Following the success of the recent meeting to discuss bus service provision in the area, we have joined forces with Humbie, East & West Saltoun and Bolton, Gifford and Ormiston Community Councils to find out what local people really want from their bus service.
A copy of the survey will be dropping through your letter box within the next week or so but if you prefer to register your response online, the survey can be found by clicking here.
The survey results will ultimately be presented to East Lothian Council and the service providers to help build a more efficient and effective service for local residents.
Pencaitland’s The After School Club plans to open for three weeks during the 2012 summer holidays, numbers permitting.
Both full and half day options will be available costing £20 and £12 respectively. Full Day session times are from 8.30am -5.30pm. Families not already registered with the club incur a £15 registration fee.
For anyone wanting to know more, or to get application forms, email committee@pascinfo.co.uk or telephone: 01875 341 466.
You can view the Pencaitland After School Club Bulletin — May 2012 [PDF] where there is also news on places available after the school’s summer holidays and a Job Vacancy for a Bookkeeper/Administrator for around eight to ten hours per month.
Ormiston and Pencaitland Community Councils are joining forces to hold a public meeting on Tuesday the 1st of May in Pencaitland’s Trevelyan Hall, two days before Council elections, inviting sitting and prospective councillors to come and listen to local residents of rural East Lothian.
The joint meeting will take place on 1st May at 7.30pm in Trevelyan Hall, Pencaitland.
The Community Councils are inviting both sitting and prospective candidates of the Council elections to attend and hear the effects first hand from members of the affected communities.
As Jim Blane, Chair of Ormiston Community Council explains, “We believe that it’s absolutely vital that all our political representatives have a clear understanding of what the removal of bus services would mean to real people of rural East Lothian. We’ve heard lots of welcome noises about what various politicians will do about this situation but our rural communities need to be assured that this is top of the priority list and that there is no-one left stranded without transport and unable to live their normal life when the First Bus service ceases.”
Pencaitland Chair Ralph Averbuch added, “Right now we’re all getting flyers through our doors telling us what each political party might do and criticising the failings of their opponents. What we need to see is joined up thinking where all political factions set aside their narrow party agendas and work together to ensure we have both a short-term solution when First services cease, and a long-term strategy which won’t begin to unravel in the space of one council term. We need imaginative but pragmatic thinking that delivers a lasting and viable bus service to rural East Lothian.”
As well as inviting members of their own communities Pencaitland and Ormiston Community Councils are also encouraging residents of other parts of rural East Lothian who will be affected by the bus service’s removal to attend the event.
Anyone who has been on the wrong side of an encounter with an unwelcome doggy deposit may be interested to know that the East Lothian Dog Warden is coming to Pencaitland today.
Villager Shamin Akhtar who organised the visit explains, “Over the past few months we have spoken to so many Pencaitland residents who have highlighted dog fouling as a concern. In response we have arranged for the Dog Warden to come along to the village, meet some residents and provide information about the scheme.”
This follows an earlier visit organised by the Community Council intended at looking for solutions to the problem of a few dog owners messing up (literally) the pavements for the rest of village residents.
Unfortunately the inaction of these few can tarnish the reputations of all dog owners. See our previous story “Scoop on the Poop” for details on reporting incidents.
TIME: 11am
PLACE: At the beggining of Huntlaw Road, Pencaitland
With snow already falling and the potential for more forecast we thought it would timely to remind the residents of Fa’side about the Community Council’s store of snow shovels.
In the event that today’s snow doesn’t melt overnight, you can now borrow a shovel supplied by East Lothian Council to the community by calling 340 641 or 340 115. You do not need to leave a deposit — just your name and a means of contact.
But we do ask that any borrowed equipment is returned once any snow has melted, so it can then be stored for community use in future winters.
Michael Pollington returns with his fine food and drink van to Pencaitland tomorrow — now a regular Thursday stop in the heart of the village.
Look out for the mobile specialist in Wester Pencaitland each Thursday between 10am and Noon, close to the Mercat Cross and bus stop.
For a current product list visit the website at www.pollingtons.com where you can also email an order to have ready to collect upon arrival.’ Tel: 07411 432922 Email: info@pollingtons.com
Anyone interested in the recent preliminary work in and around the grounds of Pencaitland Parish Church can now view detailed planning application information on the East Lothian Council website.
These plans stem from safety concerns originating in 2008 over the narrowness of the main road footpath and are the culmination of many years of discussion and debate amongst interested parties, including the Church, the Community Council, East Lothian Council, the school, Pencaitland’s Fatal Footpath Campaign and other interested parties.
There are two applications:
Formation of hardstanding areas and part demolition of wall – link
Resurfacing of existing footpaths, formation of new footpaths, car parking area, erection of fencing, gates, wall, installation of lighting and a change of use from domestic ground to public ground and public ground to domestic ground – link
The first application relates to the creation of an opening to a wall to the eastern perimeter of the church grounds, but it is the second application where the bulk of the changes which affect the community are explained. There are a number of supporting documents — 25 in all.
Click above to view a PDF of the planned changes
A good overview of what is planned can be gained from viewing the PDF file plan of the whole section of works, running from the school car park to the east, to the stone roadbridge to the west.
Making a public comment on the plans
We would encourage everyone with a view on these plans, whether for or against, to leave a comment on the ELC website. It is only through airing your support or concerns that they can be addressed, so it is in everyone’s interest to do so.
