Saturday July 13th 2024
Jarnac Court, Dalkeith
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
After years of outcry, plans to develop Dalkeith’s town centre is still a far-fetched dream for both the Midlothian Council and the people of Dalkeith.
The council, after complaints by residents during workshops held earlier this year, are needing to provide the people of Dalkeith with a more up to date Town Centre. With plans years in the making and no action taken or plans produced, the team at the
council have neglected the town centre. I spoke to locals in the area about their frustrations with the well-needed improvements.
“I remember a few years ago there was a mention of revamping Dalkeith. It’s strange, I thought there has been absolutely nothing done.” A local in the area expressed.
I reached out to the community about improvements to Dalkeith town centre and was inundated with over 50 comments from local residents raising their concerns. The main response from the locals was the need for more shops and services and to revamp the ‘eye-sore’ flats above the high street.
“About time the flat’s above the shops were knocked down, it’s an eyesore. We need to get some decent shops in Dalkeith, clothes shops, shoe shops, baby shops, hairdressers, barbers, pubs and charity shop’s”. Another local told me.
With no funding, no plans and no time scale, I spoke to Councillor Margot Russel about the delay on the development.
With town centre regeneration being an important aspect of Russell’s political life, she explained issues behind improvements to Dalkeith.
“There has been many good plans but unfortunately, unaffordable. Where we are at the moment is there was a Dalkeith Town Centre blueprint, that was approved last year. But, there is always a but, the costing is just not affordable for us local authority.” She explained.
Development funding is a serious issue in the move towards a more developed Town Centre with improvements not being in the local or capital plan, it is unlikely to happen soon.
“It’s not fully-funded, that’s why it’s not in the capital plan. It’s not in any stage at the moment, it’s interesting, we can look at it again based on what we have got but at the moment, to be honest, we are struggling with the capital plan we have at the moment. Other things, they have to take priority. I would hate to say, there is not a time scale.”
Struggling with other community plans, such as education and repairs to schools, focus is far from a new town centre and more towards social work.
“I get angry, in the sense we take people up to the top of the hill and then take them back down again”.
Understanding the frustration of the Dalkeith people Margot Russell explained they have looked at refreshing the paint in the hope that it freshens the town centre up and with re-slabbing areas, such as Jarnac Court, small changes have been made towards the mission of town improvements.
The people of Dalkeith have waited far too long for progress. But, with the issue of funding unfortunately it may be a while until they get the town centre they deserve.
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