Support for the Hub:
The trust has grown out of a grass roots passion to meet our communities needs with local resources. Resident support has been overwhelming. Over 291 residents have given 2,547 hours of practical action to achieve their goal of creating a community Hub and play centre. We also have a letter of support from Fields in Trust, the legal overseers of the site.
Numerous local groups such as the neighbouring Bowling Club, Churches and the Orchard Centre have been supporting and collaborating with the Trust.
Local Groups:
Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Community Council
“On reviewing the Community Councils Reuse Consultation started on 13th October 2013 at a special meeting
for the purpose, Community Councillors took a vote (14th November) on what they felt would summarise the
residents views regarding the future of the Bonnyrigg Leisure Site. They can confirm that the whole community
is in full agreement that the building is reusable, financially sustainable and residents wish to make good use of
the whole building, especially parents, toddlers, teenagers and seniors.”
Darius Namdaran, Chairman of Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Community Council.
Bonnyrigg Bowling Club
“As spokesperson for Bonnyrigg Bowling Club I can confirm that the Bowling Club formally endorse your
campaign to pause the demolition of the Leisure Center for a year, during which time, different groups and
individuals in the community can be drawn together to create a collaborative redevelopment plan for the whole
building and then to seek funding, prior to the building being handed over to the community.” Lindsay
Plenderleith, Treasurer.
Bonnyrigg Seniors Shoppers Club
“I will give what little support I can to your campaign to save the Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre, but must point out
our use of the Centre would would be limited to 2 hours for four days per week for our Daily Shoppers and of
course we may have obtained premises elsewhere by the time the Centre would be available. I do hope you get
the support from the public for your campaign to save the Centre, yours is a truly public spirited initiative and I
wish you every success and understand the problems you face in achieving your goal.” William Prentice.
St Leonard’s Episcopal Church
“On behalf of the congregations and ministers of the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady Consolation,
Bonnyrigg Parish Church, Lasswade & Cockpen Parish Church and St Leonard’s Episcopal Church we would
like to voice our concerns regarding the current plans to demolish Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre. As members of
the faith community of Bonnyrigg and Lasswade area we believe that the community which we serve has not
been properly consulted or been fully informed about the future use or disposal of the Leisure centre. We are
also perplexed by the council’s decisions to demolish a large part of the centre while at the same time proposing
to develop a Neighbourhood Plan for the area. This sounds very much like a cart before the horse decision.”
Reverend P Harris.
• Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Consolation
• Bonnyrigg Parish Church
• Lasswade & Cockpen Parish Church
• Midlothian Play Therapy Base
• Cheer Evolution Dance
• Midlothian Dog Training
• Girl Guides Association
• Places For People Scotland
• Out door Trainers
• Bonnyrigg charity Mondo Loco
• Health in Mind
• The Orchard Centre
• Bonnyrigg Co op
National Groups:
The National Playing Fields Association know as ‘Fields in Trust”
“Earlier this month I and our UK Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths visited the Bonnyrigg Park & Leisure Centre
and met with users of the facility. We were asked by users to contact you to urge your Council to consider
postponing any planned demolition of the facility for a 12 month period. That would allow local residents time
to make a combined community decision and to conduct a feasibility study on future possible uses. I trust you
will sympathetically consider this appeal.” Colin Rennie, Manager, Scotland.
Play Scotland
Motion to Parliament
“Save Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre: That the Parliament is concerned by (Midlothian Councils) proposals to
demolish Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre; understands that the investment required to bring the building up to a
useable standard would be less than the cost of demolition; recognises that the centre currently runs profitable
soft play and parties, and that many other uses are possible, including youth centre, Social Centre for Parents,
meeting place for Seniors’, sensory room and youth bike repair centre; considers demolishing a perfectly sound
building ahead of a consultation on the Bonnyrigg Neighbourhood Plan, which will involve asking the local
community what facilities they would like in the town, to be very premature; notes that the Keep Bonnyrigg
Leisure Centre group has come forward with a low-risk proposal to keep the building operating for 12 months;
and believes that any proposals involving demolition should be put on hold for a year, to allow the local
community to develop a long term business plan that would ensure Bonnyrigg, Lasswade and Poltonhall
residents could continue to benefit from using the whole centre.” MSP Alison Johnstone
Smart Play Network
“Thank you for updating me on the status of the future of Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre. I must say I was unaware
that that there was even an option on the table of demolition of the Centre and that was a bit of a shock.
However, I was extremely pleased to hear that there is a group willing to propose an alternative and very
excited to hear your plans … help and support you with some elements of your proposal.” Lesley Fox CEO.
Over 70 letters of support from
• Local Business men
• High street business owners.
• Children
• Teenagers
• Stay at home mums
• Seniors
Evidenced by demonstrations of support via:
• 1300+ supporters on Facebook
• 337 Members of the Trust
• 91% of the 200 Surveyed
• 2 well attended public demonstrations in the park
Over 2761 volunteer hours contributed by over 256 residents.
