A year ago our campaign alerted Bonnyrigg residents on 27th February 2013 to the imminent demolition of Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre: 4 months before the event. It was scheduled because its title forbade commercial sale. Its listed value was nil. A unique opportunity was recognized by the community to inherit a modern centre with 1750 m2 of viable space in the form of 3 halls (large, medium and small), Soft play, conservatory, workshop and 12 usable rooms. The building is set in 16 acres of parkland and protected in perpetuity from commercial interests and development by the National Playing Fields Association.
As a result of the building of the new Lasswade High School Centre, Midlothian Council decommissioned Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre on 30th June 2013. The groundswell of our campaign led, in July 2013, to the setting up of the Bonnyrigg Centre Initiative (BCI) to organize the campaign for its full reuse and community control. A survey showed 91% were in favour of exploring whether it could be self funded under community ownership. The highest priority request were for:
Park Toilets (89%)
Youth Centre (89%)
Café (83%)
Village hall (83%)
Soft play (82%)
Kids parties (80%)
Parent and Toddlers groups (80%).
The BCI group opened a dialogue with the Council with the twin objectives of postponing the planned demolition of the facility and securing time for a re-use consultation with local people and groups. The BCI group submitted a substantial proposal to the Council highlighting the great potential the building still offered. Council officers, in response, issued a report recommending time to consider community reuse. Councilors agreed to postponement for 6 months. Which leads us to the final decision on 4th February 2014. The only thing left is to gather members to show the level of community support to funders.
As a result of the building of the new Lasswade High School Centre, Midlothian Council decommissioned Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre on 30th June 2013. The groundswell of our campaign led, in July 2013, to the setting up of the Bonnyrigg Centre Initiative (BCI) to organize the campaign for its full reuse and community control. A survey showed 91% were in favour of exploring whether it could be self funded under community ownership. The highest priority request were for:
Park Toilets (89%)
Youth Centre (89%)
Café (83%)
Village hall (83%)
Soft play (82%)
Kids parties (80%)
Parent and Toddlers groups (80%).
The BCI group opened a dialogue with the Council with the twin objectives of postponing the planned demolition of the facility and securing time for a re-use consultation with local people and groups. The BCI group submitted a substantial proposal to the Council highlighting the great potential the building still offered. Council officers, in response, issued a report recommending time to consider community reuse. Councilors agreed to postponement for 6 months. Which leads us to the final decision on 4th February 2014. The only thing left is to gather members to show the level of community support to funders.