Plans for 1000 new homes in Midlothian deferred after warnings of ‘absolute pandemonium’ on roads
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One local resident warned the development would exacerbate existing traffic issues in the area
A decision on a major housing development of almost 1000 new homes in Midlothian has been delayed following warnings that it will cause “absolute pandemonium” on local roads.
Midlothian Council agreed to defer the planning application for the Barratt Homes South Mayfield development on June 8 following safety concerns raised by residents and councillors. Issues around traffic were cited as a particular concern.
A Midlothian Council spokesperson said: “At a recent planning committee meeting, councillors agreed to defer a decision on the planning applications. This will allow time for a workshop to be arranged to address outstanding questions, particularly around traffic impacts and affected roads. The developer will also be invited to attend.”
One Crawlees Road resident who spoke to the Edinburgh Evening News, Robert Mackie, said that the increased traffic from development could exacerbate existing issues in the area.
Mr Mackie said there are 1400 passenger carrying units – the metric used in transportation engineering to quantify different types of vehicles into a single metric – passing his door on Crawlees Road each day.
He continued: “At one point it's only 4.9 meters wide for them to pass, and they've worn out loads and loads of verges.”
In addition to a high number of passenger and commercial vehicles, 13 school buses travel along the route during term time. In January, a school bus was involved in a crash on the narrow road.
Mr Mackie highlighted the alternative “safeguarded route” parallel to the existing Mayfield Industrial Estate Road that could take the traffic without adding to disruption in the town.
He said: “It's going to be absolute pandemonium. The thing about the safeguarded route was it would make it that much easier for the contractor to put a road in without closing the road, the safeguarded route would get them to nearly three quarters in the way along the road.
“The last bit could be run on a two-way system, traffic lights, which would mean at the end of the day to construct it, you wouldn't have to close the road, but it would mean there's going to have to make a brand new road on the safeguarded route, and they're not willing to do that.”
The proposals suggest that the disruption could last for three months – Mr Mackie said he believes it will be longer.
He said: “I don't think it's going to be three months, they're not going to construct a road in three months, so it could be closed for six, maybe even 12 months. All the traffic, that extra 1000 vehicles, is all going to go through the main street in Newtongrange, which struggles at the moment to take the traffic.”
At a council meeting on Councillor Stephen Curran asked for the decision, which was approved in principle three years ago, to be delayed. His comments echoed those of Mr Mackie.
He said that in his experience the proposed three month closure will “mean nine to 12 months if not longer.”
It was agreed by councillors to defer the application, with Councillor Stewart McKenzie also raising concerns over traffic survey results.
Cllr McKenzie said: “We hear a lot of numbers and desktop exercises but you are asking me to ignore the evidence of my eyes. I can stand at the end of Crawlees Road at any time of the day and see it is a traffic blackspot already.
“I don’t think the proposals as they stand are adequate.”