Dalkeith residents launch petition to save 'under threat' play area near local school

Residents in Dalkeith have launched a petition to save a popular community play park which has come under threat of removal.

The children’s play area at the bottom of Duchess Park estate in Woodburn has fallen into disrepair after forestry management company Scottish Woodlands stopped maintaining it following a legal dispute around around six years ago.

But when residents recently contacted the firm about the state of the park, the company said - rather than carry out repairs - plans were underway to remove the play area entirely.

The play park is the biggest in the housing development, which encompasses thousands of privately owned and social homes, and is situated opposite Dalkeith Campus, Woodburn Primary School and special school Saltersgate.

“It’s filled with kids playing before and after school”, said mum-of-two Jacklyn Black, who started the petition.

“It’s a really safe park and there’s not another one nearby. There’s always kids playing.

“Taking it away it going to have a huge impact. Kids will get bored and might start messing around because there’s nothing else to do.

“And it’s a popular meeting point for local mums. It’s a really busy place, a community hub.”

The 37-year-old, who is a mum to a nine-year-old and one-year-old, lives directly opposite the park and uses it regularly.

Residents say the removal of the park risks leaving local children with nowhere to go | Supplied

“It was a huge factor in us buying the house in the first place. We thought, great, we’ve got two kids and there’s a park right at the front.

“Our daughter can go out of our front door and just go straight to the park. It’s great having that space.”

Ms Black said residents had also contacted Midlothian Council and the local MSP, who said they are unable to intervene.

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She said one alternative could be to form a residents association to take on the park, but that raising enough money to maintain the park alongside grass-cutting services and costs like public liability insurance mean this an unrealistic option for the community.

The petition has already received over 500 signatures and Ms Black said the response she’s had from residents has been “amazing”.

“It feels like something has gone wrong and we’re just looking for someone to take responsibility,” she said.

Scottish Woodlands has been contacted for comment.