party. Although 1pm will be for food stalls, stall holders and shows. The stage will be positioned in front of the rockery, games area near two beech trees, and stalls along the blossom tree avenue. The council will mark out a running track for sack races and traditional games. The event will be pitched as an ‘afternoon tea in the park’ with a gentle, vintage feel, encouraging bring-your-own picnics. The pavilion may offer sandwiches and scones to support the theme. Entertainment includes the Midlothian Community Band and Newtongrange Silver band (Junior/Main band) with about three hours of programming, plus consideration of the British Community Choir. The event will honor older residents including looking to invite one who is 101 and another who is 90 & no the village extremely well. Multiple organizations confirmed to have stalls at the centenary event: NC1, Eco Museum, Mining Museum, and the community garden and expect more requests Army cadets from Easthouses looking to participate in the centenary event, potentially performing a marching display. Newtongrange Community First considering the provision of refreshments, with various village organizations invited to take fundraising stalls ideally at no charge TBC. The event runs 2-5pm with burger vans and ice cream vans, with pricing arrangements being negotiated. Arrangements being made to borrow 100 chairs from the high school for the event, with transport to be coordinated (possibly through Neil Williams or local transport van (Ruaridh). A coordination meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 7th at 5:15pm in the library to finalize the project plan and ensure all activities fit within the 3-hour timeframe. Looking to hold meeting in the library every second Tuesday until event. Marketing materials (banners and flyers) will prioritise getting the date publicised early, with exact timing details to be finalized and communicated later through posters and promotional materials.
5. Newtongrange Gardening competition 2026. The gardening competition will follow last year’s successful timeline: entries by beginning of June, judging on a Sunday (around June 8th), winners announced in community garden in early July.
6. Flying fox immediate re-inststatement or replacement   Flying fox will not be replaced. Action for Clr. Scott to discuss options with Tom Finlay for improvement for older children.
7. Planning Meeting with Robin Patel, Development, National Mining Museum Scotland (NMMS) – Shared vision being developed with the NMMS to increase village-museum relationship through heritage opportunities, capturing lost voices and stories, and potential business/economic benefits. Project aims to launch a heritage place-making project including multi-sensory trails, new residents welcome pack, and promotional campaign. NMMS planning to participate in the centenary event with a stall, potentially using it to announce the developing partnership or launch the welcome pack/heritage trail. Twinning opportunities discussed with excitement from the Mining Museum. Connections include the museum knowing about counterpart museums, and the Silver Band expressing interest.
8. Welfare Park Fence Painting Project – The Development Trust agreed to provide the pavilion toilet access code for park volunteer groups, with the requirement that schedules be communicated and JM coordinate access. Edinburgh Airport awarded aid/assistance to the community under their airport scheme for areas under the flight path. Project has completed 44 panels (123 metres) of railing, representing roughly 25% of total capacity. Each panel between uprights is 2.8 meters, with another 12 bays in progress. Work is being done by seven volunteers from the Petanque Club plus  Harry Evans, IH and JM doing most of the stripping and painting. Weather has been favorable for progress. Next phase will move to Park Road starting from bottom corner, working up to 9th Street, then tackling inside sections before outside. Roads department will provide orange barrels for safety on the busy road. John purchased additional supplies (wire brushes, eye goggles, face masks) for approximately £100 that needs reimbursement. Strategy is to strip long stretches before painting so progress is more visible.

9. Safeguarded Route and Traffic

   • Mayfield wants the industrial estate to remain contained with its own access, not via Crawley’s Road. They oppose a SUD (sustainable urban drainage system) being placed in the middle of the safeguarded route.
   • The SUD placement is problematic because safeguarded routes can only be used for major road structures and cannot be used for anything else, blocking future road development through that corridor.
   • Current plans would route all traffic, including heavy industrial vehicles from Neil Williams and other businesses, through Crawley’s Road alongside the new residential development, raising concerns about lorries on speed bumps outside homes.
   • Questions were raised about the long-term future of the industrial estate, particularly whether Neil Williams might relocate to North Middleton.. Understanding this is crucial for proper traffic planning, as developers will not want heavy quarry traffic through their new residential estate.
   • The core disagreement centres on whether to segregate industrial traffic from residential traffic by utilizing the safeguarded route (designated 17 years ago to join the A70 and A68). Action for Chair to gather more information from Mayfield to understand their full rationale.
   • The council determined a roundabout at the safeguarding group location is not feasible, citing only 40 metres needed, but 80 metres available. However, the specific reasoning for infeasibility was not provided to the community.

10. Housing Development Planning

    • Two planning applications for the pool site housing are now live. Consultation deadline is May 5th, requiring response submission by Chair over the weekend.
    • Strong concerns raised about external stairs on the houses due to safety issues for families with young children, prams, or pushchairs, particularly given the critical social housing shortage in Midlothian.
    • Concerns raised about practical issues including outside stairs in winter weather (safety with ice, need for grit bins) and social considerations (people smoking/gathering on stairs).
    • Additional concerns raised about dormer window finishes (steel clad vs. slated roofs) and overall design not being in keeping with Newtongrange’s cottage-style housing stock. Suggestions made for slated roofs on dormers.
    RM suggested using slated dormers with pitched roofs rather than square flat dormers to better match the aesthetic of existing 1870s buildings, noting this would not significantly increase costs.
11. 
    
