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News

Pencaitland Community Council proposes road safety measures to ELC

Last year ELC’s Transport team provided the community with drawings suggesting a number of road safety changes. Your Community Council wants to hear your views before a response is sent.

An alternative roundabout layout at the eastern entrance to Pencaitland would avoid relocating the war memorial. For details of other provisional recommendations click here.
An alternative roundabout layout at the eastern entrance to Pencaitland would avoid relocating the war memorial. For details of other provisional recommendations click here.
In July last year, after a request from Pencaitland’s Community Council for joined up thinking on how to improve overall road safety across the village, ELC’s transport team responded with drawings outlining a number of ideas. You can see those original plans and what was proposed by clicking here.

In response to these suggestions the Community Council set up a Roads Working Group (RWG) to review the thoughts and comments of local people which have come via this website, social media and through word of mouth.

The Roads Working Group now has a provisional response to the ELC’s initial plans which it is ready to share with you (see map below), before a final set of recommendations is sent to ELC Transport for consideration.

These include:

  • A roundabout at the eastern entrance to Pencaitland to replace the current crossroads. The RWG agrees that this is a good idea but could be achieved without moving the War Memorial to a different location, as originally suggested in ELC’s plans.
  • Road narrowing on the A6093 inside Pencaitland. The RWG believes this is unwise in light of the need for parking which already acts to slow traffic. Instead it is seeking the introduction of a painted cycle lane would achieve the same ends and benefit all concerned, at much less cost and disruption.
  • Further restrictions on speeds should be considered in areas where there are large numbers of kids/pedestrians, in some cases (such as the B6363 through Boggs Holdings) with no pavements for a measure of protection from road vehicles.

Please share this information with your neighbours, especially those who are not comfortable using the web, and encourage everyone who has an interest in road issues around Pencaitland to send us feedback. Tell us your views via email to website@pencaitland.org, by replying below in the comments or simply leaving your views in a dedicated comments box that will shortly be found in the local Pencaitland Post Office.

What is the Roads Working Group proposing to ELC?

The issues surrounding traffic and pedestrian safety can be best summarised visually with the map below. Click the blue lines on roads or the markers to see details of what the RWG is planning to send to ELC. Whether you agree or disagree we want to know. Equally, if there are issues that you believe have not been picked up by the RWG please inform us.

If you find it too difficult viewing the map below, you can view a larger version by clicking this link: Pencaitland road traffic calming measures.


View Pencaitland road traffic calming measures in a larger map

A printed copy of the map and a list of the proposed responses to ELC Transport’s original suggestions will also be available for review at the Pencaitland Post Office.


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News Photos

Courier reports accident at the Boggs

image

The Courier report doesn’t shed much light on how the accident happened, but does say that police are appealing for witnesses.

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News

Summer holidays are coming… what activities to do with the kids?

With schools set to hit the summer holidays in a few weeks you can’t leave it any longer to put together a programme of activities to keep the kids occupied and entertained.

East Lothian Summer Activities Programme 2013
You can view the summer programme online or download a copy here.
East Lothian Council has now released its activities programme so that you can see what’s on and where it’s based. There’s plenty to choose – from Archaeology to 3D animation, surfing to mystery museums trail.

The 2013 East Lothian Council Summer Activities Programme lists hundreds of classes, courses, projects, fun and games for youngsters from pre-school age up to teens.

The Summer Activities Programme gives kids the pick of hundreds of activities from sport to arts, story telling to rock climbing and even gorge walking.

Activities run throughout the summer and cover both indoor and outdoor events so, whatever the weather, there is something on offer. Many activities are free or have a modest charge. Some require to be booked in advance, so check the programme carefully.

Copies of the free programme have been distributed to all East Lothian schools and further copies are also available at local libraries and sports centres. Alternatively you can view it online or download a copy here.

Midlothian Programme

If you live reasonably close to Midlothian then you might also be interested in the programme of activities being offered there. You can view Midlothian’s programme here. Dalkeith Community Campus is one of the closest venues and about the same distance from Pencaitland as the Aubigny Centre in Haddington.


