BONNYRIGG & LASSWADE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Meeting to be held on Thursday 12 April 2018
In Sports Pavilion, King George V Park after AGM
A G E N D A
1. Welcome and Introduction
2. Apologies
3. Minutes of Meeting of 8 March 2018
4. Matters Arising from the Minutes
5. Police Report
6. Report from Midlothian Councillors
7. Planning
Consultation on Two Drive-Thru beside Tesco/A7
Consultation on EIA Land West of Burnbrae Terrace
Houses in Lasswade: Beside Nursery, Wadingburn and Kevock Nursery
8. Financial Report
9. Neighbourhood Planning Meeting
10. Open Access Forum
11. Toilet Consultation
12. Change of BLCC Boundary at junction with ENCC
13. Obstacle Course
14. AOCB
15. Date of Next Meeting.
Meeting to be held on Thursday 12 April 2018
In Sports Pavilion, King George V Park after AGM
A G E N D A
1. Welcome and Introduction
2. Apologies
3. Minutes of Meeting of 8 March 2018
4. Matters Arising from the Minutes
5. Police Report
6. Report from Midlothian Councillors
7. Planning
Consultation on Two Drive-Thru beside Tesco/A7
Consultation on EIA Land West of Burnbrae Terrace
Houses in Lasswade: Beside Nursery, Wadingburn and Kevock Nursery
8. Financial Report
9. Neighbourhood Planning Meeting
10. Open Access Forum
11. Toilet Consultation
12. Change of BLCC Boundary at junction with ENCC
13. Obstacle Course
14. AOCB
15. Date of Next Meeting.
Minutes of the Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Community Council
Thursday 12 April 2018; 7pm
Sports Pavilion King George V Park, Bonnyrigg
1 PRESENT
Community Councillors: Marnie Crawford (in the Chair), Diane Easton, Sheila Metcalfe, Owen Proudfoot, Ed Angus, Ruth Scott, Jan Irvine, Bill MacDonald
Midlothian Councillor: Dianne Alexander
Member of the Public: Gordon Lawson
2 APOLOGIES
Ian Sprott, Darius Namdaran, Jen Gad
3 MINUTES of Meeting of March 8th, 2018.
In considering these there was a discussion on whether members of the public who came along to raise particular issues should or should not be named in the subsequent Minutes . Is there a Data Protection Act principle /rule involved ? Diane Easton spoke against the practice of naming such persons but we did not put this to a vote and the Minutes were adopted as they stood on the motion of Jan Irvine seconded by Sheila Metcalfe. It was agreed as our meetings are public anyone who speaks has accepted they give permission to be named but a new sign in sheet would be designed to make this clear.
4 POLICE REPORT
No representative of the community police present but we had been sent the usual monthly list of recorded offences.
Ed Angus raised the question of whether speed checks had been or were being done in the village of Lasswade itself as distinct from on the outskirts where there were two different limits. From Dalkeith the limit is 60mph,from the Bypass and Loanhead 40mph.
Discussion followed on the merits of a mini roundabout at the turn up to Big Brae from Elm Row. This, it was generally agreed, would have the likely effect of slowing down traffic coming down Melville Dykes Road as there would be a requirement to give way to traffic heading into Bonnyrigg from Lasswade. However Councillor Alexander specified a likely cost of £2m for this.
Ed also suggested double white lines throughout the A768 inside Lasswade boundaries.
5 OBSTACLE COURSE at Waverley Park
Bill MacDonald reported that two applications for funding had been submitted and that he was due to meet with James Kinch, Land Resources Manager at Midlothian Council and Tony Malone, Healthy Living and Leisure Centres Manager at Midlothian Council at the proposed site, Waverley Park, on the following Tuesday . This was to discuss the case for an obstacle course there, James Kinch’s requirements and attitude to having such a course and funding prospects.
6 REPORT from COUNCILLORS
There was only one councillor present, Dianne Alexander. She reported on the change of Midlothian Council representative allegiance balance following the Penicuik bye-election, won by an SNP candidate. This is now 7 SNP councillors,6 Labour and 5 Conservative. She reported that the previous Labour administration continues in office pending the outcome of talks.
