We asked, you said, we did

Question 1: Do you have any views on our proposed timetable for Midlothian Local Development Plan 2 (MLDP2)?

Question 2: Do you have any views on our proposed Participation Statement and engagement activities?

Question 3: Do you have any other views on draft Development Plan Scheme 17?

Responses to the consultation are outlined in the Report to Planning Committee of 29th April 2025

DPS17 was adopted at Planning Committee on 29.04.25.  Two amendments were made to the draft DPS17 following engagement; with respect to Local Place Plans, and engagement with people with disabilities.  

No specific question was asked; comments were invited on the document in its entirety.  

Comments received are set out in the attached 'Summary of Consultation Responses'

The attached 'Summary of Consultation Responses' sets out the Council's proposed response in respect of the comments received.  These were incorporated into the final Delivery Programme, approved by Council on 1.04.25.

Question: Do you have any views on our proposed timetable for MLDP2 (Midlothian Local Development Plan no. 2)?

Question: Do you have any views on our proposed Participation Statement in and
engagement activities?

Question: Do you have any other views on draft Development Plan Scheme 16?

Responses to the DPS16 engagement are summarised in the Report to Planning Committee of 30.04.25

A change was made to DPS16, highlighting how the Council will engage with communities where there is not a Local Place Plan in place, and the revised version was adopted by Midlothian Council on 30.04.25

We asked you if you would be interested in joining a 'Healthy Reading Book Club'.  We asked about which Library you would like to come to and what times would work best for you.

We asked what health and wellbeing topics you would be interested in exploring.

The results were mixed.  The most popular topic suggested was anxiety, stress and worrying.  The next most popular topic was healthy eating and diet.

The results from this survey resulted in the setting up of the 'Healthy Reading Bookclub'.  The first sessions took place over the summer of 2025,  The topic was 'Anxiety, Stress and Worrying'

The next Healthy Reading Book Club will read about and discuss Healthy Eating and Diet.

We are seeking the views of parents and carers on the accessibility, availability and use of out of school hours childcare provision for children aged 4+ in Midlothian. This includes paid care such as After School Clubs and childminders and any other out of school hours childcare you currently use, or have used, in the last 12 months.

403 people responded. The feedback highlighted the importance of out of school care (OSC) services within communities in supporting access to work, training or study and the value parents place on it.

Areas for note:

• there is not enough OSC service provision in Midlothian to meet current demand.
• there is a particular lack of OSC services for children with complex additional needs.
• some parents find the hours offered by OSC services do not fit their working pattern, leading to reducing or adapting their working hours to be able to access childcare. This has an impact on income and career progression.
• for some parents, the costs of out of school childcare are not affordable. This is not limited to parents on the lowest incomes.

Midlothian Council are looking to appoint someone to take forward the next steps of the review.

Submit any ideas for the next Midlothian Local Development Plan that are non-site specific. 

95 responses were received. 

The production of MLDP2 is ongoing, please see the Council website to find out the current stage and progress we are at.

Details of the sites you want to see protected from developmenet in the next Midlothian Local Development Plan.

9 site proposals were received.

The production of MLDP2 is ongoing, please see the Council website to find out the current stage and progress we are at.

Details of the sites you propose to develop/ want to be included within next Midlothian Local Development Plan.

99 site proposals were received.

The production of MLDP2 is ongoing, please see the Council website to find out the current stage and progress we are at. 

We wanted to find out if there was interest in the idea of a 'Healthy Reading Book Club.'

There were 17 responses to the survey.  This was not enough.  We reran the survey. 27/11/2024 to 17/01/2025

We reran the survey 27/11/2024 to 17/01/2025

Midlothian Community Councillors, community group members and residents to consider proposals for amendments and revision to the '2014 Midlothian Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils'.

Respondents were asked to submit their proposals for amendment.

Particpants submitted their amendments and proposals for changes to the revised scheme.

This survey was the first in 3 stages of consulation.  Amendments were considered at each of the next 2 stages.

In partnership with 15 local Community Councils and Midlothian Federation of Community Councils (MFCC), Midlothian Council faciltated a series of engagement events.

First Stage - 28 Online consultation responses.  7 people attended an 'online' event, 37 people attended 4 'in person' events.

Second Stage - Responses from the members of the 15 Midlothian Community Councils were considered.  Midlothian Federation of Community Councils faciltated an online review meeting and an amended draft was circulated for review.

Third stage - Responses from the members of the 15 Midlothian Community Councils were reviewed and discussed.  Amendments were considered and document finalised at MFCC meetings in late 2024 / early 2025.

The final document was considered and approved by Elected Members at a special meeting of the Council in April 2025.