Categories
minutes News

Pencaitland Community Council Minutes for February & March 2013

image copyright photo extremist at Flickr http://www.flickr.com/people/thevlue/Minutes for Pencaitland Community Council’s February and March 2013 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 be found on the web thanks to Google Drive.

To view all minutes for 2013 or earlier just click this link. To save a copy of any minutes, view the document in your browser and select the option FILE >> DOWNLOAD.

February 2013 Minutes | March 2013 Minutes | Recent Pencaitland Community Council Minutes

Much earlier minutes can be found here.


Categories
News

East lothian MSP Iain Gray launches Bus Regulation Bill

Disaster was averted when Pencaitland & other rural towns were threatened with loss of public transport as First Bus withdrew services. A new Bill from MSP Iain Gray wants to avoid events like this happening again.

Scottish Labour MSP Iain Gray has launched a consultation on a new Bus Regulation (Scotland) Bill, proposing a series of changes to the way bus services are run in Scotland
Scottish Labour MSP Iain Gray has launched a consultation on a new Bus Regulation (Scotland) Bill, proposing a series of changes to the way bus services are run in Scotland. Click above to view.
A new Bus Regulation (Scotland) Bill, championed by East Lothian’s very own Iain Gray MSP (he worked as a bus conductor when he was a student), aims to help make it easier for local councils to manage the tendering of bus routes.

You can read the proposals for the Bill in full by viewing (or downloading) this document.

Iain Gray’s Members’ Bill aims to give transport authorities greater power over how bus services are run, including a new franchising power to tender contracts for profitable and non-profitable routes together, without seeking ministers’ consent or having to “demonstrate market failure”. The Bill proposes a power for the Traffic Commissioner to penalise operators where franchise agreements are broken.

The proposal is now out for consultation until the end of August and is being distributed to constituents, community and other interest groups, as well as bus industry bodies and operators.


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News

Expect significant disruption from showers later this afternoon & evening

This afternoon will see heavy and isolated quite intense showers develop across East Lothian. These are expected to start after lunchtime and continue into the early evening.

A new flood alert for the lothians was issued
A new flood alert for the Lothians was issued
These showers may lead to some minor surface water problems and could lead to travel disruption and ponding of lying water in known trouble spots.

Due to the intensity and local nature of the showers smaller watercourses may see some flooding issues.

According to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency people should, “remain vigilant and remember, it is your responsibility to take actions which help protect yourself and your property. Advice and information is available through Floodline on 0845 9881188”.

Keep your community informed

If you have to travel and spot a dangerous section of road please tweet details to @pencaitlandcc or to the Pencaitland Facebook page. This way the information will automatically be passed on to others.

Example Twitter message:

@pencaitlandcc Bend of A6093 coming into Wester #Pencaitland water over both lanes on final bend. #flood #eastlothian

You can use the same text whether sending to Twitter or posting to Facebook or Google+… whichever you prefer.

the # symbol is often placed in front of keywords on Twitter in order to help people discover relevant updates. If you have room, by adding #eastlothian and #flood to your message it is more likely to be found by those looking for information on areas under water around in the county. Try to be specific, using, for example, #ormiston or #pencaitland hash tags to help geographically pinpoint where the problem is.


Categories
News

Easywheels now ‘most definitely up and running’

According to Easywheels, the new car club based out of Haddington, the service is now ready for business. You can find out more this weekend.

Would you like to see a car club vehicle available for use based in Pencaitland?
Would you like to see a car club vehicle based in Pencaitland?
Easywheels will be in Haddington Library this Friday (10th May between 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm) fully set up to show the workings of the online joining and booking system. Anyone can pop in and chat to the car club about joining.

Currently Easywheels has two cars for use by members. Both cars also contain child booster seats, first aid kits and road atlases. Plans are also in place to add a tow bar to the Meriva.

Pencaitland Car Club?

