A CONSULTATION
ON
LEISURE FACILITIES IN PENICUIK
 

Background

Residents of Penicuik contacted Christine Grahame MSP during 2006 concerned about reports in local newspapers and rumours that local leisure facilities Queensway, Ladywood and Jackson Street centre would be closed when a new sports and pool complex opened attached to Penicuik High School.

Questions were asked of Midlothian Council on behalf of residents which did not receive clear answers.  Many activity groups then complained they were not consulted about the proposed changes either.

Information continued to be spread by news articles and rumour with the future of other facilities such as the John Chant centre also being brought into question.

In response to the residents’ concerns a consultation was carried out in Penicuik and surrounding communities.  Nearly 4,000 responses were received, a response rate of 28%.


Result of Consultation

3,879 responses were received before the publication of this report. 

95% agree Midlothian Council did not inform residents

92% were not consulted about the changes and closures

98% want all changes and closures to be halted

98% agree that there will be a negative impact on the health and well being of the residents in and around Penicuik

Main Conclusions

• People did not feel they were consulted - just told.  They were not informed that the price for a new pool would be the closure of Ladywood and Jackson Street facilities and the transfer of Queensway LC to the YMCA.
• Major concerns were expressed that given the significant problem with youth gangs and vandalism the removal of local community facilities would make it worse.  More resources to engage positively with the youth of Penicuik are required.
• People believe that they will have restricted access to new facilities at Penicuik High School.  Also there are concerns there will be no child toddler facilities - soft play, baby pool etc.
• Penicuik is seeing major housing expansion which is not planned for in the reduction of community facilities.
• Research undertaken by the council leading to their decisions concentrated on sports facilities and not the community, socialising and diverse functions of the facilities.
   

Penicuik Resident’s comments

The following are a typical example of Penicuik residents’ comments extracted from the consultation.  Almost 2/3rds of the consultation returns included further comments.

….your answer may be that the High school facilities will be sufficient for all of Penicuik. How can that possibly be?  Apart from the fact that for some there will be travelling problems and others may not be able to afford the fares, how can one facility cope with the number of people from three facilities? For example the gym at Queensway is often very busy at peak times (early evening), which for people in full time employment is the only time they can go.
MP
(emailed to Councillor Adam Montgomery - no reply received)

I live near Ladywood Leisure Centre and with 2 small children. I think the children will miss out on their birthday parties and mini-kickers as I don’t drive and other centres are very hard to get to.
PF

The biggest problem has been caused by Midlothian’s lack of communication.
RA

I tried in the past to get into classes at Ladywood Centre but classes were full.  What is it going to be like when the centres close?  How do pensioners and young mothers who use the centres get to the new centre in bad weather?  I think it is dreadful and has been secretive.
MR

The swimming pool will not be for full public use as there is not a baby pool.
SH

If Penicuik residents had been made aware that the upgrading of a school pool under the guise of it being a public pool would result in these losses they would have given it a definite thumbs down!! 
NB

What is on offer at Penicuik High School is not so convenient for the Glencorse part of Penicuik.  At the moment our children use Ladywood/Queensway L.C. as they are within reasonable walking distance.  I feel we were misled when new facilities were agreed to – no-one expected it to be at the expense of existing ones.
PT

I heard through the ‘grapevine’ that the centres were to close.  I did not receive any formal notification.  These centres are the backbone of the community and every effort should be made to keep them.  Especially in view of the planned house building and increase in local population.
JD

We have a big problem with bored youths and this will not help
WB

The closure of these facilities is one of the most outrageous decisions that Midlothian Council could make.  Our council are supposed to have the health and well-being of the constituents they are supposedly representing.  Sadly nothing could be further from the truth.  These facilities are a vital part of the community, a community which is already poorly served with amenities for all ages and backgrounds. 
AD

I have seen the plans for the new community centre at the high school and it looks to me as if it could barely satisfy the needs of the High school never mind the 2 leisure centres which are to be closed.  The Queensway one is busy from 9am – 10pm seven days a week.  The car parking facilities at the high school will be totally inadequate.  I think it is very wrong that this was presented as a fait accompli with no public consultation.
DR

I am disabled and would not want to go to the high school.  It takes me all my time to get to Jackson Street.  If Jackson Street were closed I will not be going out.
DT

At the time when large sports centres were the ‘in thing’ Midlothian Council rejected the idea in favour of smaller community sports centres.  The strategy has been truly successful and small centres have been developed within Penicuik and across Midlothian.  The strategy has resulted in local residents and communities taking ownership and enjoying the benefits of onsite facilities.  These facilities do impact on the lives of ordinary folk and their communities and have a direct bearing on their quality of life.  Rejecting the obvious benefit of their previous strategy and the very strong feelings of the local communities (a tribute to their own success) they decide to close the centres and other successful centres in the community.  They offer improved leisure community facilities in the grounds of Penicuik High School as an alternative.  They miss the whole point of what these facilities mean to the people they serve.  The range of services they offer and the energy and commitment of the people who have built up over the years programmes and services that clearly impact at local level and enhance the quality of life of the users.  In addition they are closing local facilities and Penicuik High School does not meet that criteria.  It is also a school which for some (more than they would imagine) would be the last place they would want to go to enjoy their own quality time.

It is with great sadness and disappointment that it appears a council is prepared to ride roughshod over the people they are meant to be serving without doing their homework and without recognising the value of what has been achieved in these centres.  The notion of partnership and consultation do not seem to exist.  They offer an alternative to these local communities that, even if it could re-house all of the groups and activities, misses the whole point of what these centres mean to the local people at a local level.
DO

Jackson Street is an excellent community facility.  The café is used widely by all ages, young mums with children and also senior citizens who all meet up socially!
MG