Pencaitland Community Council exists to represent the views of local residents about local issues that matter to them. This involves close liaison with other groups in the community and helps to develop a more coherent and dynamic village environment.
One person who couldn’t attend yesterday’s public consultation was local girl Maya Coates who relies on a K-Walker for mobility.
Unfortunately, this meant she was unable to use the pavement to attend the meeting on foot and give her views on the footpath plans. Instead she came as far as she is able unaided and handed her letter to a member of the community council who passed it on to Brian Cooper from East Lothian Council.
Ralph Averbuch collects Maya’s letter to give to the Public Consultation with her mum Nicola Dutton. Photo courtesy of East Lothian CourierHer letter:
“I am writing to you to see if it’s possible to widen the pavement on the A6093 in Pencaitland between the church and the Spar – especially the narrow bit before the bridge.
I am 12 years old and I like hanging around with my friends and going to the Spar. I have to use the K-Walker to help me walk and be independent. The pavement is so narrow that it’s not safe for me to walk on it because my walker is too wide, this means I can’t go to the shops with my friends. My sister also has a disability and loves to use her red bike, but this is too wide to fit on the pavement.
My mum says there is going to be a meeting about the narrow pavement. I hope that my views will be considered.
Thank you,
Maya”
Remember, if you still want to participate because you missed the consultation and haven’t had the opportunity to air your view through other means, you can still take part in the one question survey here.
Whatever your view a big thanks to all those who made the effort to come along to the Public Consultation on the parallel footpath today or participated in the survey.
There was a pretty good turnout in terms of numbers at both the actual event in Trevelyan Hall and from those taking part in both the paper and online surveys.
An artist’s impression of the footpath when completed going up to the church. Click above for a larger version.Generally the impression was that the majority are in clear support of the footpath with the odd vehement exception.
However, Glebe residents asked the quite reasonable question of how and why the additional parking became part of the footpath plan and en-mass felt they had no choice but to object, despite not having issue with the core intent of a safer footpath.
Meantime, so far we have received 61 online and 31 written notes of support with 5 online responses against the plan .
Working with ELC officials we will now collate the rest of the comments gathered today and report back.
Remember, if you still want to participate because you missed the consultation and haven’t had the opportunity to air your view through other means, you can still take part in the one question survey here.
Following two recent meetings with officials from the scouting movement and interested parents, plans are taking shape to bring back the Scouts to Pencaitland after a seven year absence.
Pencaitland used to be well served by the scouting movement for many years, with the local troupe being one of the first in Scotland to have girls join. Unfortunately, many of the parent helpers that made it possible moved on and, without new people to carry it on, the local scout group folded around 2005.
Now, thanks to the efforts of parents keen to see it return, a small group has formed to bring it back once again.
This time it’s being headed up by David Donohoe and Alison Mells with the support of parents keen to help make its return a success. But there are few guarantees without further support from parents who would like to see all three age groups eventually revived.
CUBS
Currently the plan is to have Cubs (eight to ten and half age group) return in late November, with the Trevelyan Hall providing a base for Cub meets each Thursday, roughly once a week during term times. Cubs is the second section of the Scouting movement, originally started in 1916 for younger brothers who wanted a ‘look-in’. In nearly a century, the section has constantly evolved and adapted its programme and methods to meet the changing needs of each generation of kids.
BEAVERS
Then, provided there are sufficient local helpers to work with David, Beavers (six to eight and a half age group) would begin sometime in the New Year, also using Trevelyan Hall. Beaver Scouts are the youngest section of the Scouting family. Their activities are based around making things, outdoor activities, singing, playing games, going out on visits, investigating nature, listening to stories, learning how to be safe and most importantly, making new friends.
SCOUTS
Eventually, if there proves to be enough local interest amongst parents, grandparents and other adult volunteers, the Scouts (ten and a half to fourteen age group) could be revived. Scouts are the third section of the Scouting movement. From the first experimental camp for 20 boys in 1907 there are now over 499,000 boys and girls involved in Scouting in the UK. Adult volunteers are critical in ensuring that our local young people are able to take part in their own big adventures as they grow into their early to mid teens.
Q. Would you like to add your child to the list and/or give your details to help? Read on…
After the recent elections of Community councillors across East Lothian Pencaitland gained two new faces — Alison Glencorse and Robin Sinclair.
Alison GlencorseAlison Glencorse lives in Pencaitland with her husband Alan and their daughter Charlotte, having moved to the village from the south coast of England in 1994 and having twice moved house since then within Pencaitland.
She works two days a week as a credit manager for the Royal Bank of Scotland plc, and since having her daughter has been involved in local committees and organisations. These include the Mothers and Toddlers group, Playgroup, Junior Scottish Country Dancing group, 1st Brownie Pack, the Parent Council at Pencaitland Primary School, as well as for the National Childbirth Trust, East Lothian branch. She is interested in local issues and looks forward to serving as a Community Councillor.