7 PLANNING ISSUES
Conditional planning permission has been granted to McDonald’s for a drive-through and sit-in at Tesco’s Hardengreen car park site apparently where Tesco’s home delivery office is at present. Applications by owners of land for similar units across the road between Tesco petrol station, K & I parking area and the walkway from the bridge over the A7 are under consideration at present.
It was considered that continued access provision by way of a path from the bridge to Tesco car park should be made an essential condition for grant of permission to one or both of these applicants.
Other issues discussed were EIA land west of Burnbrae Terrace and Beside Nursery,Waddingburn and Kevock Nursery
Gordon Lawson reported that he had been told that tree clearance beside the electricity substation on the hill in Lasswade had only been for drainage purposes but it turned out to have been for housebuilding purposes.
Marnie said that she would look further into these issues.
8 FINANCIAL REPORT
Total funds held, apart from the Twinning Account, stand at £2699.60,an increase of £557.70 from last year.
9 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING MEETING
Ed Angus commented that the Neighbourhood Planning Group is effectively “defunct” but the Midlothian Council is “ keeping it alive” separate from other planning agencies and ( supported by Marnie Crawford)we should be setting out our own plans and priorities as a Community Council.
10 OPEN ACCESS FORUM
Councillor Diane Easton said that she intended to go to this and report back to us.
11 TOILETS CLOSURE
Are we in favour of paying for access to publicly provided toilets to replace those in Bonnyrigg scheduled to close ? Councillor Alexander mentioned the needs of the disabled and specified those at IKEA as the model to pursue here.
The prospect of automated paying areas or none at all, she said, is very real, adding that the consultation continues.
It was resolved that councillors be sent e-mails opposing closure and pointing out adverse consequences for the town centre..
12 CHANGE OF BLCC BOUNDARY at junction with Eskbank and Newbattle Community Council
Marnie Crawford put the issue of whether we should disclaim our current boundary to the east of the A7 in the area from the Tesco roundabout to the Hardengreen roundabout. This was a request from Eskbank and Newbattle Community Council as talks between the Chairs of the two Community Councils had identified a problem with BLCC being the planning consultee when the area fell more naturally into ENCC. There will be a formal consultation on this in due course.
13 AOCB
Two road traffic concerns were raised
Sheila Metcalfe reported her concern that the 20mph restricting flashing lights at Bonnyrigg Primary School had not been operating ,there had been an accident there recently and the lights should be attended to.
Ruth Scott reported the poor visibility of the faded yellow box junction lines outside Byers at the top of Dundas St-- requiring renewal.
14 NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
This was agreed to be set for Thursday 10th May at 7pm
Thursday 12 April 2018; 7pm
Sports Pavilion King George V Park, Bonnyrigg
1 PRESENT
Community Councillors: Marnie Crawford (in the Chair), Diane Easton, Sheila Metcalfe, Owen Proudfoot, Ed Angus, Ruth Scott, Jan Irvine, Bill MacDonald
Midlothian Councillor: Dianne Alexander
Member of the Public: Gordon Lawson
2 APOLOGIES
Ian Sprott, Darius Namdaran, Jen Gad
3 MINUTES of Meeting of March 8th, 2018.
In considering these there was a discussion on whether members of the public who came along to raise particular issues should or should not be named in the subsequent Minutes . Is there a Data Protection Act principle /rule involved ? Diane Easton spoke against the practice of naming such persons but we did not put this to a vote and the Minutes were adopted as they stood on the motion of Jan Irvine seconded by Sheila Metcalfe. It was agreed as our meetings are public anyone who speaks has accepted they give permission to be named but a new sign in sheet would be designed to make this clear.
4 POLICE REPORT
No representative of the community police present but we had been sent the usual monthly list of recorded offences.
Ed Angus raised the question of whether speed checks had been or were being done in the village of Lasswade itself as distinct from on the outskirts where there were two different limits. From Dalkeith the limit is 60mph,from the Bypass and Loanhead 40mph.
Discussion followed on the merits of a mini roundabout at the turn up to Big Brae from Elm Row. This, it was generally agreed, would have the likely effect of slowing down traffic coming down Melville Dykes Road as there would be a requirement to give way to traffic heading into Bonnyrigg from Lasswade. However Councillor Alexander specified a likely cost of £2m for this.
Ed also suggested double white lines throughout the A768 inside Lasswade boundaries.