Midlothian's Community Councils are now operating within the auspices of the  Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Midlothian (2025)

Further information including the report submitted to Council can be found here: Revised scheme for community councils | Midlothian Council.

Views on parks and green spaces in your area.

158 responses were received.

Feedback from the survey will be taken into consideration to develop the Open Space Strategy for Midlothian.

Views on local places where you can go play (from the perspective of an adult or a child).

386 responses were received.

Feedback from the survey will be taken into consideration to develop the Open Space Strategy for Midlothian. 

About resurfacing the Core Path/NCN 196 between Rosewell and Auchendinny.

A total of 31.6% of the 746 respondents would be comfortable with alternative bound surfaces (Flexipave is an ‘alternative bound surface’ as are materials such as Tarmac), and 21.4% of respondents supported the proposed resin-bound surface, which again includes Flexipave. 

The path will be upgraded using Flexipave, an environmentally friendly material made from recycled tyre rubber and natural stone.

Work is scheduled to begin in the week beginning Monday 16 September. 

For safety, that stretch of path will be closed for six to eight weeks while the work is carried out. 

Preparation work is due to start on Thursday 22 August. It will take three to four weeks during which time the path will remain open. 

While there are no current plans to install lighting, the preparatory work will include measures that would allow us to do so in future. 

The council will try to minimise the time the path is closed if at all possible. Many thanks for your patience. 

If you have any further queries regarding the resurfacing, please email contactcentre@midlothian.gov.uk

Notes:

As communities in Midlothian grow there is an increasing need for safe, high-quality active travel routes linking local communities, placing greater significance on upgrading National Cycle Network (NCN) route 196, which forms part of Midlothian’s Core Path network running between Penicuik and Dalkeith, and onwards to Haddington and NCN route 1.

The council anticipates that the improvement and modernisation of the Core Path route NCN 196 will provide a broader range of community users the access to enjoy a superior pathway and the accompanying outdoor space.

No new sections of pathway are proposed, and works are not anticipated to take place out with the current width of the pathway corridor. Resurfacing this section of route NCN196 will provide a continuous good quality path from Dalkeith to Penicuik and will future-proof the route for years to come.

Questions to the survey are outlined in 'Appendix C MLDP2 - Children and Young People Participation Report' at the Planning Committee of 4th June 2024.

Responses (12) to the survey are outlined in 'Appendix C MLDP2 - Children and Young People Participation Report' at the Planning Committee of 4th June 2024.

Midlothian Council > Meetings

The Council will look at all the views they have collected from children and young people and take these into consideration when writing policy for the next Local Development Plan.

Questions to the survey are outlined in 'Appendix B MLDP2 - Participation Report' at the Planning Committee of 4th June 2024.

Responses (243) to the survey are outlined in 'Appendix B MLDP2 - Participation Report' at the Planning Committee of 4th June 2024.

Midlothian Council > Meetings

The Council will look at all the views they have collected and take these into consideration when writing policy for the next Local Development Plan.

Updates on MLDP2 progress can be found on the Council website.

Questions to the survey are outlined in 'Appendix C MLDP2 - Children and Young People Participation Report' at the Planning Committee of 4th June 2024.

Responses (3) to the survey are outlined in 'Appendix C MLDP2 - Children and Young People Participation Report' at the Planning Committee of 4th June 2024.

Midlothian Council > Meetings

The Council will look at all the views they have collected from children and young people and take these into consideration when writing policy for the next Local Development Plan.

Questions to the survey are outlined in 'Appendix C MLDP2 - Children and Young People Participation Report' at the Planning Committee of 4th June 2024.

Responses (1) to the survey are outlined in 'Appendix C MLDP2 - Children and Young People Participation Report' at the Planning Committee of 4th June 2024.

Midlothian Council > Meetings

The Council will look at all the views they have collected from children and young people and take these into consideration when writing policy for the next Local Development Plan.

For your views on what adult learning opportunities we should offer as part of our advertised adult learning programme. We wanted to make sure the programme reflected the needs and wants of Midlothian residents.

315 people responded, 60% of those who responded had attended an adult learning class before.

Opportunities being offered close to home and the timing of the classes offered were important factors to learners when choosing a class.

The subject areas people were most keen to see learning opportunities offered in were Health & Wellbeing, Family Learning, Digital Skills, Qualifications, Creative, Community opportunities and Online courses.

As a result of the consultation we have offered a number of learning opportunities for Midlothian residents, including - Mental Health & Wellbeing, Creative, Family Learning, Digital Skills, Qualifications in First Aid, Food Hygiene, Maths. These opportunities have been offered through a mix of online and community based.