    
    
    6. Councillor Reports Clr Bowens’s report sent to members prior to meeting key points:
       

        

       1. Clr B attended Midlothian Olympics” on 9^th April at Newbattle High School which is a sporting event for people of all ages with additional support needs of various types. The enthusiasm of the organisers, carers and helpers at this event was wonderful and reflects well on Midlothian. 

          With regard to ongoing issues, the following are the main items on my list;

           

          1. Lingerwood Development and Crawlees Road.

          I have just received the results of the Traffic Survey carried out in March and that has been distributed. I have not yet had time to study the results and compare with previous surveys. I am expecting the Planning application to be heard at the Planning Committee meeting in early June but that has not yet been confirmed.

          2. Newtongrange former Pool Site

          The Planning Application has now been submitted.

           

          3. Derelict Building at Station in Newtongrange.

          Will meet with the Planning Manager soon to discuss action although I am beginning to fear that the Council are powerless to take any action unless the building deteriorates further and becomes a danger to the public.

              

          4. Pursuing addition of names to War Memorial in Welfare Park, Newtongrange.

           Have asked for this proposal to be put before the General Purposes Committee of the Council

           

          5. Welfare Park.

          Have arranged for the toilets on the Pavilion owned by the Development Trust to be made available for railing painters.

           

           

          Dealing with some personal problems for constituents including parking, rubbish removal, inconsiderate neighbours.

           

           

          1. Lingerwood Development and Crawlees Road.

          The Planning Manager has reported to me that he hopes that the Planning Applications will come before the Committee either in April or May but that depends on the applicants supplying further information which has been requested. Clr B has also had some email exchanges with a Roads Officer regarding traffic survey results and other issues.

          2. Newtongrange former Pool Site.

          A Community Consultation Event took place in Newtongrange Primary School on 5th March which was well attended.

          Key Project Milestones:

          • Planning Submission: Scheduled for the end of March 2026.
          • Construction Start: Anticipated for August 2026, utilising modular “3D off-site fabrication” to streamline assembly.
          • Target Completion: The project is currently expected to be finished by August 2027

           

          3. Derelict Building at Station in Newtongrange.

          Awaiting to hear from Planning Manager who is consulting with colleagues to discuss possible action to deal with this long outstanding eyesore and danger to the public.

              

          4. Pursuing addition of names to War Memorial in Welfare Park, Newtongrange.

          Still no confirmation of course of action to be taken. Have asked for this proposal to be put before the General Purposes Committee of the Council

          Clr B dealing with some personal problems for constituents including parking, rubbish removal, inconsiderate neighbours, street lighting problems and road sweeping.

       Clr Scott Report emailed to meembers key points:

        

       Newbattle High School Enterprise Academy 

       Plans are now in place for the toilet adaptations and repainting of the rooms to receive the pupils from the beginning of June.  This defined space will help many of our young people to learn and grow and it is also hoped the space can be used by Community and Life Long Learning to offer courses locally, as well as identified groups, for example ASN. Having this space will enable us to look at any provision gaps that exist in our community whose needs are currently going unmet.

       Gorebridge High School

       At Midlothian Council Meeting on 31^st March 2026 a private Feasibility Report on the Gorebridge High School Site Appraisal was discussed and potential sites noted. It was agreed that a further report will follow considering existing and future housing development as set out in the proposed Midlothian Local Development Plan (MLDP2) and catchment.  MLDP2 Report will come to the June Council Planning Committee.

        

       1. Pavement near Mining Museum continues to be very muddy [this seems to be an ongoing issue and I have mentioned it before – is it to do with the Concrete Plant? – it goes right down from there towards the Train station.]
       • We have discussed with the tar plane regards dust suppression, we also have footpath improvement works planned for this stretch in 26/27 FY.
       1. Drain collapsed in Crawlees Road
       • Past to operations team to make safe – Barratt Homes home to upgrade the full road later this year as part of the housing development RCC
       1. Drains overflowing near White Gates near the double roundabout at the end of Main Street
       • Passed to operations – should be cleared
       1. Pedestrian Crossing requested at Medical Centre
       • Proposed Toucan or Zebra at this Location as part of Safe routes to School for Crawlees development
       1. Printed Timetables for bin collection days
       • These can be downloaded on line, or printed in Libraries Bin collection days | Midlothian Council

        

       Attended Attainment Meetings for Secondary Schools.

       Planning Committee Meetings; usual Council meetings.

        

       Treasurer –  balance still £1,194.244 in the bank, with a further £1,353.26 ring-fenced for painting/centenary activities. £700 awarded from Edinburgh Airport Community Board. JM will send an acknowledgment. NCC is awaiting their annual budget allocation from Midlothian Council, which is delayed but guaranteed to include a minimum of £300 for administration costs. A funding request has been submitted to support centenary activities including promotional materials, though the application is still pending with slow response times.

12. Planning –  N/A. 
13. AOB – JM will chair the next meeting as JA will be away & offered apologies as in another time zone and unable to attend in person.
14. Next Meeting – Tuesday 26th May 2026 6.45-8.45pm @ Newbattle Community Centre – IT Suit