5 OBSTACLE COURSE at Waverley Park
Bill MacDonald reported that two applications for funding had been submitted and that he was due to meet with James Kinch, Land Resources Manager at Midlothian Council and Tony Malone, Healthy Living and Leisure Centres Manager at Midlothian Council at the proposed site, Waverley Park, on the following Tuesday . This was to discuss the case for an obstacle course there, James Kinch’s requirements and attitude to having such a course and funding prospects.
6 REPORT from COUNCILLORS
There was only one councillor present, Dianne Alexander. She reported on the change of Midlothian Council representative allegiance balance following the Penicuik bye-election, won by an SNP candidate. This is now 7 SNP councillors,6 Labour and 5 Conservative. She reported that the previous Labour administration continues in office pending the outcome of talks.
7 PLANNING ISSUES
Conditional planning permission has been granted to McDonald’s for a drive-through and sit-in at Tesco’s Hardengreen car park site apparently where Tesco’s home delivery office is at present. Applications by owners of land for similar units across the road between Tesco petrol station, K & I parking area and the walkway from the bridge over the A7 are under consideration at present.
It was considered that continued access provision by way of a path from the bridge to Tesco car park should be made an essential condition for grant of permission to one or both of these applicants.
Other issues discussed were EIA land west of Burnbrae Terrace and Beside Nursery,Waddingburn and Kevock Nursery
Gordon Lawson reported that he had been told that tree clearance beside the electricity substation on the hill in Lasswade had only been for drainage purposes but it turned out to have been for housebuilding purposes.
Marnie said that she would look further into these issues.
8 FINANCIAL REPORT
Total funds held, apart from the Twinning Account, stand at £2699.60,an increase of £557.70 from last year.
9 NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING MEETING
Ed Angus commented that the Neighbourhood Planning Group is effectively “defunct” but the Midlothian Council is “ keeping it alive” separate from other planning agencies and ( supported by Marnie Crawford)we should be setting out our own plans and priorities as a Community Council.
10 OPEN ACCESS FORUM
Councillor Diane Easton said that she intended to go to this and report back to us.
11 TOILETS CLOSURE
Are we in favour of paying for access to publicly provided toilets to replace those in Bonnyrigg scheduled to close ? Councillor Alexander mentioned the needs of the disabled and specified those at IKEA as the model to pursue here.
The prospect of automated paying areas or none at all, she said, is very real, adding that the consultation continues.
It was resolved that councillors be sent e-mails opposing closure and pointing out adverse consequences for the town centre..
12 CHANGE OF BLCC BOUNDARY at junction with Eskbank and Newbattle Community Council
Marnie Crawford put the issue of whether we should disclaim our current boundary to the east of the A7 in the area from the Tesco roundabout to the Hardengreen roundabout. This was a request from Eskbank and Newbattle Community Council as talks between the Chairs of the two Community Councils had identified a problem with BLCC being the planning consultee when the area fell more naturally into ENCC. There will be a formal consultation on this in due course.
13 AOCB
Two road traffic concerns were raised
Sheila Metcalfe reported her concern that the 20mph restricting flashing lights at Bonnyrigg Primary School had not been operating ,there had been an accident there recently and the lights should be attended to.
Ruth Scott reported the poor visibility of the faded yellow box junction lines outside Byers at the top of Dundas St-- requiring renewal.
14 NEXT COUNCIL MEETING
This was agreed to be set for Thursday 10th May at 7pm
Criminal Activity April 2018
Beat Area BD01 – Bonnyrigg, Lasswade, Poltonhall & District
During the month of April 2018 in the beat area BD01 – Bonnyrigg, Lasswade, Poltonhall & District – there were 33 recorded crimes reported, of which 13 were solved (40% solvency).
During this time period, there were 292 calls to Police Scotland.
INCIDENTS OF NOTE
About 7pm on Sunday the 1st of April a 26 year old man was issued a fixed penalty ticket after failing to leave a licenced premise on Dundas Street.
About 8pm on Sunday the 1st of April police received reports of youths drinking and causing a nuisance at Dickson Grove.
About 8pm on Monday the 2nd of April the owner of a green Nissan Micra parked on Sherwood Court discovered that it had been damaged.
About 10am on Wednesday the 4th of April the owner of a property at Waverley Park discovered that building material had been stolen from outside the property.
