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Councillor Ian Baxter (Bonnyrigg) called the Chair of the Trust (Darius) to say that Councillor Peter De Vink (Dalkeith) called him to say that "we must stop this building being demolished". Councillor Baxter said the level of emails is "unprecedented" and is having a significant effect on swaying the Councillors. Councillors know every email carry's the weight of 200 re election 'votes'. Do you know how many votes got our Councillors in? Councillor Milligan- 1,574, Councillor Constable- 1,566, Councillor Baxter-1,407. This is how our current Councillors stand: Baxter is supportive, Constable and Milligan are unsure.
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Dear Elected Members
The opportunity provided by the Bonnyrigg community bid to create a new model of partnership working between private, public and community enterprise, must be seized by the local authority. This asset based approach to building community spirit,services and resources is innovative and inspiring. Play Scotland has campaigned for many years for a national play strategy to support vibrant, child-friendly communities supported by play friendly neighbourhoods where children can : meet friends and play; walk safely in the streets on their own; have green spaces for plants and animals; participate in family , community and social life. Having secured this commitment at a national level it is essential that local authorities deliver at a local level, and this is an opportunity not to be missed. A strategic and relatively small investment in Bonnyrigg (by handing over/leasing the building and diverting demolition funds to seed funding for this proposed community project), could have a high impact and huge social capital return in this community in these challenging times. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has,” Margaret Mead US Anthropologist. I would urge you to invest in this project and genuinely empower the local community to deliver many of your high level outcomes in terms of health and wellbeing. In the long run their success will more than likely save money for Midlothian Council. What better motivation to justify your decision? Kind regards Marguerite Marguerite Hunter Blair Chief Executive Play Scotland These statistics say that in the last 4 days statistics: Our posts went before 40,474 different people. 3,659 individuals engaged: clicked, liked, commented or shared the posts! Over 45+ people have directly emailed their Councillors to vote for 100% community ownership. 52+ at demo. You can see why politicians regard an email as representing the views of 100-200 people. THANK YOU. The strong are standing up for the weak. So many toddlers, overwhelmed parents, youth and seniors just don't have the time and headspace to fight for what they need. They were left out all the consultations originally. You guys out there are awesome in how your responding. We still need a miracle.
Midlothian council put a press release on their site today: http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/press/article/1150/money_fears_over_bonnyrigg_centre_takeover_bids Worries over future cash difficulties could prompt the council into standing by a previous decision to demolish a disused leisure centre. Published on 21 March 2014  Worries over future cash difficulties could prompt the council into standing by a previous decision to demolish a disused leisure centre. A report going to council on Tuesday March 25 on proposals for the centre to be brought back into use by community groups thanks two rival bidders for their efforts but recommends going ahead with demolition. The report, being discussed by members this Tuesday, raises concerns that both rival bidders may require money from the council in years to come to keep their ventures afloat. The former Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre had been previously intended for demolition after its facilities were transferred to the £38m Lasswade Centre, which opened last year. The council agreed to hold off the bulldozers when community groups came forward and asked if they could consider taking on the centre on a community-run basis. Council officials assessed both bids looking at aspects such as financial viability, how the work would fit with plans to improve people's lives and the level of community consultation/ support for each bid. The council is facing a near £13m budget gap in 2017 between spending and funding unless it makes significant changes now to how it operates services. Cllr Owen Thompson, leader, Midlothian Council, said: "We had a panel of experts spend a considerable amount of time looking at these proposals, as is right, and I would like to stress there are no final decisions here yet. I expect the debate on Tuesday will be full and considered and I'd like to thank everyone involved in discussing and developing plans over the last few months." The centre was vacated when the £38m Lasswade Centre opened last year. The Centre brings together community facilities, a library, a swimming pool, Tonezone facilities and a secondary school on the same site and recently won a Scottish Property Award. The council has backed successful community centre schemes such as the Kabin in Loanhead, the Glencorse Centre in Auchendinnie, and the ongoing plans to create a community hub in Gorebridge with the Gorebridge Development Trust. Wednesday 19th March
Midlothian Councillors vote on 25th March 2014 to decide whether to demolish the building or transfer into community ownership. MSP Beatties Blog post is Here
The text says: The building at King George V Park, Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre, has been the subject to interest from local groups proposing to rent it from the council. Yet, to the shock of the community, the council has proposed the Centre be demolished. Proposals from the Bonnyrigg Centre Trust and Midlothian Fitness Academy include plans to reopen the Centre as a community hub, play facilities and/or sports facilities. Both bids are options much closer to what the community is saying it needs than the council’s for demolition. A final decision will be made by the Full Council at a meeting in Dalkeith next Tuesday. Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North, reacting to the news said: “It would be a great loss for Midlothian if the Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre were to be demolished. This is an opportunity to empower people of Midlothian. I urge the council to take this chance to collaborate with the community for a working solution. The tens of thousands of pounds earmarked to reduce a great building to rubble could be used to team up with the community to make sure this plan is successful. Constituents have asked for further considerations concerning the community to be discussed before demolition of the Centre. I hope the Council works with the Midlothian community to find a solution.” Public demonstration and press photo in front of the building 2:30. With 48 hrs notice over 52 people turned out on a windy Friday afternoon.
Link to actual article here:
The text: Against the wishes of the local community, councillors will next week be urged to back recommendations that Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre be demolished. Earmarked for ‘disposal’ by the council, the building at King George V Park has been at the centre of a tug of war between rival campaign groups fighting to take ownership of it. Bonnyrigg Centre Trust is keen to reopen the premises as a community hub and play centre, while Midlothian Fitness Academy plans to open a sports and leisure facility. Within the second bid is a proposal to use the rear hall as a soft play facility. Both parties have presented a business case to Midlothian Council and a final decision will be made by the Full Council at a meeting in Dalkeith next Tuesday. However to the shock of campaigners, a report, written by an ‘assessment panel’ of council officials, is recommending that elected members vote in favour of demolishing the building. Reacting to news of the report, Trust member Darius Namdaran said: “I don’t think the council realises how passionate families are about the re-use of this building. We are trying to stop them from making a catastrophic mistake.” Businessman behind the fitness academy plan Mark Perfect said it would be “a travesty for Midlothian” if the building were to be demolished. Local Green Councillor Ian Baxter also commented: “I am shocked by the officers’ recommendations. It praises the Bonnyrigg Centre Trust’s focus on helping to achieve many of the council’s ‘early years’ objectives, as well as employment, training objectives and supporting positive destinations. It also recognises the huge support in the community for the business plan. Yet the recommendation is based solely on a concern that the estimate of income may be too high. “Instead of spending tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers’ money reducing a perfectly good building to rubble, it should be working with the community to make sure this plan works. There is no evidence in the report that it is at all interested in working with the community. This is a classic case of a silo mentality being adopted within the council and all considerations apart from the minimal financial risk to the council have been totally ignored.” |
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