Click Here to Show Support: Become a Member (Free)
Numerous local groups such as the neighbouring Bowling Club, Churches and the Orchard Centre have been supporting and collaborating with the Trust.
Local Groups:
Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Community Council
“On reviewing the Community Councils Reuse Consultation started on 13th October 2013 at a special meeting
for the purpose, Community Councillors took a vote (14th November) on what they felt would summarise the
residents views regarding the future of the Bonnyrigg Leisure Site. They can confirm that the whole community
is in full agreement that the building is reusable, financially sustainable and residents wish to make good use of
the whole building, especially parents, toddlers, teenagers and seniors.”
Darius Namdaran, Chairman of Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Community Council.
Bonnyrigg Bowling Club
“As spokesperson for Bonnyrigg Bowling Club I can confirm that the Bowling Club formally endorse your
campaign to pause the demolition of the Leisure Center for a year, during which time, different groups and
individuals in the community can be drawn together to create a collaborative redevelopment plan for the whole
building and then to seek funding, prior to the building being handed over to the community.” Lindsay
Plenderleith, Treasurer.
Bonnyrigg Seniors Shoppers Club
“I will give what little support I can to your campaign to save the Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre, but must point out
our use of the Centre would would be limited to 2 hours for four days per week for our Daily Shoppers and of
course we may have obtained premises elsewhere by the time the Centre would be available. I do hope you get
the support from the public for your campaign to save the Centre, yours is a truly public spirited initiative and I
wish you every success and understand the problems you face in achieving your goal.” William Prentice.
St Leonard’s Episcopal Church
“On behalf of the congregations and ministers of the Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady Consolation,
Bonnyrigg Parish Church, Lasswade & Cockpen Parish Church and St Leonard’s Episcopal Church we would
like to voice our concerns regarding the current plans to demolish Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre. As members of
the faith community of Bonnyrigg and Lasswade area we believe that the community which we serve has not
been properly consulted or been fully informed about the future use or disposal of the Leisure centre. We are
also perplexed by the council’s decisions to demolish a large part of the centre while at the same time proposing
to develop a Neighbourhood Plan for the area. This sounds very much like a cart before the horse decision.”
Reverend P Harris.
• Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of Consolation
• Bonnyrigg Parish Church
• Lasswade & Cockpen Parish Church
• Midlothian Play Therapy Base
• Cheer Evolution Dance
• Midlothian Dog Training
• Girl Guides Association
• Places For People Scotland
• Out door Trainers
• Bonnyrigg charity Mondo Loco
• Health in Mind
• The Orchard Centre
• Bonnyrigg Co op
National Groups:
The National Playing Fields Association know as ‘Fields in Trust”
“Earlier this month I and our UK Chief Executive, Helen Griffiths visited the Bonnyrigg Park & Leisure Centre
and met with users of the facility. We were asked by users to contact you to urge your Council to consider
postponing any planned demolition of the facility for a 12 month period. That would allow local residents time
to make a combined community decision and to conduct a feasibility study on future possible uses. I trust you
will sympathetically consider this appeal.” Colin Rennie, Manager, Scotland.
Play Scotland
Motion to Parliament
“Save Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre: That the Parliament is concerned by (Midlothian Councils) proposals to
demolish Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre; understands that the investment required to bring the building up to a
useable standard would be less than the cost of demolition; recognises that the centre currently runs profitable
soft play and parties, and that many other uses are possible, including youth centre, Social Centre for Parents,
meeting place for Seniors’, sensory room and youth bike repair centre; considers demolishing a perfectly sound
building ahead of a consultation on the Bonnyrigg Neighbourhood Plan, which will involve asking the local
community what facilities they would like in the town, to be very premature; notes that the Keep Bonnyrigg
Leisure Centre group has come forward with a low-risk proposal to keep the building operating for 12 months;
and believes that any proposals involving demolition should be put on hold for a year, to allow the local
community to develop a long term business plan that would ensure Bonnyrigg, Lasswade and Poltonhall
residents could continue to benefit from using the whole centre.” MSP Alison Johnstone
Smart Play Network
“Thank you for updating me on the status of the future of Bonnyrigg Leisure Centre. I must say I was unaware
that that there was even an option on the table of demolition of the Centre and that was a bit of a shock.
However, I was extremely pleased to hear that there is a group willing to propose an alternative and very
excited to hear your plans … help and support you with some elements of your proposal.” Lesley Fox CEO.
Over 70 letters of support from
• Local Business men
• High street business owners.
• Children
• Teenagers
• Stay at home mums
• Seniors
Evidenced by demonstrations of support via:
• 1300+ supporters on Facebook
• 337 Members of the Trust
• 91% of the 200 Surveyed
• 2 well attended public demonstrations in the park
Over 2761 volunteer hours contributed by over 256 residents.
Click Here to Show Support: Become a Member (Free)