About 8pm on Wednesday the 4th of April police received reports of a blue Kia estate car failing to stop at a red light on Polton Street. Police enquiries are ongoing.
About 9pm on Wednesday the 4th of April 4 youths were responsible for stealing a quantity of meat from Tesco Express, Rosewell Road.
About 7.30pm on Friday the 6th of April police apprehended a youth stealing confectionary from Co-op, High Street.
Between Saturday the 7th of April and Sunday the 9th of April unknown person(s) gained entry to a vehicle parked at Sherwood Industrial Estate, but nothing was taken.
About 11:50pm on Friday the 13th of April unknown person(s) placed a lit cigarette through the letterbox of a property at Sherwood Terrace.
About 4.20pm on Wednesday the 18th of April it was discovered that the window of a property at Pentland Road had been broken.
About 2pm on Friday the 20th of April it was discovered that a van parked on Cameron Crescent had been broken into and a power tool stolen from within.
About 9.30pm on Saturday the 21st of April a carton of milk was thrown at a house on Pendreich Terrace. A group of youths were seen running from the area.
Between 4.30pm and 5pm on Thursday the 26th of April, two push bikes, one described as a Boardman cycle cross black and green in colour the other a Boardman CX bike, blue in colour were stolen from a garden in Burnbrae Road, both bikes were subsequently recovered nearby.
A 17 year old male is being reported to the Procurator Fiscal following a break-in to business premises located on High Street Bonnyrigg on Sunday the 29th of April.
As a follow up to last month’s meeting enquiries have been made regarding the issues highlighted in relation to vehicle travelling at excessive speeds on Polton Road and Polton Road West. Speed checks have been carried out at these location. No issues were detected at Polton Road and warnings have been issued to drivers at Polton Road West. Midlothian council have been contacted and have agreed to carry out speed surveys at Polton Road West. Our roads policing officers have also been tasked with giving this area attention and speed checks will continue to be carried out.
If any person has any information about the incidents listed above, or indeed any other crime, please contact your Community Policing Officer: PC Jonny Cassidy via 101 or email: [email protected]
Additional Information
Hate crime and domestic abuse can now be reported online via the official Police Scotland website at www.scotland.police.uk or by visiting a Third Party Reporting Centre – details of which are also on our website.
Information regarding crime can be passed to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through an Online Form - both of these routes are completely anonymous and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Police Scotland use social media to circulate the latest news, events and information to the public via Twitter (@LothBordPolice and @MidLothPolice) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/LothiansScottishBordersPoliceDivision and www.facebook.com/MidlothianPolice).
Your View Counts
Police Scotland consults with the public every year on what their priorities are for policing in their community.
In the past this has always been by hard copy consultation questionnaires which were distributed by police officers within the community.
This year, Police Scotland's consultation process is widening and becoming more flexible. The consultation process is moving online to a digital format and consultation will be open all year.
The public consultation is for you to tell us what is important to you in your community. Your opinion is valued – we need your opinion to inform our policing.
Having your say in the decision making process of Police Scotland is a vital tool for residents of Scotland to be able to shape the way their public services should operate.
Everyone's views across Scotland will be taken on board at a national and local level. We want you to help us focus on the priorities that will help communities most. There is no 'one size fits all' approach to local policing and all the needs and wants of individual communities will be considered.
This is the first time Police Scotland’s public consultation is being hosted on a digital platform. This allows us to reach a much wider audience than ever before, ensuring that everyone can have their say.
The online consultation is open all year which allows you to take part when it suits you but also gives the flexibility of being able to re-submit the consultation if your priorities change.
It's a very simple process that should only take a few moments of your time but will shape the way that policing is coordinated across Scotland and in your local community. We will keep you updated on our quarterly results. The consultation will be a completely transparent process as it's all about your priorities. Find out more by visiting www.scotland.police.uk/yourviewcounts
Beat Area BD01 – Bonnyrigg, Lasswade, Poltonhall & District
During the month of April 2018 in the beat area BD01 – Bonnyrigg, Lasswade, Poltonhall & District – there were 33 recorded crimes reported, of which 13 were solved (40% solvency).
During this time period, there were 292 calls to Police Scotland.
INCIDENTS OF NOTE
About 7pm on Sunday the 1st of April a 26 year old man was issued a fixed penalty ticket after failing to leave a licenced premise on Dundas Street.
