Latest update. We submitted the following letter to Walker Homes...
"Dear Mr. Patrick,
We refer to your recent email correspondence with Steve Spratt regarding Walker Homes’ proposed development of residential housing at Dalhousie Mains, Bonnyrigg (Hs10). In particular, we refer to your request to Mr. Spratt for confirmation of the issues which were raised at the residents’ meeting held in Bonnyrigg on 16th May 2016. We note from your email to Steve Spratt of 19th May timed at 1:42pm that Walker Homes undertake to include any comments or issues raised at the residents’ meeting in its Consultation Report which is required to accompany the planning application in due course.
The purpose of the residents’ meeting was to discuss the proposed circa 300 house development by Walker Homes at Dalhousie Mains and, in particular, Walker Homes’ current proposal that the main vehicular access to the development, both at construction phase and following completion of the development, be through Bairds Way and Gladstones Gait. Around 130 local residents were present at the meeting which was also attended by Midlothian Council councilors Ian Baxter, Bob Constable and Derek Milligan, as well as Colin Beattie MSP.
The issues discussed at the meeting may be summarised as follows:-
• Walker Homes’ proposal of vehicular access to Hs10 through Bairds Way and Gladstones Gait during the construction phase will result in approximately 5 years of heavy construction traffic, over a route which already provides access to a housing estate of approximately 460 houses and which was not built to accommodate further traffic, construction or otherwise.
• Vehicular access to Hs10 through Bairds Way and Gladstones Gait, both during the construction phase and following completion, will create a significant safety risk to local residents, including the 500 or so children under the age of 16 who live on Bairds Way and Gladstones Gait and the surrounding residential streets. The proposed access route passes alongside three children’s play parks. Some residents have also noted that there are no pavements on parts of the proposed route and that these areas are designated as shared space.
• Once the Hs10 development is completed, and on the assumption that each of the 300 units will house more than one car, there will be in the region of 600 additional cars using Bairds Way and Gladstones Gait, and also the already heavily congested Distributor Road B6392 and Cockpen Road which provide access to Bairds Way.
• In order to avoid and mitigate the foregoing safety and traffic concerns, Hs10 should be a self-contained development accessed by vehicles (both during the construction phase and following completion of the development) via the A7, failing which the Distributor Road B6392. It is understood and expected that this will involve the construction by Walker Homes of a bridge crossing the existing burn/gully. No vehicular access (with the exception of emergency vehicles) should therefore be taken to Hs10 via Bairds Way and Gladstones Gait and all plans should be amended accordingly.
Please confirm by return that each of the above points will be considered fully by Walker Homes as part of its Consultation Report.
We look forward to hearing from you further.
Regards
Local Hs10 Concern Group"
To which Walker Homes replied...
"Mr Spratt, many thanks for your email of 1st June. I can confirm that the points raised in the email below will be highlighted in the consultation report and our response clearly set out in the report.
regards
Graeme A Patrick
Graeme Patrick
Strategic Land Director"
We now need to get the petition (online and door-to-door) to 750 signatures, then we submit it with a letter to Colin Beattie MSP and Midlothian Council with our concerns we expect them to address if they approve Hs10 and Hs11.
The petition MUST end this week, so we need as many as possible to sign so we can have maximum impact.
"Dear Mr. Patrick,
We refer to your recent email correspondence with Steve Spratt regarding Walker Homes’ proposed development of residential housing at Dalhousie Mains, Bonnyrigg (Hs10). In particular, we refer to your request to Mr. Spratt for confirmation of the issues which were raised at the residents’ meeting held in Bonnyrigg on 16th May 2016. We note from your email to Steve Spratt of 19th May timed at 1:42pm that Walker Homes undertake to include any comments or issues raised at the residents’ meeting in its Consultation Report which is required to accompany the planning application in due course.
The purpose of the residents’ meeting was to discuss the proposed circa 300 house development by Walker Homes at Dalhousie Mains and, in particular, Walker Homes’ current proposal that the main vehicular access to the development, both at construction phase and following completion of the development, be through Bairds Way and Gladstones Gait. Around 130 local residents were present at the meeting which was also attended by Midlothian Council councilors Ian Baxter, Bob Constable and Derek Milligan, as well as Colin Beattie MSP.
The issues discussed at the meeting may be summarised as follows:-
• Walker Homes’ proposal of vehicular access to Hs10 through Bairds Way and Gladstones Gait during the construction phase will result in approximately 5 years of heavy construction traffic, over a route which already provides access to a housing estate of approximately 460 houses and which was not built to accommodate further traffic, construction or otherwise.
• Vehicular access to Hs10 through Bairds Way and Gladstones Gait, both during the construction phase and following completion, will create a significant safety risk to local residents, including the 500 or so children under the age of 16 who live on Bairds Way and Gladstones Gait and the surrounding residential streets. The proposed access route passes alongside three children’s play parks. Some residents have also noted that there are no pavements on parts of the proposed route and that these areas are designated as shared space.
• Once the Hs10 development is completed, and on the assumption that each of the 300 units will house more than one car, there will be in the region of 600 additional cars using Bairds Way and Gladstones Gait, and also the already heavily congested Distributor Road B6392 and Cockpen Road which provide access to Bairds Way.
• In order to avoid and mitigate the foregoing safety and traffic concerns, Hs10 should be a self-contained development accessed by vehicles (both during the construction phase and following completion of the development) via the A7, failing which the Distributor Road B6392. It is understood and expected that this will involve the construction by Walker Homes of a bridge crossing the existing burn/gully. No vehicular access (with the exception of emergency vehicles) should therefore be taken to Hs10 via Bairds Way and Gladstones Gait and all plans should be amended accordingly.
Please confirm by return that each of the above points will be considered fully by Walker Homes as part of its Consultation Report.
We look forward to hearing from you further.
Regards
Local Hs10 Concern Group"
To which Walker Homes replied...
"Mr Spratt, many thanks for your email of 1st June. I can confirm that the points raised in the email below will be highlighted in the consultation report and our response clearly set out in the report.
regards
Graeme A Patrick
Graeme Patrick
Strategic Land Director"
We now need to get the petition (online and door-to-door) to 750 signatures, then we submit it with a letter to Colin Beattie MSP and Midlothian Council with our concerns we expect them to address if they approve Hs10 and Hs11.
The petition MUST end this week, so we need as many as possible to sign so we can have maximum impact.