It may be possible to extend on the work already completed in launching Easywheels in Haddington by adding a car to the network based out of Pencaitland. This could be hugely beneficial, allowing those without a second car, or no car at all, access to personal transport only when needed.

However, in order to make this possibility a reality we need to know there’s a level of local support for such an idea. If you would like to see a car available in Pencaitland then please complete this short survey.

You can also read the original article on this idea here.


Categories
News

Courier covers Sunday Litter Pick

The Courier featured a picture and short story in this week's paper on last Sunday's Litter Pick, which enjoyed the biggest turn-out to date.
The Courier featured a picture and short story in this week’s paper on last Sunday’s Litter Pick, which enjoyed the biggest turn-out to date. Click above for full story.


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News

Marie Curie lunch in memory of Daz Hack raises much needed funds

A lunch was held on Saturday 13th April in the Carriage House in memory of Darren Hack to help raise funds for Marie Curie.

The team who helped make the Marie Curie fundraising lunch such a success, raising £1,310. Click the photo for a larger image.
The team who helped make the Marie Curie fundraising lunch such a success, raising £1,310. Click the photo for a larger image.
The lunch was a huge success and the amazing amount of £1,310 was raised to help support the invaluable work of Marie Curie. Margaret and Avril were delighted with all the support they received which enabled their lunch to be such a success. They would like to thank all their wonderful helpers who gave up their time, rolled up their sleeves and worked very hard. They could not have managed without them.

They would also like to thank everyone for their kind donations which helped raise so much money. They hope that everyone who came along on the day enjoyed their lunch and cakes and wish to thank them very much for their support.

The team of helpers were- Doris Jaworska and her son Paul, Jane Rae, Elma Forrest, Alwynne Cowan, Susan Brunton and her daughters Fraya and Kirstin, Fran Dougherty, Emma Hack and her daughter Aimee, Gary Cairns, Catherine Beveridge, Sharon Large, Pat and Charlie Slight (all the way from Canada).

Donations were given from:

  • Mari Ewart from the Village shop (rolls)
  • Kaz Anderson (crafts)
  • Emma Hack and Gilly Sprott (hair clips and brooches)
  • Marion Sinclair (doll for the raffle)
  • Erin Dougherty (chocolate house)
  • The Local Community Shop in Ormiston (fruit basket)
  • Mrs Spence and her friends from Inverness (knitting)
  • Plus the army of fantastic cake makers


Categories
News

Great turnout at Pencaitland’s Litter Pick doubles volume of junk

It was touch & go but in the end the Sun shone down on Pencaitland’s army of litter pickers who scoured the streets & pathways for a record rubbish haul.

Just some of the kids who helped make the 2013 Litter Pick a success with the pile of litter collected continuing to swell throughout a fine sunny afternoon. Click the photo for more pictures.
Just some of the kids who helped make the 2013 Litter Pick a success with the pile of litter collected continuing to swell throughout a fine sunny afternoon. Click the photo for more pictures.
With the recent hard to predict weather we have been encountering it was anyone’s guess as to how many would choose to venture out to spend a few hours helping clean up their community. In the end any doubts were quickly dispelled when around 60 kids turned up, either with family or with one of a number of community groups, including Cubs, Beavers, Rainbows, Pencaitland Youth Football Club and Guides. Then there was a strong cohort of parents and other adults along to help out making it a community-wide affair, covering all ages and backgrounds.

The Community Council would like to say a huge thank you to all those who took part in today’s event. In addition to the usual well-trodden routes, with such a good turnout we were able to cover far more ground which resulted in a significant increase in the amount finally collected. It’s estimated that the volume of litter bagged is around double the amount retrieved at last year’s event.

Many thanks also to Pencaitland Primary for putting together some fantastic posters publicising the event.

Amongst the flotsam found:

  • Two Wooly hats
  • Three single gloves
  • Three wellies
  • Four car hubs
  • Many many plastic and glass bottles and aluminium cans.
  • A pair of jeans
  • Underpants
  • A hoodie
  • A truck mud guard

You can see photos from today’s event below. Anyone wishing to have an original copy should email website@pencaitland.org