About 8pm on Sunday the 1st of April police received reports of youths drinking and causing a nuisance at Dickson Grove.
About 8pm on Monday the 2nd of April the owner of a green Nissan Micra parked on Sherwood Court discovered that it had been damaged.
About 10am on Wednesday the 4th of April the owner of a property at Waverley Park discovered that building material had been stolen from outside the property.
About 8pm on Wednesday the 4th of April police received reports of a blue Kia estate car failing to stop at a red light on Polton Street. Police enquiries are ongoing.
About 9pm on Wednesday the 4th of April 4 youths were responsible for stealing a quantity of meat from Tesco Express, Rosewell Road.
About 7.30pm on Friday the 6th of April police apprehended a youth stealing confectionary from Co-op, High Street.
Between Saturday the 7th of April and Sunday the 9th of April unknown person(s) gained entry to a vehicle parked at Sherwood Industrial Estate, but nothing was taken.
About 11:50pm on Friday the 13th of April unknown person(s) placed a lit cigarette through the letterbox of a property at Sherwood Terrace.
About 4.20pm on Wednesday the 18th of April it was discovered that the window of a property at Pentland Road had been broken.
About 2pm on Friday the 20th of April it was discovered that a van parked on Cameron Crescent had been broken into and a power tool stolen from within.
About 9.30pm on Saturday the 21st of April a carton of milk was thrown at a house on Pendreich Terrace. A group of youths were seen running from the area.
Between 4.30pm and 5pm on Thursday the 26th of April, two push bikes, one described as a Boardman cycle cross black and green in colour the other a Boardman CX bike, blue in colour were stolen from a garden in Burnbrae Road, both bikes were subsequently recovered nearby.
A 17 year old male is being reported to the Procurator Fiscal following a break-in to business premises located on High Street Bonnyrigg on Sunday the 29th of April.
As a follow up to last month’s meeting enquiries have been made regarding the issues highlighted in relation to vehicle travelling at excessive speeds on Polton Road and Polton Road West. Speed checks have been carried out at these location. No issues were detected at Polton Road and warnings have been issued to drivers at Polton Road West. Midlothian council have been contacted and have agreed to carry out speed surveys at Polton Road West. Our roads policing officers have also been tasked with giving this area attention and speed checks will continue to be carried out.
If any person has any information about the incidents listed above, or indeed any other crime, please contact your Community Policing Officer: PC Jonny Cassidy via 101 or email: [email protected]
Additional Information
Hate crime and domestic abuse can now be reported online via the official Police Scotland website at www.scotland.police.uk or by visiting a Third Party Reporting Centre – details of which are also on our website.
Information regarding crime can be passed to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through an Online Form - both of these routes are completely anonymous and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Police Scotland use social media to circulate the latest news, events and information to the public via Twitter (@LothBordPolice and @MidLothPolice) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/LothiansScottishBordersPoliceDivision and www.facebook.com/MidlothianPolice).
Your View Counts
Police Scotland consults with the public every year on what their priorities are for policing in their community.
In the past this has always been by hard copy consultation questionnaires which were distributed by police officers within the community.
This year, Police Scotland's consultation process is widening and becoming more flexible. The consultation process is moving online to a digital format and consultation will be open all year.
The public consultation is for you to tell us what is important to you in your community. Your opinion is valued – we need your opinion to inform our policing.
Having your say in the decision making process of Police Scotland is a vital tool for residents of Scotland to be able to shape the way their public services should operate.
Everyone's views across Scotland will be taken on board at a national and local level. We want you to help us focus on the priorities that will help communities most. There is no 'one size fits all' approach to local policing and all the needs and wants of individual communities will be considered.
This is the first time Police Scotland’s public consultation is being hosted on a digital platform. This allows us to reach a much wider audience than ever before, ensuring that everyone can have their say.
The online consultation is open all year which allows you to take part when it suits you but also gives the flexibility of being able to re-submit the consultation if your priorities change.
It's a very simple process that should only take a few moments of your time but will shape the way that policing is coordinated across Scotland and in your local community. We will keep you updated on our quarterly results. The consultation will be a completely transparent process as it's all about your priorities. Find out more by visiting www.scotland.police.uk/yourviewcounts