The Council Meeting on the 25th March decided NOT to follow the council officers' recommendation to demolish the building.
Instead they accepted an alternate motion:
"Midlothian Council welcomes the report by [the] assessment panel on bids for [the] former Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre; accepts the recommendations of the assessment panel not to accept either the bid from Bonnyrigg Centre Trust or Midlothian Fitness Academy; considers that in order to support recommendation iv, demolition of the former Leisure Centre be postponed to allow consideration to be given to use all or part of the building; requests a report to the June meeting of Midlothian Council to present outcome of these considerations; and instructs the Chief Executive to write to each of the two bidders to inform and explain the reasons for the decision of the council".
This give us the opportunity to have 3 months to strengthen our business plan and take into account their practical recommendations. The absolute final decision will be made in June's meeting.
A massive thank you to everyone who emailed Councillors. Today's decision has been directly influenced by your level of support for the reuse of this building.
Lots of work to do between now and June but the fight is not over yet!
Instead they accepted an alternate motion:
"Midlothian Council welcomes the report by [the] assessment panel on bids for [the] former Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre; accepts the recommendations of the assessment panel not to accept either the bid from Bonnyrigg Centre Trust or Midlothian Fitness Academy; considers that in order to support recommendation iv, demolition of the former Leisure Centre be postponed to allow consideration to be given to use all or part of the building; requests a report to the June meeting of Midlothian Council to present outcome of these considerations; and instructs the Chief Executive to write to each of the two bidders to inform and explain the reasons for the decision of the council".
This give us the opportunity to have 3 months to strengthen our business plan and take into account their practical recommendations. The absolute final decision will be made in June's meeting.
A massive thank you to everyone who emailed Councillors. Today's decision has been directly influenced by your level of support for the reuse of this building.
Lots of work to do between now and June but the fight is not over yet!