Robin SinclairMeanwhile new community councillor Robin Sinclair and his wife Fiona moved to Pencaitland in 2006 with their twins Malcolm and Evie, who both attend the local Primary school. Robin commutes daily by bus to Edinburgh where he works in IT for an investment firm. He’s a keen golfer and enjoys spending his spare time out on the fairways. He is keen to help the community council continue to serve the village and surrounding area and help represent the wider views of villagers on local matters.
Office Bearers
In addition to the new faces joining your Community Council, the most recent meeting was also an opportunity to elect office bearers. In all there are four elected positions — Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Press Secretary and Treasurer.
Ralph Averbuch remains as Community Council Chairman and also takes on the role of Press Secretary. Phil Summerfield becomes the Vice-Chairman and Jean McCormack was re-elected as Treasurer. Additionally Fiona Tennick has taken on the temporary role of community council secretary until we can find a person willing to take up the post.
A full list of community councillors, ELC councillors and the local community police officer can be found here.
Wider Representation
This now means that Pencaitland Community Council has twelve sitting councillors. According to the constitution it is possible to have a maximum of fifteen, which gives us the opportunity to fill these three remaining unoccupied seats.
The local ward covers more than just the village of Pencaitland, extending to New Winton in the north, Wolfstar Farm to the west, Boggs Holdings, Nisbet and Spilmersford Mains to the east and lastly Peaston, Glenkinchie, Templehall, Huntlaw, Fountainhall and Dodgeridge Farm Cottages to the south.
That’s why the Community Council is keen to hear from people not just from Pencaitland but also these other parts of the ward, or anywhere in-between. We want to have voices from the whole of the ward in order to ensure that, as best we can, all the interests of locals are effectively represented on your local community council.
Could that be you? If you would like to discuss this further why not contact the current chair via email or call Ralph on 01875 340 641.
This week’s East Lothian Courier carried the story on ELC’s plan to return to Pencaitland for further consultations with villagers this coming Tuesday.
Click the image above to see a larger copy.
The public showing of the parallel footpath plans is set to take place this coming Tuesday in Trevelyan Hall between 2pm and 6pm. We would urge everyone to try to make this event but if you can’t, please do the survey below which will be shared with the Council.
Minutes for Pencaitland Community Council’s recent AGM and October meetings can now be found online.
Since moving pencaitland.org to its new home on Ourlocality.org all recent and future Community Council minutes can now be found on the web thanks to Google Drive.
To view recent minutes just click this link. To save a copy of any minutes, view the document in your browser and select the option FILE >> DOWNLOAD.
Villagers are to get another opportunity to express their views about Pencaitland’s narrow main-road footpath. In September, plans agreed by a range of community groups and ELC transport officials were expected to be passed by ELC Planning Committee. But Planning delayed its decision, saying it wants to ensure villagers have another chance to review the the same plans.
July 2010: Local mums highlight the dangers of the narrow main road pavement which led to the parallel footpath plan.
A letter to villagers explains that a public consultation is being offered to all interested locals in Pencaitland’s Trevelyan Hall between 2pm and 8pm on Tuesday the 30th of October. Transport officials and local councillors will be on hand to answer any questions or concerns anyone may have about the proposed parallel footpath before a final decision is taken by ELC councillors on whether to complete the partially done footpath or drop the plan with no alternative solution on offer. Can’t make it? You can still make your views known.
The plan boils down to building a wider footpath running parallel to the main road from the bridge, through church grounds and directly into the school, thus avoiding the main road pavement which is 75cm in places and too narrow for two people to pass without stepping onto the road, or to allow someone using a wheelchair or pushing many makes of baby buggy to safely get across the village on foot.
BACKGROUND
It was the footpath campaign, made up of concerned parents, dog-owners and other locals, that originally took issue with the ELC over the dangerously narrow footpath in 2008. This came to a head in February 2011 when ELC councillors and officals vetoed an earlier plan to extend the lights and widen the main road pavement.
Subsequent community talks were held at the direct request of ELC councillors. This led to the parallel footpath plan which was the end result of 18 months of discussion between members of the church, ELC transport and planning officials, ELC councillors, the Community Council and the Fatal Footpath Campaign.
Click above to view a PDF of the proposed changes
PROs & CONs
The community now has a second opportunity to review the same parallel footpath plan later this month and express a view on whether they wish to see the parallel path proceed to completion or, effectively, drop it entirely. Currently this is the only footpath plan acceptable to ELC’s transport officials.
So what’s good and bad about the parallel footpath plan which is being re-presented to members of the community on the 30th?
PROs
The parallel footpath provides an alternative and more direct route to and from Pencaitland Primary School.
It is a wider footpath which, unlike the existing pavement, can take wheelchairs and buggies.
It separates pedestrians from cars, buses and lorries.
Parking in the Carriage House car park will be improved for all users of this community facility.
An overflow carpark, part of the school’s existing parking, will be accessible via a footpath to church-goers, thus potentially reducing the need to park on the main road which can cause problems of its own each Sunday.
With a more direct and safer walking route there will be less reason to drive kids to school from Wester Pencaitland
CONs
This plan is more elaborate and costly than simply moving the lights and widening the footpath (though this is no longer an option open to the community after this was rejected by ELC councillors in July 2011 on the advice of transport officials).
Some residents of the Glebe are concerned that this plan may make parking worse in the cul de sac. (there were six objections when this plan went to planning consent).
HAVE YOUR SAY
We would encourage everyone with a view on these plans to make the time to go and see for themselves what’s being proposed and to consider what it will mean for the community as a whole. ELC officials are going to be on hand from 2pm through to 8pm to try to give everyone a chance to see, and have explained, what is being proposed.
However, if you are unable to come along on the day but want to express a view we would encourage you to leave a comment below, email us, and/or take part in our mini survey.
The No. 113 bus, run by a wholly owned subsidiary of Lothian Buses, is set to introduce a new timetable from the end of October.
Come the end of October a new bus timetable is being introduced on the 113 route to/from PencaitlandComing into operation on Sunday 28 October, the effect will be immediate. The entire Sunday timetable is to be changed.
It will still be an hourly service but leaving Pencaitland at 52 minutes past the hour rather than the current 40 minutes past. On the 113’s return route from the Western General Hospital it will depart at 27 minutes past the hour instead of 9 minutes past. All Sunday bus users will need to check because there are other detailed changes too.
The most significant change will be an extra early morning departure at 6am from Pencaitland from Monday to Friday.
The existing first service will be re-timed from 6.35am to 6.30am, with the 7am and 7.25am departures staying as they are, thus making a 30 min interval business service. The evening services back from Edinburgh are more or less unchanged but with the irregular gaps around 8.20pm evened out. However, there are important differences in the detail. In the early evening buses will continue to and from the Western General Hospital for an extra hour, after which buses will use the West End; most likely Charlotte Square rather than Hanover Street as the city Centre terminus.
For the bus enthusiasts out there, the Double Deckers are to be replaced by new Singles (photo)with additional seats on the Musselburgh to Edinburgh section provided by extra No. 44s to relieve the pressure on the Singles.
Our thanks to Barry Hutton for providing the information in this update.
East Lothian Council regularly calls for applications to each new round of its Civic Pride Fund. Applications are now being sought for new funding requests.
Applications from local community groups are sought to ELC’s Civic Pride Fund by 30 Nov 2012.East Lothian Council established the Civic Pride Fund in order to support projects that will improve the image of a town, village or local community, give it a sense of place and make it somewhere that local residents and visitors can be proud of.
Projects need to demonstrate community support and involvement and deliver two or more of the following criteria:
Make a material difference to the appearance of the town, village or local community
Enhance the natural setting and biodiversity of the open space in and around your local area
Celebrate something special or unique about the town, village or local community
Give the town, village or local community area a sense of place or identity
Locally Pencaitland Parish Church was a recent beneficiary, receiving £2,100 towards repairs to the church’s buildings. The grant from the Council’s Civic Pride Fund was used to repair the bowed leaded windows and cracked window panes to help keep the Grade A listed church weather tight. As Minister David Torrance said at the time of the award, “Through the centuries, the Church has stood as a symbol of faith and hope, serving families, groups and individuals in the local community, so maintaining the building is very important. We are pleased that this has been recognised by the Civic Pride Fund”.
Other awards around East Lothian have gone towards park improvements, plantings, renovation of local monuments, Village Hall improvements, new public seating, public sculpture and floodlights to name a few.
How to Apply
To apply to the fund applicants need to be properly constituted community groups, local heritage groups and voluntary organisations. The £50,000 Civic Pride Fund’s closing date for this funding round is 30 November 2012 with grants of up to a maximum of £20,000 potentially being awarded. Any requests for £5,000 or more require matched funding from a source other than the ELC. A copy of the application form can be found here.
Applications should be sent to:
Landscape & Countryside Manager
East Lothian Council
John Muir House
Brewery Park
Haddington
EH41 4HA
Want advice?
Do you have a community group project or idea in Pencaitland, New Winton or Glenkinchie which would benefit from financial support from the Civic Pride Fund? If you would like to discuss this with a member of your Community Council you can email website@pencaitland.org with your contact details and we will get in touch to help you develop your idea.
Minutes for Pencaitland Community Council’s recent AGM and October meetings can now be found online.
